my fish gloria

[[email protected]]

I have two goldfish in a 3 gallon tank. One, named Gill, has grown HUGE
and will feed on everything in sight. The other one, named Gloria, has
stayed almost the exact same size as when I first got them together
about 4 or 5 months ago. Gloria isn't interested in eating- she never
comes to the top of the tank for food like all fish know to do, but
will eat if food seems to float past her. I've had a hard time
maintaining the ph and ammonia levels (they fluctuate so much and never
stay steady!) and I think it has affected her... she's now hanging out
at the top of the tank with drooping fins and sometimes is upside down.
I can't see any skin problems and she isn't ballooning from dropsy. I
also never see her poop, and have tried feeding her yogurt as a trick
for constipation, but that has been unsuccessful in increasing her
appetite.

Suggestions are appreciated! Do I just have a hopelessly sick fish?
I've never really seen her happy, and the other one is doing almost too
well.

Thanks-
Antoinette

[Steve]

wrote:
> I have two goldfish in a 3 gallon tank. One, named Gill, has grown HUGE
> and will feed on everything in sight. The other one, named Gloria, has
> stayed almost the exact same size as when I first got them together
> about 4 or 5 months ago. Gloria isn't interested in eating- she never
> comes to the top of the tank for food like all fish know to do, but
> will eat if food seems to float past her. I've had a hard time
> maintaining the ph and ammonia levels (they fluctuate so much and never
> stay steady!) and I think it has affected her... she's now hanging out
> at the top of the tank with drooping fins and sometimes is upside down.
> I can't see any skin problems and she isn't ballooning from dropsy. I
> also never see her poop, and have tried feeding her yogurt as a trick
> for constipation, but that has been unsuccessful in increasing her
> appetite.
>
> Suggestions are appreciated! Do I just have a hopelessly sick fish?
> I've never really seen her happy, and the other one is doing almost too
> well.
>
> Thanks-
> Antoinette
>
Others will also tell you that 3 gallons is way too small for one
goldfish, let alone two. A 15 gal aquarium would be ok for a while, but
better to go bigger still: 20, 30 gal if possible. If you do move up to
a bigger aquarium, take your gravel, decorations and filter media long
to preserve those helpful bacteria!

I can tell you from sad experience, that the smaller/ uninterested fish
will die fairly soon if you do not go to bigger aquarium. Then because
the aquarium is so small, the other fish will die too.

If you take care of your goldfish they can live a long time, >> 10
years. Good luck!
Steve

[Koi-lo]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have two goldfish in a 3 gallon tank. One, named Gill, has grown HUGE
> and will feed on everything in sight. The other one, named Gloria, has
> stayed almost the exact same size as when I first got them together
> about 4 or 5 months ago. Gloria isn't interested in eating- she never
> comes to the top of the tank for food like all fish know to do, but
> will eat if food seems to float past her. I've had a hard time
> maintaining the ph and ammonia levels (they fluctuate so much and never
> stay steady!) and I think it has affected her... she's now hanging out
> at the top of the tank with drooping fins and sometimes is upside down.
> I can't see any skin problems and she isn't ballooning from dropsy. I
> also never see her poop, and have tried feeding her yogurt as a trick
> for constipation, but that has been unsuccessful in increasing her
> appetite.
>
> Suggestions are appreciated! Do I just have a hopelessly sick fish?
> I've never really seen her happy, and the other one is doing almost too
> well.
==========================
I believe your ill fish will soon die. Your tank is much too small for even
one goldfish, no less two. Goldfish get large, as big as 12" long and need
a minimum of 10 to 15 gallons *each* with excellent filtration and weekly
partial water changes. If you don't get a larger tank for your healthy fish
it will not last long in only 3 gallons of water. These tiny tanks are only
good for a pair of guppies or one betta. They're not suitable for goldfish.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[[email protected]]

Hi Antoinette,
Havn't been on here for a few days. So I couldn't respond sooner, but you
need to move fast if you want to save that fish!
First thing is to test your water for Amonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates. This
will let you know where you stand. If you don't have a test kit, the local
aquarium store will most likely be able to do this for you.
Second, get some of that water changed out! It sounds like your poor fish
are being poisoned by too much toxicity. Be sure to use conditioned water
(no chlorine or chloramines), and tempered to within 2 degrees F of your
existing tank water. You may have to do this repeatedly till you can get a
larger tank.
Third, get a much larger tank than what you are using. If you live close
to Maryland, I have an extra 20 gallon you can use till you can afford a
bigger tank. These freindly people have helped me correct the same
mistakes for my fish. I got lucky, and didn't lose either of mine.
Fourth, get some Bio Spira to help get your new tank up to spead fast.
It's made by a company called Marineland, and I'd swear by it. One use,
and my tank came into balance in just a few days.
if you are close by, and want to use the other 20 gal tank I have, just
respond to my email address, and I'll make arrangements for you to come
get it.

--
With all due respect
Kevin

[[email protected]]

until a GF reaches 4-5 issues they are not "mature" and may express genes that are
going to be iffy for a long life (7 inches in koi). some are just runts (I got a koi
runt almost same size as I got it).
this is the reason some people lay out more money for big fish. 1 - 2 year olds have
shown they got the genes (immunity) to survive in a pond that long.
Ingrid

wrote:

>I have two goldfish in a 3 gallon tank. One, named Gill, has grown HUGE
>and will feed on everything in sight. The other one, named Gloria, has
>stayed almost the exact same size as when I first got them together
>about 4 or 5 months ago.


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