Swimming questions

[Fruitfly]

Hi Everyone,
I normally don't post to the group (I'm the shy, quiet type- never much to
say), but I have something to ask.
I have ( had) 10 Goldies, and up untill recently they were doing great.
Around 2 weeks ago, my favourite fantail, Sceramin' Jay Hawkins, started to
swim funny. His tail was always higher than his head, and if he stopped
swimming he would pop up to the surface like a cork. One morning, I saw him
floating upside down on the surface and I thought he had carked it. When I
went over for a closer look, he righted himself and swam off- any ideas what
might be causing this funny behaviour?
Also, last night one of the pearlscales was sucked up against the filter
inlet. When I found him, he was very weak, and this morning when I got up
for work he was there again, but this time he was dead 8..(
He was only the second fish I've lost in 1 year of the hobby, and according
to those in the know I'm doing a few things wrong. My tank is only 50
litres, but I do a 50% water change every Saturday morning. I only use
rainwater, so I don't need agers or other chemicals. If I'm doing things
wrong, how come the others are thriving? I know about the 10 gallon per fish
rule, but I don't have the money or space for a 100 gallon tank (please
Santa, I've been good....)

Sorry for such a long post, especially from a serial lurker, but I was
really flat today after the pearly died. The dudes at work don't understand-
" it's only a goldfish" mentality.

Thanks in advance for any help with Screamin' Jay.
Regards,
Laurie in Melbourne, Australia.

[anemone]

Firstly.....with rain water, the PH can go absolutely nuts because there is
no buffering in the water.... 50L is too small for the ammount of fish you
have/had......

I would mix half tap water and half tank water to stabillise the
water....(Melbourne waters hardness was high when i tested it last year)

go to crazy clarks/clints and get yourself one of those 50L clear plastic
storage containers to house some of your fish until you can afford a bigger
tank....i have 2 for quaranteen.

i got my 750L for $600.

HTH
"Fruitfly" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Everyone,
> I normally don't post to the group (I'm the shy, quiet type- never much to
> say), but I have something to ask.
> I have ( had) 10 Goldies, and up untill recently they were doing great.
> Around 2 weeks ago, my favourite fantail, Sceramin' Jay Hawkins, started
> to swim funny. His tail was always higher than his head, and if he stopped
> swimming he would pop up to the surface like a cork. One morning, I saw
> him floating upside down on the surface and I thought he had carked it.
> When I went over for a closer look, he righted himself and swam off- any
> ideas what might be causing this funny behaviour?
> Also, last night one of the pearlscales was sucked up against the filter
> inlet. When I found him, he was very weak, and this morning when I got up
> for work he was there again, but this time he was dead 8..(
> He was only the second fish I've lost in 1 year of the hobby, and
> according to those in the know I'm doing a few things wrong. My tank is
> only 50 litres, but I do a 50% water change every Saturday morning. I only
> use rainwater, so I don't need agers or other chemicals. If I'm doing
> things wrong, how come the others are thriving? I know about the 10 gallon
> per fish rule, but I don't have the money or space for a 100 gallon tank
> (please Santa, I've been good....)
>
> Sorry for such a long post, especially from a serial lurker, but I was
> really flat today after the pearly died. The dudes at work don't
> understand- " it's only a goldfish" mentality.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help with Screamin' Jay.
> Regards,
> Laurie in Melbourne, Australia.
>

[Geezer From The Freezer]

for 10 goldfish you need more like 350Litres!!

[anemone]

well....get yourself a few of those storage boxes....they are like $10!
"anemone" > wrote in message
...
> Firstly.....with rain water, the PH can go absolutely nuts because there
> is no buffering in the water.... 50L is too small for the ammount of fish
> you have/had......
>
> I would mix half tap water and half tank water to stabillise the
> water....(Melbourne waters hardness was high when i tested it last year)
>
> go to crazy clarks/clints and get yourself one of those 50L clear plastic
> storage containers to house some of your fish until you can afford a
> bigger tank....i have 2 for quaranteen.
>
> i got my 750L for $600.
>
> HTH
> "Fruitfly" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi Everyone,
>> I normally don't post to the group (I'm the shy, quiet type- never much
>> to say), but I have something to ask.
>> I have ( had) 10 Goldies, and up untill recently they were doing great.
>> Around 2 weeks ago, my favourite fantail, Sceramin' Jay Hawkins, started
>> to swim funny. His tail was always higher than his head, and if he
>> stopped swimming he would pop up to the surface like a cork. One morning,
>> I saw him floating upside down on the surface and I thought he had carked
>> it. When I went over for a closer look, he righted himself and swam off-
>> any ideas what might be causing this funny behaviour?
>> Also, last night one of the pearlscales was sucked up against the filter
>> inlet. When I found him, he was very weak, and this morning when I got up
>> for work he was there again, but this time he was dead 8..(
>> He was only the second fish I've lost in 1 year of the hobby, and
>> according to those in the know I'm doing a few things wrong. My tank is
>> only 50 litres, but I do a 50% water change every Saturday morning. I
>> only use rainwater, so I don't need agers or other chemicals. If I'm
>> doing things wrong, how come the others are thriving? I know about the 10
>> gallon per fish rule, but I don't have the money or space for a 100
>> gallon tank (please Santa, I've been good....)
>>
>> Sorry for such a long post, especially from a serial lurker, but I was
>> really flat today after the pearly died. The dudes at work don't
>> understand- " it's only a goldfish" mentality.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any help with Screamin' Jay.
>> Regards,
>> Laurie in Melbourne, Australia.
>>
>
>