So, I just want to make sure this is OK. I think their color is just changing as they mature . . .
Tank details:
3 goldfish (red cap oranda, ryukin calico, fantail calico)
29g tank, established for 1.5 yrs
Fish details:
Fantail is the oldest and male (recently got/grew tubercles), and I figure the other two are female since he chases them. I have yet to decide what to do about it, but currently there's a divider between him and the other two. I fear he may be stunted and that's why he's showing tubercles at such a young age. Fantail is 2-2.5" and the other two are 1.5". I would get re-home him, but he's my favorite (I call him Creamsicle since he's half orange and half white). They're growing slowly because they're at capacity in this tank (if not a bit cramped). I plan to move them to my 40 breeder (36" tank) after I move in August.
Levels:
The tank is well planted, anubis, anachris, etc. I tested ammonia and nitrates--0 ppm. Nitrites stay below 10, but they're good for the plants so I don't worry about that too much. Natural pH of my tap is 8.4. I don't use a heater so temperature ranges 62-72 deg F so they get a seasonal change. Currently, tank is at 64. I try not to let it get too cold for the Red cap because I know they're more sensitive to that. The only chemicals I use are a dechlorinator (I live in the mountains, it's necessary!) and occasionally a plant fertilizer (florinmulti).
Filter:
Aquaclear 70. I do 50% water changes/week. I know I should do more, and I'm working on starting a bi-weekly plan so I can change out most of the water every week.
The problem:
I've noticed color changes. My calico ryukin lost most of its black spots, which I didn't worry about. However, then on top of its nose, the orange is turning white (not fluffy like fungus). It's gill plates are also getting some white. Then, the red cap's wen (hood) has two white patches. Not red or pink, or slimy looking like carp pox, not sunken like hole-in-the-head. The red cap used to have an orange stripe along its spine which is now receding/disappearing. The fantail has always had a white nose, so I don't see any changes there.
I'm hoping the color changing is normal, and the white patches on the wen is dead tissue because it's growing. . .hoping. I'm here to confirm.
Food:
Since I noticed the changes, I was wondering about their nutrition. In the beginning, I fed them omega one goldfish flakes. I treat them with the insides of peas, red lettuce, green marine algae (or algae wafers), omega one shrimp pellets, and krill (defrosted and cool). I like them to have variety. When I noticed the color change, I also gave them some New life spectrum pellets (supposed to be color enhancing). I switched flake to Wardley advanced--no change. They haven't had krill or veggies in several months--should I try that? I make sure not to overfeed them. When the lights come on (auto) in the morning, I feed them flakes (I sink them). When I get home in the afternoon, I treat them with one thing.
Question:
Is this a normal age development, malnutrition, or a disease? I should mention I don't like to medicate unless absolutely necessary. The only disease the tank has ever seen is one bout of ich when I first introduced the ryukin--didn't do proper quarantining. Learned that lesson the hard way. Quarantined the red cap for 4 weeks before I introduced it two months later. All have doubled in size since I got them (fantail more so). I always aim to get the tiny, active ones in the LFS.
In case you're wondering. . .(as if this post isn't long enough
)
I currently have 7 tanks, and have kept fish for 3 years.
40 g breeder: juvie Mbuna (will upgrade to 55, moving goldfish to 40)
55 g: mature female GT, male Con, 3 pictus cats, 1 BN pleco
29 g: goldfish
29 g: mated pair of Cons, 1 BN pleco (possibly eaten), 1 oto
20 g long: 1 male juvie JD (quarantining, will move to its own 55), 4 cories, 9 pristella tetras (to keep tank cycled)
5 and 10 g: fry tank
And some pics, if I can get them to work. Sorry they're not great. . .I know they're goldfish and not too fast, but they wiggle too much when I'm near the glass.
Had to catch them to get some.
Tank details:
3 goldfish (red cap oranda, ryukin calico, fantail calico)
29g tank, established for 1.5 yrs
Fish details:
Fantail is the oldest and male (recently got/grew tubercles), and I figure the other two are female since he chases them. I have yet to decide what to do about it, but currently there's a divider between him and the other two. I fear he may be stunted and that's why he's showing tubercles at such a young age. Fantail is 2-2.5" and the other two are 1.5". I would get re-home him, but he's my favorite (I call him Creamsicle since he's half orange and half white). They're growing slowly because they're at capacity in this tank (if not a bit cramped). I plan to move them to my 40 breeder (36" tank) after I move in August.
Levels:
The tank is well planted, anubis, anachris, etc. I tested ammonia and nitrates--0 ppm. Nitrites stay below 10, but they're good for the plants so I don't worry about that too much. Natural pH of my tap is 8.4. I don't use a heater so temperature ranges 62-72 deg F so they get a seasonal change. Currently, tank is at 64. I try not to let it get too cold for the Red cap because I know they're more sensitive to that. The only chemicals I use are a dechlorinator (I live in the mountains, it's necessary!) and occasionally a plant fertilizer (florinmulti).
Filter:
Aquaclear 70. I do 50% water changes/week. I know I should do more, and I'm working on starting a bi-weekly plan so I can change out most of the water every week.
The problem:
I've noticed color changes. My calico ryukin lost most of its black spots, which I didn't worry about. However, then on top of its nose, the orange is turning white (not fluffy like fungus). It's gill plates are also getting some white. Then, the red cap's wen (hood) has two white patches. Not red or pink, or slimy looking like carp pox, not sunken like hole-in-the-head. The red cap used to have an orange stripe along its spine which is now receding/disappearing. The fantail has always had a white nose, so I don't see any changes there.
I'm hoping the color changing is normal, and the white patches on the wen is dead tissue because it's growing. . .hoping. I'm here to confirm.
Food:
Since I noticed the changes, I was wondering about their nutrition. In the beginning, I fed them omega one goldfish flakes. I treat them with the insides of peas, red lettuce, green marine algae (or algae wafers), omega one shrimp pellets, and krill (defrosted and cool). I like them to have variety. When I noticed the color change, I also gave them some New life spectrum pellets (supposed to be color enhancing). I switched flake to Wardley advanced--no change. They haven't had krill or veggies in several months--should I try that? I make sure not to overfeed them. When the lights come on (auto) in the morning, I feed them flakes (I sink them). When I get home in the afternoon, I treat them with one thing.
Question:
Is this a normal age development, malnutrition, or a disease? I should mention I don't like to medicate unless absolutely necessary. The only disease the tank has ever seen is one bout of ich when I first introduced the ryukin--didn't do proper quarantining. Learned that lesson the hard way. Quarantined the red cap for 4 weeks before I introduced it two months later. All have doubled in size since I got them (fantail more so). I always aim to get the tiny, active ones in the LFS.
In case you're wondering. . .(as if this post isn't long enough
)I currently have 7 tanks, and have kept fish for 3 years.
40 g breeder: juvie Mbuna (will upgrade to 55, moving goldfish to 40)
55 g: mature female GT, male Con, 3 pictus cats, 1 BN pleco
29 g: goldfish
29 g: mated pair of Cons, 1 BN pleco (possibly eaten), 1 oto
20 g long: 1 male juvie JD (quarantining, will move to its own 55), 4 cories, 9 pristella tetras (to keep tank cycled)
5 and 10 g: fry tank
And some pics, if I can get them to work. Sorry they're not great. . .I know they're goldfish and not too fast, but they wiggle too much when I'm near the glass.
Had to catch them to get some.