Some opinions please

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convict360

convict360

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Dec 9, 2013
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Hi all,

Wonder if I could get some opinions on a niggling problem that's affecting one of my fancy fish; basically he shows the classical symptoms of swim bladder trouble, floating to the top etc.

However, this seems to come and go; so I naturally attributed it to overfeeding, and cut right back; to no avail.

For background info, its a 22 gallon, with two baby fantail goldfish as a grow out; well established, and water changes are on point, nitrates around 10-15.

My gut instinct is to treat with Epsom salts, its just weird how it seems to come and go.
 
Fishpony said:
Try feeding boiled peas, it should help a little bit. When I own a bunch of bubble eyed goldfish, I'd boil peas and smushed them so they could eat it.
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Good point, which I'll try and do this week. Just looking at both of them right now, both swimming perfectly; no issue whatsoever. Yet I can pretty much guarantee that tomorrow the suspect one will be floating all over the place o.O
 
Aquanero Aquanero your input, and suggestions on treatment.
 
convict360 said:
It's a floating pellet, I'll post a pic of the brand tomorrow asap. Makes me wonder actually...if they're gulping in too much air...
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I've heard gulping air while feeding will cause this. Try sinking pellets.
 
I'm definitely not as knowledgeable as Aquanero or Charney but I have some experience in dealing with this kind of issue. Certain fish are genetically disposed to having that issue, goldfish especially fancy ones are; and sometimes there's nothing you can do.

If it is an issue with food Epsom usually clears it right up IME and it can usually be prevented by using sinking pellets primarily comprised of spirulina or feeding fresh plant matter. It can also be caused by water quality or parameters but IME this usually occurs when there's a swing in them and it's sudden. I've also heard it can be related to stress but I have no experience thus far(knock on wood) with bloat caused by that.

I myself have a Red Ignot who has the same issue where it seems off and on. She is usually face down with her tail pulling her up but she generally maintains herself at about mid water. Often times she rights herself for extended periods of time but I believe she's doing it despite the issue. I tried Espom, feeding fresh spirulina and quarantining her all for naught. Otherwise she's appears completely healthy. She's back in her main tank in a group of six Ingots. Of which she's the Alpha and has laid eggs for me regularly. There's no fertile male so I don't worry about her obviously poor genetics being passed on. I even considered euthanasia but she's doing so well and it doesn't seem to bother her so I let her be for now.
 
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koltsixx said:
I'm definitely not as knowledgeable as Aquanero or Charney but I have some experience in dealing with this kind of issue. Certain fish are genetically disposed to having that issue, goldfish especially fancy ones are; and sometimes there's nothing you can do.

If it is an issue with food Epsom usually clears it right up IME and it can usually be prevented by using sinking pellets primarily comprised of spirulina or feeding fresh plant matter. It can also be caused by water quality or parameters but IME this usually occurs when there's a swing in them and it's sudden. I've also heard it can be related to stress but I have no experience thus far(knock on wood) with bloat caused by that.

I myself have a Red Ignot who has the same issue where it seems off and on. She is usually face down with her tail pulling her up but she generally maintains herself at about mid water. Often times she rights herself for extended periods of time but I believe she's doing it despite the issue. I tried Espom, feeding fresh spirulina and quarantining her all for naught. Otherwise she's appears completely healthy. She's back in her main tank in a group of six Ingots. Of which she's the Alpha and has laid eggs for me regularly. There's no fertile male so I don't worry about her obviously poor genetics being passed on. I even considered euthanasia but she's doing so well and it doesn't seem to bother her so I let her be for now.
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Interesting, I'll try these and find out; it looks pretty bad at night when i look in the tank and the one fancy is floating upside down; not moving for extended periods of time. Then i'll come back 30 mins later and he's swimming about like normal.
 
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