If you go anti-biotic route go for the sulfas (sulfanomides) or oxy
tetracycline or any that is gram-negative effective, Gram negative
infections is most common type in fish, so any antibiotic for gram
negative would be fine.

Just doing a bit of checking and it sounds more liek the fish has what
is called aeromonas, or hemoorrhagic septicema where the skin gets red
lesions and infected around fin bases and in internal organs wicvh
can show up as a red anal area. Its usually caused by rich oprganic
water....A gold fish is a dirty fish as compared to other fish, so its
not impossible that organics have built up and a once a month water
change is no longer sufficient......Recovery is usually good if water
parameters are good and anti biotics are administered.

Lots of luck




On 5 Feb 2007 16:14:51 -0800, "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



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!