Newbie fish disaster at hand

My recent attempt to maintain 1 little goldfish has been frought with
disaster despite a fair amount of reading and help from reputable
petshops. I purchased a single gallon tank with gravel filter and
airstone. Despite what I'd read about a larger (10 gal) per fish tank,
the pet stores assured me this was not a problem as long as I
maintained it. My SIL has the exact same tank and 1 goldfish and has
never had a problem. Within 2 days the water (tap with proper drops to
remove metals/chlorine etc) turned yellow and started to stink of
fish. This progressed until after 5 days it looked horrible (the
petshop said this was normal cycling and it would clear). After 6 days
I changed about 50% of the water. The yellowing began again, quickly.
And "goldie" began developing black spots (ammonia burns?). I took the
water to be tested. Ammonia high--like death zone high, pH hi
alkaline(bright pink on the test strip) and water level hard (I have a
water softner so I don't understand that one). I was given MelaFix, ph
acidfier and an amonia remover. I used all three last night.

ph: after two separate doses of 2 drops per gallon, pH had not moved.
I continued to give drops and test every hour. no change

Ammonia: I ran out of test strips so I am taking the water in tonight
for a test again.

Fish: is eating (I cut WAY back on the food---this was my problem)but
looks sad and black is not better and now on some fins. Why is it
spreading??

I fear I am torturing this small fish. Would a tetra have been better?

Would appreciate constructive advice.

M

GF cannot live in a 1 gallon tank. it is like forcing a human to live in a sewer.
your reputable petshop is not reputable. Ingrid

(Marie) wrote:

My recent attempt to maintain 1 little goldfish has been frought with
disaster despite a fair amount of reading and help from reputable
petshops. I purchased a single gallon tank with gravel filter and
airstone. Despite what I'd read about a larger (10 gal) per fish tank,
the pet stores assured me this was not a problem as long as I
maintained it. My SIL has the exact same tank and 1 goldfish and has
never had a problem. Within 2 days the water (tap with proper drops to
remove metals/chlorine etc) turned yellow and started to stink of
fish. This progressed until after 5 days it looked horrible (the
petshop said this was normal cycling and it would clear). After 6 days
I changed about 50% of the water. The yellowing began again, quickly.
And "goldie" began developing black spots (ammonia burns?). I took the
water to be tested. Ammonia high--like death zone high, pH hi
alkaline(bright pink on the test strip) and water level hard (I have a
water softner so I don't understand that one). I was given MelaFix, ph
acidfier and an amonia remover. I used all three last night.

ph: after two separate doses of 2 drops per gallon, pH had not moved.
I continued to give drops and test every hour. no change

Ammonia: I ran out of test strips so I am taking the water in tonight
for a test again.

Fish: is eating (I cut WAY back on the food---this was my problem)but
looks sad and black is not better and now on some fins. Why is it
spreading??

I fear I am torturing this small fish. Would a tetra have been better?

Would appreciate constructive advice.

M



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Marie wrote:

My recent attempt to maintain 1 little goldfish has been frought with
disaster despite a fair amount of reading and help from reputable
petshops. I purchased a single gallon tank with gravel filter and
airstone. Despite what I'd read about a larger (10 gal) per fish tank,
the pet stores assured me this was not a problem as long as I
maintained it.

Um, you've got all of us out here in usenet land, with absolutely no axe
to grind, no money to make, and a fair amount of experience saying 10+
gallons per fish...

You are going to believe whomever you WANT to believe I suppose.

-but-

I urge you to look at the "experiment" you're performing. In YOUR
experience is the goldfish happy/healthy in a 1 gallon tank?


I fear I am torturing this small fish.

Sounds like you already know the real answer.

Would a tetra have been better?

Would appreciate constructive advice.

If you need a one gallon fish, take the goldfish back, and ask the store
about "bettas" also known as "Siamese Fighting Fish" They're very
pretty and will live quite nicely in an uncycled 1 gallon aquarium.

My $0.02US

-Donald
--
"There is nothing so strong as gentleness, and there is nothing so
gentle as real strength." St. Francis de Sales

1 Gallon!!!!!! No wonder it's ill.

You'd need to change the water every single day!

Do you have any friends who have aquariums - maybe they could help.
OR if the fish shop will take it back, give it back to them.

Poor fish.