help, please...

[shannon23]

Goldfish, in freshwater..This started with a tiny spot of missing tail fin at the top, I thought fin rot, but then, the red streaks, I keep reading online, mean bacterial hemorrhagic? already tried treating the tank with an all around product called 'lifeguard' which is supposed to cure everything.. it improved a little, but is coming back now.. if anyone knows, any help is appreciated.. 11 year old fish, more of a pet now.. i'd hate to lose her..

 

[Lupin]

to MFK, Shannon!

First of all, I would like to know your tank size, water parameters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and if possible, include your pH), tankmates, filtration capacity, feeding schedule and menu and tank maintenance regimen. These are all basic information that should be listed so we can find out what caused the problem. I can understand the pain of your pet suffering but we really need the information.

If you do not have the test kit, now is the right time to get API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) liquid test kit. Please avoid the test strips of any brand which is grossly misleading and inaccurate.

How long have you been treating the goldfish with Lifeguard? Your fish does indeed have hemorrhagic septicemia as evident by red streaks you saw on its tail. This indicates something is wrong with your tank and is stressing the fish at the moment. Answering the questions I asked earlier will help us determine which is wrong and can be corrected immediately to give your fish a new lease of life from this bout.

Hopefully your fish will recover as we go along the road to correct some problems.