At one point I had 7 goldfish in a 20g tank. I can almost here all of you gasp. Well I developed a bad algae problem (the green water kind), I went to petco and found something to take care of that. Within a few hours the water really started to look better. The problem was I had to wait maybe two or three weeks before I had a chance to go to petco. I think because of how long it took me they all started to slowly die. None of them looked sick they just acted like they didn't have any energy. The would swim funny, sometimes not eat, one would repeatedly swim to the top of the tank and dive into the rock and get its head stuck. Anyways I am now down to 1. Before the last two I had died, I completely emptied the tank and cleaned it out. I'm beginning to think that somehow either the algae problem I had caused a disease outbreak or the rock was contaminated. Well after the tank was clean I set it back up treated the water with Start-Right so the chlorine wouldn't kill the fish and I put the three back in. Well two of them still died even being in fresh water. This has been going on for about two months. The one that is still alive was fine until yesterday. My 9 year old sister did something with the fish and won't tell me what. The tail and dorsal fin look shredded. And some of it's scales have fallen off. All she said was something about my cat. I assume she tried taking it out with her hands, dropped it, my cat went after it, then she put it back in. I have no idea what to do. I don't have any kind of medicine, except some aquarium salt my moms friend gave me. I've read people use that for medicine. What are your thoughts? I'll see if I can get a picture of him up.URGENT: Last goldfish alive, looks shredded
- Thread starter crispie764
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At one point I had 7 goldfish in a 20g tank. I can almost here all of you gasp. Well I developed a bad algae problem (the green water kind), I went to petco and found something to take care of that. Within a few hours the water really started to look better. The problem was I had to wait maybe two or three weeks before I had a chance to go to petco. I think because of how long it took me they all started to slowly die. None of them looked sick they just acted like they didn't have any energy. The would swim funny, sometimes not eat, one would repeatedly swim to the top of the tank and dive into the rock and get its head stuck. Anyways I am now down to 1. Before the last two I had died, I completely emptied the tank and cleaned it out. I'm beginning to think that somehow either the algae problem I had caused a disease outbreak or the rock was contaminated. Well after the tank was clean I set it back up treated the water with Start-Right so the chlorine wouldn't kill the fish and I put the three back in. Well two of them still died even being in fresh water. This has been going on for about two months. The one that is still alive was fine until yesterday. My 9 year old sister did something with the fish and won't tell me what. The tail and dorsal fin look shredded. And some of it's scales have fallen off. All she said was something about my cat. I assume she tried taking it out with her hands, dropped it, my cat went after it, then she put it back in. I have no idea what to do. I don't have any kind of medicine, except some aquarium salt my moms friend gave me. I've read people use that for medicine. What are your thoughts? I'll see if I can get a picture of him up.
This is a healthy gold fish
This is a goldfish in a tank with an uncycled filter
When you cleaned the tank, you cleaned out the bacteria that neutralizes the fish waste and uneaten food. The fish waste and uneaten food turns into toxic ammonia which is what has caused the problems with your fish. Cats aren't good for them either. The bacteria will eventually grow back to their healthy numbers. For now, don't add any more fish. The remaining goldfish should recover as long as there isn't anymore ammonia. Take a water sample to the fish store for them to test. In the mean time, do some daily water changes of about 25%.
I forgot to add that at one of my many trips to Petco I finally bought a water testing kit. When I tested the water the first time all the fish were still alive but I had that algae problem. The nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels were where they were supposed to be. The ph was lower than the recommended level for goldfish. It was 6.6 and the booklet said it should be about 7.5. When I cleaned out the tank I test the water again. This time all the levels were fine. Nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia were 0 and ph was 7.5. I knew when I cleaned the tank out I would be getting rid of both good and bad bacteria but this fish has been through a lot so I know it wouldn't be affected. Before my family moved to our new house, we lived with my grandfather. My cat, fish, and I slept in the basement. This last goldfish and three others that recently died here were all crammed in a 15g tank. When we moved out of his house, I couldn't bring them with me until I had a place to put them. The filter in the tank had only been changed once or twice between November of last here till Feb. of this here. And he didn't know enough to add water to the tank when it would evaporate. When I brought them home the 15g tank only had half of the water in it. He would forget to feed them, both lights blew, and the filter was filthy. I don't understand how they could live through all that and die here where they were in clean, healthy water. And somehow the tank there never had algae even though there weren't any bottom feeders or algae eaters?
As for the advice given to me so far. I will see if I can get to Petco today or another pet store and find some Melafix, I've never heard of it before. And I will change some water like I did yesterday.
As for the advice given to me so far. I will see if I can get to Petco today or another pet store and find some Melafix, I've never heard of it before. And I will change some water like I did yesterday.
I have killed more fish with Melafix and Pimafix than I have cured. Even though the bottle says it is natural and safe for fish, it actually is very stressful for them. I have treated tanks with both healthy fish and sick fish in them. First the sick fish die while the healthy fish start to show signs of stress. Before long, they die too. Turns out that the stuff becomes toxic when it is exposed to light.
Look for LifeGuard All-In-One. It costs more but it is the most gentle and effective all purpose medication I have found.
Look for LifeGuard All-In-One. It costs more but it is the most gentle and effective all purpose medication I have found.
Fish can fair well in filthy tanks because getting there is a very slow process and the fish are able to adapt. The problems begin when one tries to correct it.crispie764;956106; said:
The process of the waste breaking down into ammonia (and ammonia breaking down into nitrites) causes the pH to drop. That is just normal in fish tanks. Ammonia is less toxic at lower pH's and more toxic as the pH rises. After a partial water change, if the ammonia is high, the rise in pH can hurt the fish. This is probably why your fish started to die.
Since you have everything right, I think your fish will be ok. Just don't add any more untill he is better. I also don't think you need any medications. You can add some Stress Coat to help his slime layer and to help heal his fins (it has aloe vera in it). Stress Coat is also very good to use when doing water changes because it also removes chlorine.
Test your tap water so you have an idea of where your tank should be. You want your fish to be use to your tap water's pH. Then your fish won't suffer pH shock during water changes. I think your tap water will test very close to what your tank is at now.
By the way, when your fish starts to get better, you can use the aquarium salt with your water changes. Don't use it right now though.
There is a lot to learn so keep checking in for more information. We will turn you into a pro.
There is a lot to learn so keep checking in for more information. We will turn you into a pro.
Well I will definitely remember the advice but sadly I just watched my fish take it's last breath. It's very depressing because I love fish but can't seem to keep them alive anymore. I started testing the water. The first thing I checked was the ammonia and it was about 2.0 which I know is bad. I'll finish testing the others and get the water at the levels it's supposed to be at and like recommended wait to put fish in. Thanks again for the advice. If anybody else has more advice for the future I would love to hear it.
I am sorry to hear that it didn't make it.
Don't change your water. Leave it in there and the ammonia will help the benificial bacteria grow back. Test the water again in two weeks. The ammonia should be back to zero. At that time, You can change the water. Just make sure you mix your dechlorinator with your fill water before you add it to the tank. Then go buy one or two of the cheap goldfish to see if they will live. Some of them are pretty enough to keep if the filter is working properly.
Don't change your water. Leave it in there and the ammonia will help the benificial bacteria grow back. Test the water again in two weeks. The ammonia should be back to zero. At that time, You can change the water. Just make sure you mix your dechlorinator with your fill water before you add it to the tank. Then go buy one or two of the cheap goldfish to see if they will live. Some of them are pretty enough to keep if the filter is working properly.
The tank could not of been cycled. You should not have 0 NitrAte in a cycled tank. Granted it has happened on a very small bioload like a betta in a well planted tank etc, but goldfish are dirty and nitrAtes should of showed up if cycled.
I agree cycle the tank before more fish.
Also do not put that many goldfish in that size tank, you will be doing PWC non stop to keep the water healthy. Goldfish are a dirty fish and putting that many in a small tank is a death trap.
You will have better luck keeping the right amount of fish in a proper sized tank which makes it easier to keep their water healthy.
I agree cycle the tank before more fish.
Also do not put that many goldfish in that size tank, you will be doing PWC non stop to keep the water healthy. Goldfish are a dirty fish and putting that many in a small tank is a death trap.
You will have better luck keeping the right amount of fish in a proper sized tank which makes it easier to keep their water healthy.