Sick Goldfish

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  • Sick Goldfish and reasons why

Sick goldfish? There are a many reasons goldfish become ill. The water quality is poor in most cases. Bad bacteria has taken over the environment. Water could have a low carbonate mineral value which affects oxygen levels. Covered aquariums reduce oxygen by cutting off oxygen supply from the surface. Water is oxygenated by method of diffusion. This occurs when moving surface water pulls oxygen from the air above

Bad bacteria thrive in water low in oxygen

Comfort zone for pH is 8 to 8.4 ppm

Diseased goldfish

If KH is healthy, and your aquarium is uncovered, it’s possible the water movement is poor. Goldfish waste produces a harmless gas, carbon dioxide. Co2 takes up space in the water, keeping oxygen from entering. Only a real pond has the capability to eliminate these harmless gases

Comfort zone for KH is 120 to 140 ppm

Goldfish unhappy

New goldfish keepers, even experienced ones may not be aware of the nitrogen cycle. The fish may be exposed to ammonia, nitrites or nitrates.

Read and follow to keep their environment safe

Read and follow the 10 Steps Goldfish Koi Keeping

Often overlooked, general hardness (GH) is all important to the health of your fish. A combination of

magnesium (two parts) and (one part) calcium, long term health is impossible without healthy levels

Goldfish listless

TEST GH in tap

Comfort zone for GH is 200 to 400 ppm

If GH is low in tap, buffering will get to be second nature, and in time, you’ll know just how much and when to treat

If GH is low, raise by dissolving one tablespoon (per 10 gallons of tank or pond water) of Epsom salt in warm water and then
premixing one tablespoon in freshwater; wait for one hour and then test. If still low, pull a gallon of fish water and
more Epsom salt according to test result

sick goldfish
Sick goldfish

If your GH is in the comfort zone, your fish could be infected with bad bacteria

Refer to:

Goldfish Care

Step 9: Water Parameters

Recommend using

Health Tonic

Shop Natural Remedies

Back to Diagnose symptoms

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Author: Brenda Rand

 

By Venus

Master goldfish keeper