Whats wrong with this goldfish

Hi folks,

These are photos of one of my girlfriends two goldfish:

http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish1.jpg
http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish2.jpg
http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish3.jpg

As you can see, he has black markings just above his mouth and around his
gills.

The little "moustache" marking has been there about a week. I initially
thought it was bruising from where he likes to swim into the side of the
tank, but over the last 2-3 days, the gill markings have appeared too. The
black marks around his eyes have always been there.

He doesn't seem distressed in anyway, and still eats like the a glutton.

The other fish is unaffected.

They have recently been moved into a new tank, which is much larger and
cleaner than their old one. That was 3 weeks ago.

Can anyone tell me what those markings might be, and if it is an ailment of
some kind, how to treat it?

Many thanks,

Jason

My goldfish had black around his mouth. I put him in q-tank and added
melafix in little over a week the black went away.


Patty










"Jason Mann" wrote in message
...
Hi folks,

These are photos of one of my girlfriends two goldfish:

http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish1.jpg
http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish2.jpg
http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish3.jpg

As you can see, he has black markings just above his mouth and around his
gills.

The little "moustache" marking has been there about a week. I initially
thought it was bruising from where he likes to swim into the side of the
tank, but over the last 2-3 days, the gill markings have appeared too. The
black marks around his eyes have always been there.

He doesn't seem distressed in anyway, and still eats like the a glutton.

The other fish is unaffected.

They have recently been moved into a new tank, which is much larger and
cleaner than their old one. That was 3 weeks ago.

Can anyone tell me what those markings might be, and if it is an ailment
of
some kind, how to treat it?

Many thanks,

Jason

The black marks are ammonia or nitrite burns. Do an immediate 30% water
change to help relieve the irritation to the fish.
Your tank is still cycling and during this time the ammonia and nitrite
levels spike to toxic levels. Your tank is only cycled when your ammonia and
nitrite are at 0 and your nitrate is over 0 but preferably under 20. While
this is all going on it is important to test your water often (everyday is
best) to monitor the levels. it is also often necessary to carry out a water
change daily to dilute the ammonia and nitrite so making it less harmful to
your fish.
Mel.

"Jason Mann" wrote in message
...
Hi folks,

These are photos of one of my girlfriends two goldfish:

http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish1.jpg
http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish2.jpg
http://www.b0rken.org/~jason/fish3.jpg

As you can see, he has black markings just above his mouth and around his
gills.

The little "moustache" marking has been there about a week. I initially
thought it was bruising from where he likes to swim into the side of the
tank, but over the last 2-3 days, the gill markings have appeared too. The
black marks around his eyes have always been there.

He doesn't seem distressed in anyway, and still eats like the a glutton.

The other fish is unaffected.

They have recently been moved into a new tank, which is much larger and
cleaner than their old one. That was 3 weeks ago.

Can anyone tell me what those markings might be, and if it is an ailment
of
some kind, how to treat it?

Many thanks,

Jason

"Mel" wrote in message
news
The black marks are ammonia or nitrite burns. Do an immediate 30% water
change to help relieve the irritation to the fish.
Your tank is still cycling and during this time the ammonia and nitrite
levels spike to toxic levels. Your tank is only cycled when your ammonia
and
nitrite are at 0 and your nitrate is over 0 but preferably under 20. While
this is all going on it is important to test your water often (everyday is
best) to monitor the levels. it is also often necessary to carry out a
water
change daily to dilute the ammonia and nitrite so making it less harmful
to
your fish.
Mel.

How does one monitor the levels of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?

Jason

Jason,

Definitely ammonia and nitrite burns (as mel pointed out).

You can detect ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels
by buying a test kit from your local fish shop.

Get them immediately, but before that, do the 30%
water change (with treated, matched temperature water)
as mel also suggest - she's a wise one!

Thanks very much Mel and Geezer.

My girlfriend has done the water change already, and is off to the fish shop
to get the testing kits.

Hi, I am the girlfriend!

I have done the 30% water change earlier as suggested - thank you Mel.

I went to the fish shop and explained the problem and advice I got from this
newsgroup. The bloke in there has always given me good advice in the past,
he said there was nothing wrong with the fish, it was a pigment change, and
that this does happen to goldfish over the years. He said what I should
worry about was if the spots were white or red.

I did the test for the water as suggested too, and there is no problem with
ammonia and nitrites or nitrates - all levels are fine and within the ok
ranges on the test kit literature. I called the guy in the fish shop to make
sure I was reading the results right.

He said if it was ammonia then both the fish would have the problem with
these burns.

So my question is, what do I do now!?!

Thanks

Georgia
"Jason Mann" wrote in message
...
Thanks very much Mel and Geezer.

My girlfriend has done the water change already, and is off to the fish
shop
to get the testing kits.

On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 13:25:14 +0100, "Mel" wrote:

The black marks are ammonia or nitrite burns.

Hi,

Just started to read this thread. From everything I have read
the black comes as they are healing. You said one of the fish
had them when you bought it and then they went away. That
is because he/she completely healed. If they come back that
is because they have been burned again and are once again
in the healing process.

No matter what the problem with a fish. The very first thing to
do is water change, water change and water change. This
seems to be the root of many many problems and doing it
does not harm the fish.

Good luck with your guys.

Azul

Thank you Azul

I did another 30% change today as advised by Mel in her posts, and will do
another on Monday.

Georgia
"Azul" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 13:25:14 +0100, "Mel" wrote:

The black marks are ammonia or nitrite burns.

Hi,

Just started to read this thread. From everything I have read
the black comes as they are healing. You said one of the fish
had them when you bought it and then they went away. That
is because he/she completely healed. If they come back that
is because they have been burned again and are once again
in the healing process.

No matter what the problem with a fish. The very first thing to
do is water change, water change and water change. This
seems to be the root of many many problems and doing it
does not harm the fish.

Good luck with your guys.

Azul