Jeannie wrote:
On Feb 5, 3:51 pm, Tristan wrote:

Sounds like a bacterial infection. I would do a water change and start
it on some anti biotics.......better yet do what Dr. Solo suggests
and I am sure she will be aorund before to long.....A bit of salt may
help as well, but anti biotics are best bet. YOu can get them at most
any LFS.

What ever yu do do not pay any attentio to Carol Gulley aka Zebulon as
she is known to give out harmfull info and it could do your fish more
harm than good......YOu coulkd also go sign on to koishack.com and get
a proper answer really quick as they always have folks in the know
online...registration only takes a minute to access koishack.


Thanks...in the meantime I've also found information on
weloveteaching.com about koi, which I think are related enough to
goldfish to help.

You mention salt...is that table salt or epsom salts? How much for a
5 gallon tank?

We are starting with a water change (although it has not been that
long since the last one...we have done it once a month for years and
the fish has been fine).

Jeannie


Hi Jeannie,

weloveteaching.com is Dr Solo's site....so if she doesn't answer you
here then do as Tristan says and follow the advice you find there...

In addition can you tell us what size the tank is? Is it filtered? Do
you change water frequently and if yes what is your routine for doing
this? Are there any live plants in the tank?

Obviously you need to treat the immediate symptoms of your daughters
fish but IME clean water is the key so start doing 10% water changes
each day....make sure you treat the water with an appropriate
conditioner to neutralise chlorine/chloramines/heavy metals and get it
to room temperature so you don't shock the fish with the cold water we
get out our taps at this time of year (well in certain areas
anyhow)....before you start the changes take a sample of the water....if
you don't have test kits take it to your LFS and get them to test for
ammonia/nitrites/nitrates/pH.....

After 11 years it could be old tank syndrome that is hurting the
fish....therefore you need to treat the symptoms but also the
cause....so gently start changing the water so you don't shock the
fish....like I said 10% daily and vaccuum any gravel you have in there
at the same time to remove any crud that has built up over the
years.....but I am guessing as I don't know right now what you have done
in terms of tank maintenance so let us know....

Hope your goldie gets well soon

Gill