2 goldfish problems

I have 2 goldfish in 55 gal tank with 2 filters. Lately 2 strange things
seem to happen. the smaller fish (about 3 inches long) has started to get
get a dark brown color all over it. It still seems to act normally (eating
and swimming around and pooping) but what is this dark brown color???.


The other fish is about 4 inches long but lately has puffed up to the size
of a tennis ball and doesn't seem to eat. What's up with this?


tank looks OK and tests pretty normal except for nitrates.

How long have you had the fish? Fish go a dark color when they are healing.
I have a white/red gf who has dark spots around her head, but I think she
had some ammonia poisoning from being overcrowded at the store when I
purchased her. My Oranda did the same thing when I got him home, but it is
now fading. That could be all it is, if their behavior is normal. Salt
added to the water will help the healing - 1 tsp per gallon, given in 3
doses every 12 hours. In other words, dissolve the proper dosage of salt in
a container in warm water and divide it into 3, and give 1/3 every 12 hours.

Your other fish sounds bloated. What do you feed them? Have you tried
giving them peas? Could be constipated. High nitrates also causes problems
so maybe you should do a water change. Others will know more about this
since I'm new, but dry foods can make the fish bloated. Soak pellets/flakes
before putting them in the tank. Peas will help if fish is constipated, but
won't help if you can't get the fish to eat. From Fancy Goldfish; "It is
recommended that you keep nitrate levels below 50 PPM, which you can do by
regular water changes."

Good luck

Tammy

"William Burbul" wrote in message
...
I have 2 goldfish in 55 gal tank with 2 filters. Lately 2 strange things
seem to happen. the smaller fish (about 3 inches long) has started to get
get a dark brown color all over it. It still seems to act normally (eating
and swimming around and pooping) but what is this dark brown color???.


The other fish is about 4 inches long but lately has puffed up to the size
of a tennis ball and doesn't seem to eat. What's up with this?


tank looks OK and tests pretty normal except for nitrates.

http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/p...ame.htm#dropsy
sounds like you got columnaris infection. one fish has dropsy or ascites.
http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/p...se/disease.htm
look here for treatment.
Ingrid

"William Burbul" wrote:

I have 2 goldfish in 55 gal tank with 2 filters. Lately 2 strange things
seem to happen. the smaller fish (about 3 inches long) has started to get
get a dark brown color all over it. It still seems to act normally (eating
and swimming around and pooping) but what is this dark brown color???.


The other fish is about 4 inches long but lately has puffed up to the size
of a tennis ball and doesn't seem to eat. What's up with this?


tank looks OK and tests pretty normal except for nitrates.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.

I used to have goldfish that all seemed to change color. I brought
brown or black ones in hope of putting them oustide in the spring, and
they all turned gold before spring came. I also had a gold fish that
turned white. It may be and infection, but it could be changing color.
Taking the proper precautions for a sick fish may be better, I mean,
it's better safe than sorry.

AD

William Burbul wrote:
I have 2 goldfish in 55 gal tank with 2 filters. Lately 2 strange things
seem to happen. the smaller fish (about 3 inches long) has started to get
get a dark brown color all over it. It still seems to act normally (eating
and swimming around and pooping) but what is this dark brown color???.


The other fish is about 4 inches long but lately has puffed up to the size
of a tennis ball and doesn't seem to eat. What's up with this?


tank looks OK and tests pretty normal except for nitrates.