Help! I think my goldfish is about to die!

Vicker3000 · 08-24-2006, 08:26 PM

My goldfish seems to be losing his neutral buoyancy. For the past week or so I've been noticing that he spends a lot of his time near the surface, only coming down to the bottom every once and a while. Before this, he used to spend almost all of his time digging around in the dirt. Today when I feed him, he seemed to be having trouble angling himself upwards to get food that was floating and he had to fight pretty hard to get himself away from the water surface to catch bits of food that were falling. He even started listing a little bit, but he always catches himself and push himself upright again.

What's wrong with him? Is this some kind of swim bladder infection, or is it something else? What can I do about it? His tankmates are a guppy and an oto. This 10gal is my only tank, so I can't separate him from the others.

Fishboy08 · 08-25-2006, 01:15 AM

Well besides the swim bladder, I think it might only be a few things. Mabey a lack of O2 if you are running CO2, another reason might be bloat from getting fed too much, or too much of certain fats and proteins.

Vicker3000 · 08-25-2006, 05:33 AM

Well, I feed a mix of goldfish and guppy flakes. The goldfish also nibbles on my plants sometimes. How much food is too much?

Titania · 08-25-2006, 01:07 PM

Sounds like a swim bladder problem to me...or constipation. A good rule of thumb is that your fish's stomach is about the size of its eye. Also, it's vitally important that goldfish be fed low protein, high carb foods. The goldfish flakes will probably be OK, but the guppy flakes won't be. You should be feeding some blanched chopped fresh veggies now and then, as well.

I would fast him for 2 to 3 days. Let him work out what he's got in his system. Do some water changes to make sure the water is super clean.

Fishboy08 · 08-25-2006, 09:30 PM

Yes the guppy food probably have loads of proteins for color and what not. I agree with the fasting.

Fishboy08 · 08-25-2006, 09:32 PM

Yes the guppy food probably have loads of proteins for color and what not. I agree with the fasting. Good luck!

Fishboy

Fishboy08 · 08-25-2006, 09:33 PM

As for how much to feed, I suggest for a few weeks, mabey only feed as much as the fish will eat in one minute.. Meaning, just dump a very small pinch, and wait for it all to be eatin. Do this for about one minute for 2 weeks, then I would say you would be safe going 1 and a half minute or 2 minutes.. I wouldn't go much more than that though.

cwlodarczyk · 08-27-2006, 08:42 AM

This is a common problem with goldfish that can almost always be cured by feeding an appropriate diet. A varied diet will help, be sure to include lots of green veggies for them - mine love peas and blanched zucchini in particular. The only flakes I feed are 100% spirulina. Here is an excellent article which might give you some ideas: GldfshMalNut

Vicker3000 · 08-28-2006, 05:57 AM

Okay, I'll ditch the guppy flakes and get him some veggies. Will my guppy be okay just eating goldfish flakes? When I start feeding them, the guppy and goldfish hang around right next to each other, so whatever one eats the other eats too.

Edit:
Actually, after reading that article I think I'm going to ditch both the guppy flakes and the goldfish flakes. I looked at what was in them and both have a pretty high protein content. Is the guppy gunna be okay with a veggie diet, or should I separate them for feeding?

Vicker3000 · 08-28-2006, 01:51 PM

Where do I get epsom salt?

tazcrash69 · 08-28-2006, 02:28 PM

Local pharmacy, Wal-Mart, target, any place with pharmaceuticals should have.

Vicker3000 · 08-29-2006, 03:32 AM

Okay, I discontinued feeding and dissolved about 1.5 tbsp epsom salt in the water (it's a 10gal tank). Hopefully he gets better soon; he's been doing a lot of floating on his side now. I also have some frozen peas that I might try blanching and feeding him tomorrow. That site said peas in very small quantities serve as a laxative.

I still have that guppy in there, though. From what I've read, the guppy is supposed to have a good share of proteins. How am I supposed to give the guppy what he needs without making the goldfish sick?

Vicker3000 · 08-30-2006, 05:49 PM

I think the goldfish is about to die. He's not floating on the surface anymore. He's laying on the bottom of the tank, breathing. He won't move or anything, all he does is breath. Every once and a while he seems to "cough". I tried floating food right in front of him and he ignored it.

Vicker3000 · 08-30-2006, 06:31 PM

RIP Odhinn. =(

sandiegoryu · 08-30-2006, 09:46 PM

Sorry to hear that, but from the beginning, I don't think you should have goldfish and guppies together next time.

08-24-2006, 08:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	Help! I think my goldfish is about to die! My goldfish seems to be losing his neutral buoyancy. For the past week or so I've been noticing that he spends a lot of his time near the surface, only coming down to the bottom every once and a while. Before this, he used to spend almost all of his time digging around in the dirt. Today when I feed him, he seemed to be having trouble angling himself upwards to get food that was floating and he had to fight pretty hard to get himself away from the water surface to catch bits of food that were falling. He even started listing a little bit, but he always catches himself and push himself upright again. What's wrong with him? Is this some kind of swim bladder infection, or is it something else? What can I do about it? His tankmates are a guppy and an oto. This 10gal is my only tank, so I can't separate him from the others. Last edited by Vicker3000; 08-30-2006 at 05:52 PM.

08-25-2006, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Titania Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Shirley, MA Posts: 129	Sounds like a swim bladder problem to me...or constipation. A good rule of thumb is that your fish's stomach is about the size of its eye. Also, it's vitally important that goldfish be fed low protein, high carb foods. The goldfish flakes will probably be OK, but the guppy flakes won't be. You should be feeding some blanched chopped fresh veggies now and then, as well. I would fast him for 2 to 3 days. Let him work out what he's got in his system. Do some water changes to make sure the water is super clean. __________________ *Filstar pimp #60* (pay no attention to the two other Eheims...nope)

08-27-2006, 08:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
cwlodarczyk Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Castle Rock, CO (formerly in SoCal) Posts: 148	This is a common problem with goldfish that can almost always be cured by feeding an appropriate diet. A varied diet will help, be sure to include lots of green veggies for them - mine love peas and blanched zucchini in particular. The only flakes I feed are 100% spirulina. Here is an excellent article which might give you some ideas: GldfshMalNut __________________ Carl Former member of SCAPE, but now living in Colorado. I'm just getting back into the hobby after not doing much for the past year - feel free to PM me if you're in the Front Range area. I'm interested in buying plants and getting together with other hobbyists in the area.

08-28-2006, 05:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	Okay, I'll ditch the guppy flakes and get him some veggies. Will my guppy be okay just eating goldfish flakes? When I start feeding them, the guppy and goldfish hang around right next to each other, so whatever one eats the other eats too. Edit: Actually, after reading that article I think I'm going to ditch both the guppy flakes and the goldfish flakes. I looked at what was in them and both have a pretty high protein content. Is the guppy gunna be okay with a veggie diet, or should I separate them for feeding? Last edited by Vicker3000; 08-28-2006 at 01:46 PM.

08-28-2006, 02:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
tazcrash69 Scape? What's a scape? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (21) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hawthorne, NJ Posts: 3,014	Local pharmacy, Wal-Mart, target, any place with pharmaceuticals should have. __________________ Walter Visit my 125 profile and gallery or my 5 gallon low-tech. Proud member of:NJAGC.net --May the floor under your tank always be dry, and your glass clear!!!

08-25-2006, 01:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fishboy08 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 223	Well besides the swim bladder, I think it might only be a few things. Mabey a lack of O2 if you are running CO2, another reason might be bloat from getting fed too much, or too much of certain fats and proteins.

08-25-2006, 05:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	Well, I feed a mix of goldfish and guppy flakes. The goldfish also nibbles on my plants sometimes. How much food is too much?

08-25-2006, 09:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fishboy08 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 223	Yes the guppy food probably have loads of proteins for color and what not. I agree with the fasting.

08-25-2006, 09:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fishboy08 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 223	Yes the guppy food probably have loads of proteins for color and what not. I agree with the fasting. Good luck! Fishboy

08-25-2006, 09:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fishboy08 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 223	As for how much to feed, I suggest for a few weeks, mabey only feed as much as the fish will eat in one minute.. Meaning, just dump a very small pinch, and wait for it all to be eatin. Do this for about one minute for 2 weeks, then I would say you would be safe going 1 and a half minute or 2 minutes.. I wouldn't go much more than that though.

08-28-2006, 01:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	Where do I get epsom salt?

08-29-2006, 03:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	Okay, I discontinued feeding and dissolved about 1.5 tbsp epsom salt in the water (it's a 10gal tank). Hopefully he gets better soon; he's been doing a lot of floating on his side now. I also have some frozen peas that I might try blanching and feeding him tomorrow. That site said peas in very small quantities serve as a laxative. I still have that guppy in there, though. From what I've read, the guppy is supposed to have a good share of proteins. How am I supposed to give the guppy what he needs without making the goldfish sick?

08-30-2006, 05:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	I think the goldfish is about to die. He's not floating on the surface anymore. He's laying on the bottom of the tank, breathing. He won't move or anything, all he does is breath. Every once and a while he seems to "cough". I tried floating food right in front of him and he ignored it.

08-30-2006, 06:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
Vicker3000 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 59	RIP Odhinn. =(

08-30-2006, 09:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
sandiegoryu Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,433	Sorry to hear that, but from the beginning, I don't think you should have goldfish and guppies together next time. __________________ -Shumpei Maruyama Y.A.A. (Young Aspiring Aquascapers) Hahahahaha

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