Having some goldfish problems

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G

Gradient

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 25, 2023
16
2
3
20
Indiana
Have you tested your water?
No
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
41-50%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
I currently have 4 small comet goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. I am aware that it will be too small for them in the future, but they are all currently under 1" in length. Sunspot is the only one that I have not noticed any coloration change on, but Zippi, Dusty, and Shadow are all gaining/"losing" some of their black coloration. By "losing", I mean it's fading a bit, but with zippi, he went from predominantly orange with black tips to mostly black on one side. I'm aware that it may be that they've hit 1 year of age (as that's around the time they get their true colorations). I've been trying to feed them vegetables recently, I've started with small pieces of blanched cucumber. When I got home from work today, I noticed a long-ish white substance in their tank, which I am assuming is feces. I'm doing 25-~50% water changes weekly, as my filter isn't strong enough to keep up with their waste output, granted this is the first time I've seen fecal matter in their water. I don't know what to do, I've only had them for about two weeks.
 
Midwater said:
How about fish food?
Click to expand...
they have been on Tropical fish food flakes, and I recently got them some goldfish pellets, however, they don't seem to go for the pellets. I don't have much experience with goldfish, as this is my second time owning some. Sunspot also seems to be swimming lopsided, and either Shadow or Dusty is clamping their pelvic fins. I just took out all the unnecessary décor (i.e. the fake plants) but have left them the shells and cave/sleeping spot I made them. I honestly have no clue what could be wrong, and if I need to buy anything I have to wait for my paycheck to come this week.
 
Midwater said:
Goldfish in a small tank with a variety of food, and some water changes. All the goldfish have names. No mention of biological filtration. No information on water parameters.
Click to expand...
I have been attempting to introduce them to new foods, but for some reason they only go for the flakes. One of them ate a small piece of cucumber that I put in their tank, but I was not home to see which fish ate it. And unfortunately, I currently have no way of knowing the water perameters as I don't have any test strips, though they are my next item to retrieve when I get paid this week. My last run to PetSmart (where I got the fish) I got a 40 oz container of activated charcoal for my filter and I bought an aquarium plant as well. Unfortunately, my resources to obtain other items for my fish is limited, as I haven't been scheduled as much at my work and I am still in school. What scares me most, though, is having any sort of spike in my tank, as my first set of fish- Goldie and Gradient- died to what I suspect was an ammonia spike even though I changed their water daily because I didn't have a tank when I won them. The 10 gallon tank was initially going to be for Goldie and Gradient, but they died before I could get their tank ready
 
Gradient said:
they have been on Tropical fish food flakes, and I recently got them some goldfish pellets, however, they don't seem to go for the pellets. I don't have much experience with goldfish, as this is my second time owning some. Sunspot also seems to be swimming lopsided, and either Shadow or Dusty is clamping their pelvic fins. I just took out all the unnecessary décor (i.e. the fake plants) but have left them the shells and cave/sleeping spot I made them. I honestly have no clue what could be wrong, and if I need to buy anything I have to wait for my paycheck to come this week.
Click to expand...
The Comets probably weren't in the best shape especially if they were sold for feeding to other fish.
 
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Gradient said:
currently have no way of knowing the water perameters as I don't have any test strips, though they are my next item to retrieve when I get paid this week
Click to expand...
Call all your lfs in your area they may test your parameters for free. Also dechlorinator is needed for you to start the Nitrifying process.

If possible buy Goldfish flake food. The pellet food is to hard for the small fish and will only make water conditions worst.
 
Last edited:
tlindsey said:
The Comets probably weren't in the best shape especially if they were sold for feeding to other fish.
Click to expand...
I know, and honestly that's kinda something I've sort of come to terms with. While they are cheap and good beginner fish, they're really touchy to diseases. Their tank at PetSmart was bare-bottomed, while all the other fish had some kind of décor and substrate in them. I don't know what an lfs is. Is it a pet store? There's only a couple I'm aware of that are in my area. I did have a bottle of dechlorinator, but I have since run out and haven't bought more yet. I'm hoping to get to PetSmart asap to get more.
 
tlindsey said:
Call all your lfs in your area they may test your parameters for free. Also dechlorinator is needed for you to start the Nitrifying process.

If possible buy Goldfish flake food. The pellet food is to hard for the small fish and will only make water conditions worst.Yes local pet store.
Click to expand...
they are mainly on flakes right now. Currently, my biggest fear is that either I'm going to come home from work/school or I'm going to wake up and one of my fish will be dead, as that has been my past experiences. Ok, thanks
 
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