Goldfish problem...long term problem

[Niki_up]

need someone with goldfish expierience, I have three goldfish in a 60g tank. (Well 2 now bc the one is in a hospital tank)

This one fish is maybe like 7 years old or older. For the last three months he has stopped swimming and kind of just sits on the bottom and when he try’s to swim it’s uncoordinated, and he twitches like he has nerve damage. I’ve treated him for bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, nothing seems to work.

I think he may be on his way out.

He still wants to eat, just cannot coordinate himself properly to food, I can see his eyes watching the food as he struggles to reach the food.

Anyone have anything similar happen to their goldfish?

 

[davemal]

Do you just feed dried flakes? If so swim bladder problem ? Gold fish need a varied diet

 

[Niki_up]

Do you just feed dried flakes? If so swim bladder problem ? Gold fish need a varied diet

Yea, their main diet is goldfish sticks, and algae waffers.

Kind of wish it was swim bladder problems, at least I would know then.

I might be looking for answers I might never get.

I’m gong to keep him going as long as I can..just hoping someone comes
Along that has had a similar experience.

 

[davemal]

Might help get answers if you do a water test and put results up. Also ask in your LFS, I will try to pop in and ask the guy I buy fish off too. Just feeding dried food isn't great try to add stuff like peas and frozen fresh fish food like blood worms. Hope you get the help you need.

 

[MrsE88]

I was just going to suggest that. Add fresh food in their diet. Mine like zucchini and lemons the most. But there is a lot you can offer. I use rubber bands to hold the food at the bottom and give them time to try it out. They might take a day or two, but once they realize it’s food they will go nuts.

What kinda goldfish is it? Fancy or common?

 

[Terraphyte Tank Guy]

need someone with goldfish expierience, I have three goldfish in a 60g tank. (Well 2 now bc the one is in a hospital tank)

This one fish is maybe like 7 years old or older. For the last three months he has stopped swimming and kind of just sits on the bottom and when he try’s to swim it’s uncoordinated, and he twitches like he has nerve damage. I’ve treated him for bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, nothing seems to work.

I think he may be on his way out.

He still wants to eat, just cannot coordinate himself properly to food, I can see his eyes watching the food as he struggles to reach the food.

Anyone have anything similar happen to their goldfish?

Bblue...

A couple of things that may help. Organic minced garlic fed a couple of times a day. Get the organic, with no additives, just the garlic and water. This is the most nutritious food available. I would add a bit of standard aquarium salt to the tank water. A teaspoon for every 5 gallons of replacement water is enough to ease the stress on the fish and discourage the growth of parasites if this is the case. Next time you change the tank water, make the new water a bit warmer than what's already in the tank. The combination of some extra nourishing food, a bit of salt and slightly warmer water may help.

TTG

 

[Niki_up]

I didn’t think blood worms were good for goldfish.

As for water tests, 0 - ammonia, 0 - nitrite, and 10 - nitrates, I do weekly water changes in the tank and keep the nitrates below 40ppm. They are at 40ppm when I do my water change at the end of the week (water change is approximately 80-85%).

As for the fresh foods, I will try some cucumber as I have that on hand right now. And will have to go looking for the organic garlic today. (The only fresh veggies I have are cucumbers, orange bell pepper, and romaine lettuce)

I also have the salt on hand and can add some to his tank tonight, I just moved him to a hospital tank yesterday or the day before. (I used media from his original tank so it was instant cycled, and I added water lettuce, either he eats it or it’s added filtration) .

 

[Niki_up]

Oh and it’s a fancy goldfish, fantail is what I bought him as but he might be a mix of comment and fantail or fantail mixed with ryukin (Not sure how to spell it) he has a longer body than a fantail and a nice hunchback so I know he’s not a pure fantail.

 

[Niki_up]

They are at 40ppm when I do my water change at the end of the week (water change is approximately 80-85%).

Sorry meant they are usually at 20ppm by the end of the week, before water change.

 

[Coryloach]

If you want to try helping the fish, start daily large water changes. That will give him the best of chances to fight whatever's bothering him. If he's still interested in food, there is a chance to be explored.. Do that for a couple of weeks, see how things go from there. There's nothing better for a sick fish than plenty of fresh clean water.