Hello and I have a question

[d0nuT]

Hi there!

I only joined recently and I already have a question!

I have a blue shubunkin goldfish who appears to be constipated....
He's swimming around lethargically, with the same piece of 'waste' hanging from him. This is the second day that he's been like this. He's also not eating at all. He's otherwise very active and friendly, usually begging for food as soon as he spots me!

If there's anything you could suggest that might help him I'd be very grateful!

oh and I feed him flake food usually. Would a few greens in there help?

Thanks!
d

 

[TKOS]

If it is constipation you can try adding some epsom salts to your tank. Just a small amount to strat with though, say 1/8 tsp per 5 gallons or so. Epsom salts are Magnisium salts and should help clear things up. Dissolve the salt first then add it to the tank water. When the fish looks better do a large water change.

Feeding veggies is a good idea as well with goldfish. And it may be that he has swolled a lot of air. So try soaking the flakes then adding them to the water.

 

[d0nuT]

Thanks!

I'll try that and let you know how it goes!

Thank you!
d

 

[sky.eyes.woman]

Well, hopefully the epsom salts helped him, d0nuT. If not, don't feed him for a few more days and try again. When you are ready to feed him again, give him some lightly cooked peas that you have squished so the green insides come out of the skin. They can't eat peas with the skin on. Keep feeding the peas until you see him pooping again. After he's better, it really is a good idea to keep veggies in his diet. He'll love the peas, and some torn up pieces of romaine lettuce or spinach, and believe it or not some oranges too. Slice an orange up for yourself and toss a piece in for your fish. He'll attack it. Anytime you give him fresh veggies, remove uneaten pieces after a few hours. Another thing you might find helpful is to switch to small pellets or crumbles instead of flakes. The flakes in and of themselves are not bad for him, but they are dry and he needs more moisture in his tummy to keep from getting plugged up again. Pellets or crumbles are dry too, but you can soak them in a spoonful of tank water for a minute or so to make them softer. Soaking them will make them sink immediately after you drop them in the water, so your fish will be grubbing around on the bottom to eat instead of at the surface swallowing air. I hope that helps...please come back and let us know how he's doing.

 

[d0nuT]

Thanks for all your help but sadly....

Unfortunately my poor Abraham died....

The epsom salts seemed to help, (he went freely once again, is that TMI?)
but then he became really lethargic and began gasping and half floating on his side. Within a few hours he was gone.

Thanks ever for so much for your support though.

It's good to know that whatever problem i have there's a support network.

d

P.S Sorry about the lateness of my reply, PC problems.

d

 

[TKOS]

Sorry to hear that d0nut. Hopefully you will be able to find another fish that will live a nice long time for you.

 

[d0nuT]

thanks

thanks... he was such a nice fish too. It's sad. Im thinking of downsizing to a 10 gallon and going tropical. I'll let you know how that goes too! Hopefully i'll be able to post pics of my new tank!

thanks for all your help and support!

d

 

[Elvira]

My Comet is Harassed by others, Please help

I have 3 Common Comets for over 6 months, 3 Sunbunkins and 5 Koi's, all under 6" on a 75 Gallons Tank for the winter, 3 days ago one of the Sunbunkins started harassing one the Comets, biting etc, so we moved him to a 55 gallons tank that have 3 Sarasas, 2 Common Comets and 4 Koi's, as the others all small under 6", but the other fish done the same, so we moved him to a 10 gallons tank all by himself, but now he does not eat and if you approach the tank, he swim very fast, the only thing he's been doing is pulling the hair like roots of a Water Hiyacinth that floats on top of the water.
What can't be wrong with him and why do you think the others are so mean to him?.
Your help will be Deeply Appreciated.
Have a nice 2005. Elvira.
PS: We also have 2, 360 gallons tanks for our large Koi's all over 16", but we don't think to try to put Him or Her?.. there.
HELP, we don't want to loose him.

 

[TKOS]

Sounds like the little guy is just super stressed at the moment. Leave the tank lights off for a couple of days and if there are plants in the tank he will eat those, so stay away fromt eh tank. Check him a little later and hopefully he will be a little calmer. In a week or so try reintroducing him to the bigger tank and at the same time move around some decorations and plants so the other fish will be less dominant. Hopefully this will help him.

 

[Elvira]

Thanks TKOS

We put some brown paper around the tank. and left him or her alone, last evening the only thing we noticed is the they were long feces, so as I do every morning I cleaned those and it was a little debris from flakes, but no much. I will check on him or her now and be back and completed this.
There is not light where is now, no much debris this morning a few flakes, seam that he eat a little, so in case he's constipated I took the skins out two peas and put them on his tank, also a big Water Hyacinth out his mean brothers and give to him, he's always been chew on them.
On the big tank they are 2 decorations, a plastic snail and a bunny, a Submergible pump, and 2, 8" air stones, they all been together for over 4 months on the yard pond till it got cold, and inside since October, can't figure what this change, so I think it will be better as your said by himself for a while, and them try, and if they still mean, leave him alone, but we just wonder if it will be lonesome, what do you think if after 2 or 3 weeks if he's doing better, we may pot a couple of Pet's Mart $ 0.08 fish, that is where he came from last June and is about 4", no tail on measure.
Well Thanks again.
Elvira.