Red Ryukin acting sluggish!!!

[Steveo1987]

Hiya guys,

Just a quick quetion here!
My dad is currently keeping a Red Ryukin roughly 7 inches long including its long tail and a Black Moor which is roughly 3-4 inches long in an aquarium 180 litres in capacity!!! Water changes would consist of roughly 70% every week or two, i do them myself so theres no problem! There fed once, maybe twice a day with a sinking fancy goldfish pellet (nothing else really). Plan on getting algae tablets for them 2moro! He's had the ryukin about 1 1/2 years and i bought him the moor for fathers day this year after he lost a huge red cap oranda which got swim bladder and couldnt stabilise itself in the water and eventually died after a few months?!

Now for the question, the red ryukin is lieing on its belly for the majority of the time. Now he doesnt tilt over at all, he just stays sitting on his belly on the gravel. He does swim around too and does eat his food as well. The black moor is acting as normal? Did anyone have this problem or know what the problem might be and how to treat it? It may be the diet issue and can fancy goldfish get bloated? I know algae is a good food source for goldfish in general.

Any ideas and sorry for the long text,

Thanks, Stephen.

 

[Lupin]

Hi Stephen,

Unfortunately, goldfish can also suffer bloat. Their GI (gastrointestinal) tract does not include a stomach which is why as soon as they eat their meal, they also excrete their wastes which consists sometimes mostly of undigested portions. It is a good idea that when you attempt to feed your goldfish several times a day, give small meals only. Don't let the fish gorge himself on big meals as his GI tract is not designed to accommodate foods that way.

In regards to buoyancy issues, there are three main causes. Genetics, gas production especially by starch being digested and floating foods. Could you please state what brand of pellets you use? The only food brands I ever trusted are the ones by Hikari particularly Hikari Lionhead which is a sinking type. Oranda Gold is available but it is the floating type and my ryukins get floaty when I feed starch-based floating pellets so I just avoid those kind of pellets right away and stick to Hikari Lionhead. Aside from that, I also incorporate gel foods with several ingredients. You could certainly use Mazuri gel foods. I am not sure if that is available in your area.

What I am noticing on your ryukin may indeed be swim bladder disorder except this is not one involving floating problems this time. Some goldfish do have trouble keeping up since their belly is pulled down to the bottom as if the gravity attempts to keep them down. I don't think there is any way to rectify that problem if it has been that way for sometime now. You can however help him by using a sling. There are some details here on how to make slings for the goldfish.
http://72.36.167.186/~thegab/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=9496&hilit=+sling

If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I am very sorry to hear about your goldfish.

 

[Steveo1987]

Thanks for the reply Lupin,

The first point that you made 'It is a good idea that when you attempt to feed your goldfish several times a day, give small meals only'. In relation to that point, the goldfish were usually only fed once a day but probably to much according to your analysis. I'll be cutting there food into smaller portions and feed them 2 or 3 times a day instead if thats whats best. I never knew their gastrointestinal tract didnt include a stomach but thanks for the help?!

The goldfish are fed TetraFin Gold Japan (sinking variety) and i bought them algae tablets there yesterday!

What would you recommend i do now? Would keeping the water fresh and adjusting the dietry matters help the problem. I just want to give the ryukin a good life ya know?!

 

[Lupin]

The goldfish's GI tract of all the fish, is very inefficient hence the absence of the stomach. Instead it is the bacteria that aids digestion of the foods inside the GI tract but not all the foods are digested hence you see sometimes their poop has undigested portions of plant matter and everything else which they take on the second round until everything has been fully utilized. This is why I recommended feeding them in small amounts only. This will enable them to process the foods properly without clogging their system.

Stick to high fiber diet for now to help flush out some trapped wastes. I use mainly gel foods with my goldfish and you could make use of 3 jars of baby foods comprising of vegetables to make up a high fiber diet thus allowing the goldfish a chance to recover from that issue.

What are the ingredients and guaranteed analysis of TetraFin Gold Japan?