Stressed and injured goldfish

[Michael]

I have an older goldfish (3 years maybe?) about 8 inches long in a 30
gallon with two plecostomus of about the same age (about 12" each).
I've never had problems with the plecos, they stay out of the
goldfish's way pretty well. About a year ago, the goldfish developed
a red sore above it's mouth where the skin seems to be missing. Since
then it hasn't looked any better or worse. About 3 months ago, I
thought I would try to do something about it and put the fish in a
hospital tank (10gallon) and treated it with an antibiotic and dipped
it in a merbromide solution (at the advise of a petstore owner). This
didn't seem to make a difference with the sore, but ever since then,
the fish has seemed stressed. Any tiny movement around the tank makes
it race around, it's fins seem to twitch occationally, and it doesnt
eat much. I'd be really sad to lose this fish, but I dont really have
much experience in treating a stressed fish. What are possible causes
and solutions?
Thanks for any help.

michael

[Geezer From Freezer]

Possible causes? Pl*co attaching themselves to fish.
Out of curiousity what are your water parameters.



Michael wrote:
>
> I have an older goldfish (3 years maybe?) about 8 inches long in a 30
> gallon with two plecostomus of about the same age (about 12" each).
> I've never had problems with the plecos, they stay out of the
> goldfish's way pretty well. About a year ago, the goldfish developed
> a red sore above it's mouth where the skin seems to be missing. Since
> then it hasn't looked any better or worse. About 3 months ago, I
> thought I would try to do something about it and put the fish in a
> hospital tank (10gallon) and treated it with an antibiotic and dipped
> it in a merbromide solution (at the advise of a petstore owner). This
> didn't seem to make a difference with the sore, but ever since then,
> the fish has seemed stressed. Any tiny movement around the tank makes
> it race around, it's fins seem to twitch occationally, and it doesnt
> eat much. I'd be really sad to lose this fish, but I dont really have
> much experience in treating a stressed fish. What are possible causes
> and solutions?
> Thanks for any help.
>
> michael

[Mel]

I should imagine it's related to water quality. A 30 gallon tank is way too
small for 3 fish of that size. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I
suspect that they too high and that is why your goldfish is not happy. If
this is the case you need to think about getting a bigger tank (plecos
really shouldn't be kept with goldfish) but in the mean time increase your
tank maintenance. I'd start daily 30% water changes (using temperature
matched an dechlorinated water) until ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0 and
nitrates are under 20.
Mel.


"Geezer From Freezer" > wrote in message
...
> Possible causes? Pl*co attaching themselves to fish.
> Out of curiousity what are your water parameters.
>
>
>
> Michael wrote:
> >
> > I have an older goldfish (3 years maybe?) about 8 inches long in a 30
> > gallon with two plecostomus of about the same age (about 12" each).
> > I've never had problems with the plecos, they stay out of the
> > goldfish's way pretty well. About a year ago, the goldfish developed
> > a red sore above it's mouth where the skin seems to be missing. Since
> > then it hasn't looked any better or worse. About 3 months ago, I
> > thought I would try to do something about it and put the fish in a
> > hospital tank (10gallon) and treated it with an antibiotic and dipped
> > it in a merbromide solution (at the advise of a petstore owner). This
> > didn't seem to make a difference with the sore, but ever since then,
> > the fish has seemed stressed. Any tiny movement around the tank makes
> > it race around, it's fins seem to twitch occationally, and it doesnt
> > eat much. I'd be really sad to lose this fish, but I dont really have
> > much experience in treating a stressed fish. What are possible causes
> > and solutions?
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
> > michael