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Forum THE LOUNGE Question for (Gold)Fish Owners

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    • MimzMum
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        I have a solitary goldfish who was a ‘feeder’ brought home with a mate some 12+ years ago for my kids. The mate passed within the first week we had it home, but this guy (or girl, who can tell with fish?) has gone strong for all these years, barring some minor ailments due to water changes that led to blood poisoning some years ago. Also he tends to bloat a bit, but usually once I change him he’s fine. He’s gone from being a scrappy-looking little chum bucket to a long tailed, shiny, gorgeous aquatic specimen.

        Today, I am watching him desperately trying to keep from floating at the top of his tank. Not upside down, but I don’t doubt this is most likely impending. I have figured on some kind of swim bladder infection (the water I just cleaned a few days ago is cloudy and bubbles are forming on the water surface) and he doesn’t seem to be going to the bathroom. He is mildly swollen in the abdomen and looks uncomfortable.

        I’ve searched it on the web, and it doens’t look good. I will try another water change, but really I’m not sure he’s going to last very much longer.

        Anyone onboard who’s dealt with fish, fancy or plain, can you tell me what is the best way to keep Shimmer (or as well lovingly have called him for years, Mr. Fishy) as comfortable as possible until he passes? I’ve already tried salts in the water to see if it would change his status any, but I kind of doubt we’re going to save him this time. I also placed a small bit of boiled peas in his tank, but he’s not eating either. I wouldn’t want to myself, if I were blocked up.

        He’s had a long life, I want it to be as pleasant as possible when he has to cross the bridge.

        *kind of tearing up here* I know, some folks would say, “it’s just a fish…” But Shims is more than that. He’s family. I won’t miss cleaning the tank. But I’ll sure miss him, lazily floating by on those gossamer wings of his. And coming full tilt to the side of the tank when he thinks you’re feeding him.

        Many thanks in advance.


      • Barbie
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          Awww, I’m sorry. I have no experience with fish, so I can’t offer you anything helpful, but here are some (((hugs!))) for you and ((((healthy vibes))))) for Mr. Fishy!


        • Desma
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            I am not sure either since I do have goldfish in my pond, and frogs too but have never had that kind of problem with them. I have had to put in ick stuff a long time ago and natural fish antibiotic but that is all. My goldfish are huge from being in the pond and I am close to my fish and they know me. The frogs too too since I raised them from tadpoles, I feed them flies etc by hand at times and they don’t hope away but sit at the side of the pond in the same place waiting for me to feed them. Right now, they are sleeping under the rocks and vegetation by the pond getting ready for a long winter’s nap. The fish slow down in the cold. Do you have a pump and filter that airates the water at all? I love fancy goldfish and had a tank a few years ago but gave up because for some reason, I am jinxed with them only lasting a year or so. The ones out in the pond live for years like carp but I have to put an electric fence around it to keep the racoons from eating them if they show up.


          • jerseygirl
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              MimzMum, member Crayon is into fish and I would guess knows a lot.  She even is part of a “fish forum”!  Maybe PM her?


            • MimzMum
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                Thanks Jerz, I’ll see to that.
                Yes, we have a filter, it just doesn’t seem to work too well.
                But this evening he seems a little more comfortable, so perhaps it’s just taking a while for the salts to work, and the two hales of pea I put in there have disappeared, and he’s searching for more, so that’s a good sign.


              • amandafaith90
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                   The best way to humanly ease a fish’s death is to mix clove oil and water in a small container, and then add your poor fishy. The oil works as a anesthetic – you put the fish in, then, when he appears listless and stops moving, you add a small amount of vodka, which will ensure a smooth and painless passing. He doesn’t feel a thing, and is spared the pain and suffering he may have experianced otherwise. Hopefully you won’t end up having to do this. 


                • MimzMum
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                    Thank you, Amanda, I was hoping there was some way I could achieve this, and I’ll use it only if I have to. So far tonight he looks much more comfortable and I’m hoping those salts and some decent food in him over the next few days will make him feel better. If I see him declining or suffering I shall employ your methods.
                    I wonder, should I only do a partial water change or clear the whole tank and begin again with fresh water? I’m thinking maybe at his age, total cleaning is too much for him. Plus it removes all his necessary salts and minerals.
                    Scary to think that the bottled water I use that should be so good for him is actually making him sick…makes you wonder why WE drink it? 0_o But I don’t dare use our well water, it’s definitely toxic.
                    I’ve read that if you have the right plants in the water with them, they eat those and don’t need things like flakes and regular ‘fish food’. Not sure I could get those kinds of things up here though. I wish I’d known that years ago.


                  • sammyp
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                       Hiya,

                       

                      You could try getting some live daphnia (water fleas) or some of the tetra food in jelly (like wet food for fish!) that might help ease his gut a bit. The peas are good, but be very careful to remove them quickly if uneaten, as they will very quickly raise the pollutant levels in the water if left to sit. It might be a good idea to have some water taken in to your local fish store if they do testing there, and have them test it to try and help figure out what’s happening with the water quality. Also, best not to do a total change, unless you are certain the temp/pH/composition of the water is exactly the same as the water you’ve just removed (fish are very sensitive to these changing) and be sure to keep some of your original filter material in original water to preserve the helpful bacteria in your filter. Otherwise, a partial waterchange is best. It certainly can’t hurt 


                    • MimzMum
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                        Thanks sammyp! Now when you say original filter material, do you mean not to change all the charcoal out of the filter bag? (it’s one of those Whisper brand) It really gets slimy quickly and I hate to leave any of that nasty stuff to be recycled through his tank.
                        BTW, there are no plants, rocks, bubblers or anything in his water. Just him and his food (and whatever comes out of him.) When we first had him he was only in a fishbowl and we read that wasn’t good because the overall oxygen level surface ratio is really low in those things. So he lives in a 25 gallon tank with all the room he could possibly want. Since he’s probably at the end of his life, I’m thinking it would be silly to get anything to put in there, unless it’s plant material that he can eat as well as hide in.


                      • Lintini
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                          Aww MimzMum I am so sorry to hear about your fishy When my 16” Pleco died I cried I had him since he was itty bitties 2-3 inches long. I accidentally killed him along with my 10 year old catfish from nitrate poisoning. Such a great Petco Aquatics Specialist I was…

                          Anywho, just like everyone has been saying, a partial water change couldn’t hurt, and/or changing your filter cartridge. It would also be great if you could test your water with a kit, you could tell me your readings here and I could help you or I am sure the specialist at your local pet supply would help you too.

                          What type of water conditioner do you use? Ohhh you know what also works great…..hold on let me go look what its called under my tank *runs off* Ok , its called “Cycle” “reduces fish loss, More Nitrifiers, Keeps Aquariums Healthy – releases massive amounts of beneficial bacteria into the aquarium. Each dose works to reduce dangerous ammonia and nitrite levels in the aquarium.”

                          Here is a link for it, and even if you don’t get it now, it’s great for all aquariums.

                          http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3983

                          Oh….and if you do try to treat the tank with medication, remember most aquarium meds want you to take out your carbon filter!

                          Best luck with your fish {{{{Healing Vibes}}}}


                        • sammyp
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                            Posted By MimzMum on 10/24/2009 11:27 PM
                            Thanks sammyp! Now when you say original filter material, do you mean not to change all the charcoal out of the filter bag? (it’s one of those Whisper brand) It really gets slimy quickly and I hate to leave any of that nasty stuff to be recycled through his tank.
                            BTW, there are no plants, rocks, bubblers or anything in his water. Just him and his food (and whatever comes out of him.) When we first had him he was only in a fishbowl and we read that wasn’t good because the overall oxygen level surface ratio is really low in those things. So he lives in a 25 gallon tank with all the room he could possibly want. Since he’s probably at the end of his life, I’m thinking it would be silly to get anything to put in there, unless it’s plant material that he can eat as well as hide in.

                             

                             

                            Hi. Yes. try not to change all the filter material at the same time (by doing so you effectively destroy the colony of bacteria that break down your fish waste). As for plants, they are really great in any tank, as they feed off nitrates to a certain extent and yes, goldfish LOVE to eat them. As Lintini suggested, cycle is great stuff to help boost your filter bacteria levels, and also, it could be worth looking into getting a new filter for him… goldfish can live for as long as 25-30 years. It is possible for him to recover from a problem like this too. Sometimes all it requires is a change of diet.  If you want to clean the slime from the filter charcoal, try doing it the same time as your partial water changes, and wash the filter material you’re planning on keeping in the water you’ve removed. That will preserve the beneficial bacteria! It does sound like the tank needs a better filter system though, especially if it’s getting slimy very quickly. Well, hope that all helps, best of luck with your fishie 


                          • Crayon
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                              Sorry about your goldie MimzMum.

                              Do some partial water changes. Those are always good. Maybe one a day for a few days.
                              Also I would put fresh carbon into your filter. That will help with the bubbling on the surface which may be caused by extra organics and proteins in the water.

                              You should never really change out your cartridge. Just clean it out in discarded tank water when it gets sludgie.
                              The same fiber sleeve thing can be used for a very long time. It would really help if you got him a new filter. Whisper filters are not the best for
                              goldfish. AquaClear filters are the way to go. They use a sponge to filter the gunk and it is easy to squeeze the sponge clean.. much easier than trying to clean a cartridge. Here is the best filter for your size tank: Aquaclear 50. Goldfish tank should have a turnover of 10x the water valume per hour. So your tank being around 20 gallons makes this filter the best becuase it cycles 200 gallons per hour.

                              I would fast the fish for a few days. Let it clear out the system first and then feed the shelled pees. Fishy may not have swim bladder issues he may just be blocked up and gassy. So hopefully he will feel better after a fast. I make home made fish food for my goldies. Many of the problems with swim bladders and goldfish stem from the commercial fish foods. So if you are interested in a recipe I can give you one.

                              I have had to euthenize fish before using clove oil. But your fish does not sound that sick at this point. swim bladder malfunctions are not really falal like it is portrayed on many websites. I know a lot of people including myself that have fish with no swim bladder use anymore. They end up sitting on the bottom of the tank and scoot around that way. It is kinda sad but I think my fish is still happy so I do not euthenize.

                              here are a few Q’s for you.

                              Do you have water testers? If not can you get it tested at a pet store?

                              Do you have an air pump/air stone?

                              Is your fish clamping it’s fins against it’s sides and or holding the top fin down?

                              is their anything else unusual besides the loss of appetite and floatiness?

                              What exacly do you feed him?

                              I hope your fish friends gets well! Good luck. I will be checking in on this thread and be hoping for only good news.

                               

                               

                               

                               

                               

                               


                            • katie, max & penny
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                                try feeding him some peas- it helps with potty issues. sorry mimzy!!


                              • MimzMum
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                                  Well, he did eat the two halves of pea I put in there yesterday, plus another two halves today it looks like. But I’ll hold off if he should fast for a few days.
                                  He really is doing better. After the salts had been in for most of the day he was back to gliding through the water like he used to. He can go to the bottom of the tank now without difficulty and seems to be giving off much happier vibes. I was just so concerned that he seemed to be so uncomfortable and blown up I thought he was going to have some kind of fishy embolism or something. He was in real distress.
                                  But today, you’d think nothing happened. He seems perfectly normal!
                                   
                                  Okay…to the questions:
                                   
                                  Do you have water testers? If not can you get it tested at a pet store?
                                  Not sure about this. One big problem is expense and how far the hubby will go to help Mr. Fishy. We use bottled water for the tank right now, Crystal Springs, the same one we drink so we buy that in cases at Sam’s. The (house) well water has been tested at our local DEC, but it shows nothing significant. I just know I’ve boiled, cooled and distilled it before to use on the fish, and he didn’t do well with it at all.
                                   
                                  Do you have an air pump/air stone?
                                  We used to…I need a new set. The air pumps tend to go bad quickly and make a lot of noise. That’s a problem I’d like to avoid. also I don’t want to create too much current in the water because that seems to really tire Shimmer out.
                                   
                                  Is your fish clamping it’s fins against it’s sides and or holding the top fin down?
                                  Honestly, I can’t remember. I don’t think he was, but couldn’t say for sure because he was flailing about trying to expel whatever was in him is my guess. But today all fins are out and flowing beautifully. He looks like he’s soaring through space more than he is through water, he seems content.
                                   
                                  is their anything else unusual besides the loss of appetite and floatiness?
                                  He just seemed so blown up. Like he had a cork stuck in him. Although I wouldn’t say he was terribly expanded, but obviously nothing was coming out. There is almost NO mess on the tank bottom. I’m used to seeing little remnants all over by the end of two weeks and, come to think of it, there’s been close to none of that for some time now actually.
                                  He could not get to the bottom of the tank and was fighting the current from the filter all day. He seemed exhausted the day before from doing the same thing, without the bloat. Yesterday, if anyone walked by the tank he’d become visibly agitated and shoot through the water as best he could and I’m not sure he could breathe well. After the salts took effect, he relaxed exponentially.
                                   
                                  What exacly do you feed him?
                                  He’s been on a steady diet of TetraFin goldfish flakes all his life. Naturally, being a feeder, no one expected him to last this long. Since we don’t know how long he will last after all this, like I said, the hubby isn’t too keen on the idea of budgeting too highly for him now, but I’m hoping to steer that thinking to at least make Shimmer as comfortable as possible until the crisis has passed. I’m not 100% sure he’s cured of what was ailing him yesterday-or for however long it’s been-or how much longer he’ll go on…but I want to do right by him. He does get kind of overlooked and currently I’m the only one really caring for him (no I can’t say that…I may do the cleaning, but the hubby does the feeding until yesterday…now it’s just me as primary caregiver.)
                                   
                                  I would love the fish food recipe, Crayon, thank you! Is it very difficult to do? Will I be needing any exotic supplies?
                                  We have one large fish store here called Fishtopia. I was thinking of giving them a call tomorrow to see about the daphnia, etc. (Are those the same thing as brine shrimp? I remember feeding those to the fish I had when I was a child.) I don’t think my local Petco is really up on the latest for fishies. But I don’t want to go gonzo buying all sorts of things he doesn’t need either.
                                   
                                  I’ll also try the tips you’ve listed here…and to the other members who’ve helped as well, I can’t say thank you enough!

                                  Here’s pic I just snapped of him. Poor guy, he looked right at me as the flash went off, so I had to fix his red eye for him. (Is it red eye with fish, or white eye?)

                                  Anyway, he looks properly cross. lolz…


                                • katie, max & penny
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                                    petsmart tests water for free!


                                  • Crayon
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                                      I am so glad he is feeling better. I asked if he was clamping his fins because that is a sign that they don’t feel well. Like holding your tummy when your stomach hurts. So I am glad he is not doing that.

                                      Having an air stone will keep the surface of the water from bubbling or getting a film on it. But it is not necessary to always have one. They are more important in the summer months when it gets hot.

                                      I am certain that his problem was with the flake food. A prolonged diet of flakes is a common cause of swim bladder disorders. Mainly with fancy goldfish. Yours being a feeder type has helped him stay healthy so far. They are much less prone to health problems.

                                      I assume that you will not be upgrading the filter since the husband is not so into the fish? But if you do decide to, let me know and I can help you set it up without loosing your cycle (good bacteria).

                                      I think fishy will be fine once he fast for a couple days and starts his new diet! There are so many things you can feed him from the kitchen. You’d be surprised. I post a link to the recipes in a minute. They are not too hard to make if you have a food processor or a good blender even. Otherwize you will have to chop chop and chop! It’s basically made with greens(fresh or canned), canned fish, a multivitamin and gelatin. And you keep it in the freezer.

                                      But for now I will just give you a list of things you can feed him..

                                      frozen cocktail shrimp, or salad shrimp. cut some into bite sized pieces. Shrimp is often given with peas when a fish gets blocked up.
                                      imitation crab, cut to bite sizes.
                                      blanched zucchini (or microwaved) rubberband a piece to a rock or get an aquarium food clip.
                                      blanched broccoli- that can get a little messy if it is overcooked.
                                      blanched greens- tie or clip a piece in the tank and let fishy pick at it.

                                      here are some treats that should not be fed as often or as much. More like once a week.

                                      an orange slice or wedge. The rind will keep it afloat while fishy eats the fruit. It can be fun to watch!
                                      bits of banana. My fish love this.
                                      most any fruit he can have a bite or three of. like pear, mango, raspbery, strawberry..

                                      just keep in mind that fishy may not like fresh foods at first or even realize that it is food. So make sure to give it a couple tries.
                                      And not every fish is going to like the same things so just try stuff out to see what is yummy.

                                      The best thing about having goldfish and bunnies is that they both eat greens! So shopping for fish food supplies is also bunny food too.


                                    • Crayon
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                                        Here is the link to all the recipes. thegab.org/Goldfish/gelfoodrecipes.html
                                        They will make much too much food, so you would want to halve them at least.
                                        They are kind of complicated, so I am going to type up one of the more simple and small recipes I like to make for your first batch.
                                        I’ll do it tomorrow.  By the way, the gab is the best goldfish forum out there. Just like this one, it is super friendly and full of knowledgable mods and members.

                                         

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                                    Forum THE LOUNGE Question for (Gold)Fish Owners