9 comments

  1. Yes, release the fish and the water back into the aquarium after the bath. Be sure to examine the bumps during the bath, and report back

    I wonder if because the fish haven’t been well, you’re paying super close attention, and noticing the small things? Maybe not, but my old fish have all developed those bumps I see on her tail fin and dorsal fin

    I think the meds may be to blame for some of these issues. Meds are not meds at all, unless you purchased from a vet. They’re dangerous chemicals that all too often push fish suffering from issues caused by bad water over the edge. Many a fish will die from chemical poisoning. Water treatment can be lumped in this same category, but it’s the lesser of two evils

    You may not have noticed yet, but we preach all natural here on this site. It’s a difficult goal to reach, but if I remember correctly, you’re on well water, so you’re one of the few that can avoid the use of it altogether. Once you get over this spike, let’s work towards an all natural ecosystem

  2. How old did you say the fish are? I’ve looked at the video long and hard. I see imperfections, common with older fish, just like dogs and cats and ourselves as well. The young are seemingly perfect, but as we age, we get wrinkles and warts; so do animals

    I’m not saying there’s nothing to be concerned about; there is, but, you’re addressing these concerns with excellent water; the key to great health. It took time for your fish to become unhealthy. They started life with excellent health, and over the years living in water less than what it should be, their health deteriorated

    Even though I truly believe all of the fish will soon begin to thrive in the environment you’re creating, there’s no reason you can’t do a few extra things for them. You could buy some Epsom salts, and give them a magnesium boost; very beneficial. Premix 1 tablespoon of Espom per 10 gallons of tank water in a cup of warmed tank water. Add to freshwater before a water change

    For the bath, add 1 tablespoon of aquarium safe salt to 1 gallon of tank water. Dissolve salt in a cup of warm tank water. Here’s how I do it. I catch up the fish using a gallon container. I add the salt solution gradually, pouring it slowly and all around, mixing with a hand. Water should be 72 to 74f for bath. The cup of warm salt water will warm it a little more which is beneficial. Leave the fish in the bath for three minutes. If it tilts during the bath, return it home, and it will make a speedy recovery. I’ve never had this happen; maybe it’s a myth. lol

    Didn’t see the lump you were referring to. Describe lump and where it’s located

    Our remedies were designed just for this situation. The water issue resolved, but now the fish need a boost

    Release fish and the bath water into fish house if you haven’t salted recently

    1. They’re approx 8 years old. The problem with the imperfections is they’ve only become noticeable after this episode of illness. We went out today and when I returned I noticed Gina was taking a stringy poop. I was preparing to feed them, and as I was doing this Gina began to dart across the tank a few times like a torpedo. I have seen her doing this before but it’s not regular, it’s seldom. I’ve been hoping to not see that anymore so was disappointed I witnessed it again because it concerns me. I feel like she needs ‘help’ but I don’t know what to do. So anyway, after the darting, the stringy poop fell off and she swam normally. One thing I have noticed in past couple days, even though the water is better, she’s taken on this droopy tail swim. The other two have their tails wide but she’s just kinda droopy looking. The clamped fins isn’t regular, but occasional, like she’s getting sick again even though the water is improving greatly, daily. It’s almost as if it all started when the water got better!

      So the salt bath, I’ll need to get a thermometer tomorrow. I used to have a floating one but I can’t find it. Now when I’m done I should return the fish to the aquarium and pour the salted water into the aquarium? I’ll also buy a small tank to do these baths. I do have Aquarium Salt, a small pint. I do have some ‘people’ 100% pure epsom salt (nothing else, no fragrance, nothing) so I do have that on hand. Should I try epsom salt in the tank concurrently with Aq Salt?

      What do you think about stringy poop? I did read that on your site somewhere, I have to find it. I’ve noticed regular poop, but stringy poop is occasional. Maybe she has a digestive problem?

      I will make a separate post and get a screen shot of the lumpy profile.
      Thank you!

  3. Don’t be tempted to use meds. It’s not the solution. I can’t say it’s not ich, but it seems unlikely unless you’ve introduced a new fish or plant this past year. Yes, it could take a year to notice.

    It’s possible you had a little ammonia previously, and the fish was burned, explaining the clamped fins. The only reason a fish behaves like this is because it’s been burned by ammonia or KH. The pain typically outlasts the ammonia spike, if this is the case, however, most fish clamp the dorsal fin as well. Have you seen this?

    Older fish sometimes develop little white bumps on their tail and dorsal fins. This could be what you’re seeing. They’re not really warts, and they don’t spread to other fish. Normally you’ll see these bumps on the very edge of the fins. It wouldn’t hurt to perform a garlic remedy. All the fish will benefit healthy wise, and if by chance you have ich, it destroys the parasite, but it takes two or three treatments

    The white fish is a male. The males chase the females until they become exhausted and tire. Then they bump against them in excitement. This action causes the eggs to be released. Nature taking her course. It seems harsh, but without the males, the females can become impacted

    It’s true recovery takes time, but there’s nothing wrong with be concerned about them. You know them, and you know when they don’t feel well

    I would give the fish a salt bath. This will give you a chance to get a closer look, and if it is ich, the salt should destroy them. With all the meds you’ve used recently, I find it hard to believe the ich could survive

    You know your tank is cycled, when there’s a healthy levels of nitrates, with zero ammonia and nitrites, as these two toxins are being converted as they’re being created

    Stick with the salt bath, not a salt tonic, as salt is stressful, and it would be best to avoid using anything that could cause stress to the organs

    While the fish is in the bath, get a close up pic of the bumps if possible

    1. OK great. Will do. Will have to do later this evening. They seem to be “ok” this morning. Still not their normal selves, but it seems after a good nights sleep they all look good in the morning. I’ve never done a salt bath so I will find your instructions. What about adding salt to the tank? Did you notice the lumpy side of Gino? Haha, Crystal is a boy – wow, thought it was a girl because her tail is shorter, but now I realize she’s a different type of goldfish, so I was wondering! That would mean Gino is a Gina? LOL I have always wondered if I had that backwards!
      The pond pump has absolutely made a difference in water quality. It is so much clearer in just a matter of a few days. The nitrite level looks to be zero, and ammonia in the test tube is pure yellow, but the nitrate on the stick is very pale pink. So something is going on, seems to be positive. Now if they would just react to good water conditions : \
      Thank you!

  6. Well the pump came in and has been running for a couple days now and the water looks VERY clear! I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on all parameters and things are consistently staying on the good side. Nitrate is the only thing that registers on the stick and it’s very light pink, and the Ammonia test tube is pure yellow, no tinge of green. So water quality is definitely looking up.

    I know things can’t change overnight, well sometimes they do, but I just feel as if my fish, especially the colorful one (Gino) w/one bulging eye, are just not ‘well’. Something is bothering them all and I cannot pinpoint it. The spots of white on their tail bug me. Gino is not so smooth looking on one side of his body, and even though he’s swimming around better, no longer sinking or sitting on the bottom, just seems to get around like he’s just unwell feeling. There are times when he looks like he’s getting better, but then that goes away when I see the slower movement and clamped fin. His fin doesn’t stay clamped but he just does it in a way that’s not his normal self. Like he’s just moseying along. The white one, at times, goes into episodes of chasing him around and I can’t stop it.

    When I read about fish diseases with these white spots, they all talk about ich, but it’s not all over the body, just on the tail, maybe a hint on the dorsal. I do have Paraguard by Seachem but the water is so nice right now I’m afraid to screw it up, but I can’t help but wonder if I should try it. I made a video of them tonight. Maybe you can check it out to see what I’m seeing.

    Cycling the tank…. at what point do I know this has happened? When ZERO nitrates show?

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