Comet/"Feeder" goldfish question    3/27/06
Hi to you all once again. I know that this is going to probably make me sound nuts, but I need some help with a little "feeder" goldfish that I rescued.
<Nothing crazy about this>
I was at a university event and they were giving away lil goldfish as prizes. Being the animal lover I happen to be, I noticed right away that some were dead and I complained to many people in charge about it and how they might prevent it. Well, I felt unbelievably guilty and returned to the room on a rescue mission. I know that this was a rather, unwise perhaps, idea but I did it anyway.
    I was dismayed to find that many goldfish, at least a dozen without counting had died. My heart broke for the poor little creatures. I told those to whom I complained that this was definitely animal abuse. I found one who was barely hanging on, and know what was to be done with the deceased, I took him with me as well as one forgotten (who could forget their lil fishy?) by someone else, knowing that I had to make the effort to save them both. The lil organe didn't make it, and I was very hurt that this had happened, but at least I was going to make the effort to save him. I actually buried him and I prayed for him.
     Now, digressing from that, the fish that has lived has been given the unisex name Li. I want to do the best thing for Li in terms of a proper aquarium, tank set up, and that sort of thing. I have read many different things tonight, but your crew seem to REALLY know what is going on. I know to some that my little Li is "only" a "feeder" goldfish, but I value all life and if I can do anything to help make that life one of longevity and quality, I feel as if I must. He/she is in a bowl now, but not for long. I hate bowls.  I guess what I am trying to say is that I would like to know some things that pertain to my situation in particular. How big of an aquarium does Li need?
<For now, a ten gallon will do... ultimately much larger...>
What is a good pH for him/her, what types of things should I include in the tank setup plants, gravel, lighting, etc), and should I buy a tank mate for Li?
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
Do goldfish get lonely? It has been a VERY long time since I have tried to keep goldies, so please forgive me. Anything you can tell me to help my poor
little rescue would help me greatly. Thank you all so very much for caring enough to help us unknowledgeable folk. ^_^  We <3 you!! And my fishes all thank you!
<And the linked files at top. Bob Fenner>

Various Goldfish Questions    3/17/06
Hi Crew,
<Emma>
I have a few various questions about my goldfish. I have 5 small goldfish (the largest is about 2 inches) in two separate tanks. In the first tank I had two a Pearlscale, one Pearlscale Oranda and a ranchu goldfish. The Pearlscale Oranda began to headstand a few days ago. I know that this is my fault as I had not been consistently soaking the flakes (I am now, and I feel terrible!).
<Mmm, not just soaking... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm>
Anyway I began feeding the fish in this tank peas and nothing else (sorry, forgot details - 8 gallon tank with a wet/dry filter.
<Eight gallons is too small (ultimately) for even one fancy goldfish>
Nitrites 0, Ammonia 0, pH 6.2). The peas did not seem to help and he was still head standing, then the next morning I found the poor thing with his tail stuck halfway up the intake pipe! This has never ever happened before, but I guess it was because we was just floating in the tank and not swimming -
<Likely so>
anyway I have covered this tube with mesh now to stop that happening again. His tail was fine, but still he was head standing so I decided to move this fish to a quarantine tank and treat with Epsom salt.
<Good>
I also did a water change on the original tank because the pH was so low. The fish is very nervous in this tank and he hides when we sees me, however he has still got a typically goldfish attitude and stuffs his face with the peas I give him (I've been giving him 2 or 3 a day). He just sits at the bottom of the quarantine tank, however he seems to be able to swim alright when he does swim, and he is no longer head standing.
<Takes weeks to recover...>
Is he miserable because of the quarantine tank and should I move him back to the main tank? Or should I leave him until he begins to act normally again?
<This latter>
And also, if I do move him back can I add Epsom salt to water that already has rock salt, or will this simply be too much salt?
<Same concentration, no problem>
The tank I have these three fish in is obviously too small - but last night I won a 58 gallon from EBay so the fish will be moved into the larger one in a couple of weeks.
<Yay!>
When I do the move, I was planning to move all 5 fish into the 8 gallon (this is terrible I know, but it would only be for a few days and I would do daily water changes) and put the gravel from the other two fish's tank under the new gravel of the 58 gallon, and also run the filter from that tank on the larger tank for a few days to get the cycle jumpstarted. If I put all the gravel, water and the filter in the larger tank, how long do you think it would take until I was ready to put the fish in?
<A few days...>
Just one more question - I have two bubble eyes in another tank. One of them (the white one) has began to turn yellow around his head and bubbles, and also around the base of his tail.
<Happens>
He is acting and eating normally - I thought perhaps it was velvet disease but it seems more like he's just turning yellow rather than having a yellow dust on him - it is a lemony yellow colour rather than a darker colour (pictures I saw on velvet had a gold coloured dust). The Ammonia and Nitrites in this tank are both 0, pH is 6.6. Unfortunately I don't have a Nitrate test which is why I didn't give results above either.
Thank you for taking the time to read all that, I just would like to get everybody happy before moving them into the larger tank, and I don't want to introduce disease from one to another (if in fact is it disease).
Emma
<Highly unlikely is a disease... I would go ahead with your stated plans. Bob Fenner>

Just read WWM re Goldfish  - 03/09/2006
Hi..  I have a question about my goldfish.  Its a black fish with the bigger type head, I cant remember the type he is.  He has a rather large body, and has always had his, he does eat a lot.  I recently bought a 25 gallon tank and moved the 3 goldfish into the tank.  I noticed a change in his behavior he was hanging out upside down at the bottom of the tank, and I noticed his body was going from black to goldish, and I notice that it looked kind of flakey too.  I took the water to get tested and the ph was to low, so I added stuff. the ph and everything is fine.  the water is fresh as I just set the tank up 3 days ago.
What should I do?!!?
<Read... on WWM re Goldfish Behavior, Systems, Disease... Your system is likely re-cycling, poisoning these fish... Bob Fenner>

Thank You WWM - 03/01/2006
Just wanted to say thanks for having such a wonderful, informative website.
<Glad you've enjoyed it. We love what we do.>
My goldfish (Harry and Bess) thank you too - after reading your website I immediately ran out and got them a much bigger tank, varied their food, tested their water, and made their quality of life a bit better. Who knew that $0.12 gold fish would be so much trouble. To the whole team at WWM, thank you!
Ann -  Rochester, MN.
<Well Anne, thank you! Thank you for the kind words and taking action, makes our efforts all the more fulfilling. - Josh>

Comet goldfish can't open her mouth  needs help a.s.a.p.  - 02/27/06
hello, sorry to bother you but am fearfully my 3 year old female comet is about to die .
  She cannot open her mouth. For the last week she swam at the filter out put presumably for o2. and managed a small quantity of food, now she is either at the bottom of the tank or hiding. i lifted her out and manually opened her mouth with no problem but she cant do it her self.  She lives with 5 other goldfish in 65 gallons. They are fed everything peas blanched spinach zooplankton, bloodworms etc. i don't believe water quality to be an issue the tank is very well maintained and tested.
  The only possibility I can conclude is an injury. I use to transfer her to a hospital tank w hen she needed a rest from the aggressive males. Could I have hurt her?
  Please reply our fish are part of the family and we have not lost one yet.
  Thank you in advance
  Elizabeth  
<There are a few such instances as yours discussed on WWM. Place the subject title you sent above in the Google search tool on WWM and read the cached versions. Bob Fenner>

Something about a goldfish   1/13/06
I have a gold fish ... he about 5 in long and one of older fish ... he may have a swim bladder problem... he stays to the bottom of the tank....i tried som medications...he come out of his corner a few times but flips crazy and then returns to his corner...can you give be some advise...he doesn't seem to be eating either.
<Umm, there isn't enough information here to render you a substantive response... Please see WWM, starting here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and then on to the linked files at top. Bob Fenner>

Help with my goldfish   12/28/05
I am in desperate need of help for my two goldfish. I have had them for
almost 4 years and I cannot figure out what their illness is.   I am hoping you may be able to help me.
<Will try>
Currently, one of them is scratching on the bottom, sitting on the bottom with fins down.  It appears as if the top of his head is turning white, not
fuzzy, just a white discoloration.  Also, I am starting to notice that there may be something starting to grow on his gill plate( one little white bump, I
thought it could be a scratch).  He is breathing rapidly but still eating.  His excretions are stringy at times, but after I feed him he usually excretes
normally.  The two are in a 30 gallon tank with filtration, gravel etc.  I previously had pH problems but have fixed them now.
<How? This could be the source of your trouble>
I feed them sinking algae pellets due to a swim bladder problem with one of them.
<Need other food...>
I have been feeding them this food for at least a year.  Also, I recently noticed on one of them that the white part of the tail fin looks like it has some reddish discoloration but it is very slight.  Something is definitely irritating both of them. I have taken the water to be tested at an aquarium where they said that everything was within normal range.
<... not useful generalizations... like the Prez and his simplified paranoid statements>
  I also add 1/2 tsp per gallon of salt.
Please help
Thank you.
<Keep reading... on WWM re Goldfish Systems, Disease, Foods/Feeding/Nutrition. Your answers lie there. Bob Fenner>

Book Recommendation For Goldfish  12/24/05
Mr. Fenner--
< Chuck this time.>
Good news and bad news. Bad news is that I lost the second Goldfish last night.  It's gills were heavily damaged, even with the problem corrected there was
nothing to be done.  However, the water changes & salt seem to be doing good.  The redness in the remaining two Goldfish has already
receded to a point where it is almost nonexistent.  They are very active, and by and large are behaving normally. On a related note, I would like your recommendation on a fishkeeping book.  I am often told to do one thing or another with my fish (by LFS, people on the internet, etc), without much explanation of why -- in fact, I suspect that people who make recommendations often don't know why themselves.  So, I want to get a little bit nitty-gritty, maybe even learn a little bit of fish biology so I can understand my aquarium fish a little better.  Any recommendations?
Jason
< Check out the Barron's book on Goldfish. It is inexpensive and will get you started with the basics of keeping goldfish and understanding aquariums.-Chuck>

Going On Vacation, taking goldfish with you 12-19-05
I will be going on vacation for 10 days and do not have anyone to feed my two goldfish. Any ideas on how to safely take them with me - I will be traveling by car.
<Jennifer, if you really want to take them in the car you should bag them for the trip.  That is the safest and easiest way to get them to your destination. Also make sure to pack them in a cooler so they are not affected by quick temperature changes. If you would rather leave them at home, get them an automatic feeder. Make sure it is set for fairly small portions so you don't foul their water. I would also suggest getting them a 10 gallon or larger aquarium with a sponge filter if you have time. That will keep their water quality in check while you are away. The only downside is you will not have time to establish the sponge before Christmas, but even a new sponge is better than no sponge. Happy Holidays, Travis>
Thanks - Jennifer

Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets....  10/10/2005
Hi
<Hello.>
I wrote a while ago about my large (body is 3.5") fantail, Lola, who was just staring off into space all the time.
<Sabrina with you, today - please for future reference include previous correspondences when possible, as there are a number of us answering questions, and plenty of questions being answered; without the name of the crewmember or the previous correspondence, we have no idea where to route replies or continued correspondences.>
Everything checked out OK with water quality and Lola's health. I started feeding peas and she gradually became more active -- and obsessed with eating.
<Sounds like a goldfish!>
You guys suggested I get her a dither fish. Today I put a medium (body 2") fantail goldfish in with Lola. Lola immediately started chasing the new fish. So I fed them both peas --at the same time. Lola chased the new fish aggressively until it barfed up the food it had just eaten. 
<Mm, it probably didn't actually regurgitate, just spat it out.>
Lola immediately ate the barf. 
<My guess is the new fish did not know quite what to do with the peas yet, and Lola just relished this uncertainty. Give it some time.>
Now Lola is only mildly annoyed with the new fish. The aggressive chasing has stopped; more like a moderate teasing now. The new fish is not happy. 
<Give it some time.>
The dorsal fin is not clamped however. Is this aggression about not feeding them enough? 
<Possibly, but could just be even friendly. Or stranger yet, the newcomer may be female, and Lola may be a mature male. Again, give it some time.>
I give the larger Lola 3 peas a day. Is it about territory? 
<Unlikely.... goldfish don't tend to be territorial.>
They are in a 20 gallon tank with filter. Is the tank too small?
<Will be in the long run.>
Is this just "getting to know you" behavior?
<Likely.>
Is Lola afraid she will not get enough food with a new friend in the tank?
<Perhaps.>
Would a munchie plant help the situation? If so what kind?
<An excellent idea. I would recommend Egeria/elodea/anacharis.... A few species of plants fall under these names; all grow similarly and goldfish love to eat 'em.>
Should I separate them permanently if it continues?
<Again, give it some time.>
Should I also feed them frozen brine shrimp?
<If you like.>
Besides green veggies and rice, what else would round out their diet well? I read so much about their digestive problems and have eliminated the dry food (even soaked dry food).
<Sounds like you're doing great so far. Some frozen brine would be okay to add to this, or frozen bloodworms once in a while.>
Do they need protein from other than plant sources? Can they eat Abelmoschus manihot leaves? (It's a human food crop in the tropics and loaded with protein.)
<I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. I thank you for mentioning this plant, though; I just had an opportunity to learn about Abelmoschus - apparently okra is in this genus! How neat! But, again, I have no idea whatsoever if A. manihot leaves can be eaten by fish.>
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Tell me what to do and I will do it! 
<Lola is indeed a lucky fish to have you as a pal.>
Lola is a family pet and I hate to see her being so mean to her new friend--such as it is.
<Give it some time; hopefully this will sort itself out in a week or two.>
As usual I thank you for your valuable advice and for your incredible web site!
<And thank you very much for these kind words, Steve! I do hope all goes well with this.>
Steve Erickson
<Wishing you, Lola, and the newcomer well, -Sabrina>

Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.... - II - 10/12/05
Hi, Sabrina
<Hello, again.>
Thanks again for your advice. As you said, the situation is quieting down. 
<Ah, good.>
In fact, Lola is back to staring off into space, motionless. The new fish, Golda, doesn't understand Lola's behavior and tries to rouse Lola into swimming around. I expect she'll be back to her old self soon. 
<Yes, they will sort things out with time.>
It's amazing that she has these emotional phases. But that's why we all care for her so much! 
<And a good reason, too.>
Regarding A. manihot: I can send you some seeds to grow the plant. It's very easy to grow in any climate. 
<If this can be done legally, I'd absolutely love to do so. Where are you from?>
Right now most of the garden is fading but the 7 foot Abelmoschus is still blooming. 
<Wow!>
Perhaps you guys could experiment with feeding the leaves and flowers--which taste like lettuce-- to goldfish. With its high protein content, I suspect that it would be an excellent food source for them.
<Certainly a worthwhile idea!!>
Thanks again.
<And thank you, as well.>
Steve
<All the best, -Sabrina>

Great Start On Goldfish - 10/09/2005
Hello!
<Good morning! Sabrina with you today, on holiday in Hawai'i>
Wonderful site, I've been searching and reading for a while now.
<Ahh, good. That's the best start you can give your fish.>
I have a 29g tank set up for a young calico lionhead (who I do not have yet, he is on hold).
<Beeeee-autiful! I'm assuming you plan to set up and cycle this tank first, eh? SO glad to read this. You're off to a great start.>
I was originally going to fall into the "goldfish/ Pleco " trap, but knew I should wait until I had done more research.
<I'm smiling bigger with every sentence!>
I plan on just the one lionhead, and then upping to a 55g when he is bigger. (Unless you suggest making the switch now.) 
<Ahh, wonderful!! Unless he's already *massive*, the 29 will be a fine home for a long while. Do consider getting him a couple pals when he's into the 55 (or sooner, if they're all quite small), as goldfish seem more comfortable with conspecifics around.>
Since the Pleco route can be dangerous,
<Mm, I wouldn't say so much 'dangerous' as 'undesirable'.... Common plecs grow to be massive.... 18" or so.... and prefer somewhat warmer temps than are ideal for goldfish. If you want tankmates of a different species, look to the weather/dojo loach.>
I'd still be interested in another bottom algae eater "fish".
<Mm.... Some of the smaller plecs might be of consideration, here; but you'll still have the temperature preference issue.... I know clown plecs can hail from surprising cold waters, but they're more of a wood and meat eater, if I recall correctly (no guarantee of that!).>
In addition to the best filtration I can find, I also plan to vacuum and water change once a week, so I thought a snail might be a good choice.
<Sure, if you like snails.>
I've done some reading on the apple snails, but can't seem to find a lot of info on snails AND goldfish in the same tank. Will one snail/one goldfish get along?
<I'm sure.>
What extra food/attention will I need to give the snail?
<Plant matter.... Likely same fare as what you will be offering the goldfish.... Blanched human consumption greens (spinach, cucumber, zucchini....), live aquatic plants like Egeria/elodea/anacharis....>
In a 29 or 55, is more than one snail necessary?
<Mm, 'necessary'? Depends upon what you wish the snails to do.... Be pets? Eat algae? Eat plants?>
How big will the snails get?
<They do call them 'apple' snails for a reason.... Make a fist. Imagine it's a snail. There ya go!>
Will our heroes make it through the treacherous mines?? (It's Friday. I'm giddy)
<Heh!! It's Sunday morning (wow, sorry for the delay in response time!) and I'm almost giddy, too. Quite an ocean view here for answering fish questions!!>
Thanks so much for the help. :) 
<You bet.>
P.S. If you know of any definitive resources on the differences (if any) between ranchu and lionheads I'd be interested. It's a neat subject matter!
<In all honesty, I do not. If you do come across any, send some links my way; I'd like to take a look. Also, I'd like to touch a bit on the algae janitorial work you expect of the snail(s).... There are other methods of algae control; perhaps the best/most efficient is by outcompeting the algae for nutrients with other (vascular) plants. Plants like Anubias sp., java fern (Microsorium pteropus) and java moss (Vesicularia dubyana) will hold up to most plant eaters, goldfish and snails included. Do please take a look through our Aquatic Plants articles, about fighting algae and such.... You may find that you don't need an algae consumer, and can stock more around what you like than what you think your system might (or might not) need. I'm not at all trying to discourage you from an applesnail, mind you! They're pretty cool animals. Wishing you well, -Sabrina> 

Great Start On Goldfish - II - 10/10/2005
Thank you so much for the reply!
<Oh, sure thing!>
I was looking for the snail as algae control/pet. I decided on a golden apple snail, since according to applesnail.net http://applesnail.net , the Pomacea bridgesii prefers and does well on artificial fish food, along with dead and rotting plants. So, another question to come to mind would be- What types of artificial foods (in addition to peas, blanched greens, and eventually possibly live Water Sprite) would be good for both lionhead and snail?
<Anything primarily vegetable in nature.... Spirulina flakes/pellets/wafers, frozen prepared vegetable fish foods (like Ocean Nutrition's "Formula Two").... Plenty of options. Sushi Nori is an easy option.>
I was recommended gel, and I'm not sure if there's a brand preference.
<In all honesty, I'm not familiar with gel fish foods.>
I have floating pellets and flakes, but after reading more, I'd really like to avoid that swim bladder problem! 
<A very good problem to avoid.>
I pick up Charlie (the lionhead) this evening, and am waiting until my LFS gets some golden apple snails in. Any advice is appreciated! 
<I imagine the snail will enjoy any of the same veggie matter you offer the goldfish.>
Thank you again!!
<Any time, my friend. Wishing you well, -Sabrina>

Great Start On Goldfish - III - 10/12/2005
Ok, last question, I swear! My lionhead is now happy in his new tank!
<Ah, good.>
He's very friendly, and even comes to the front of the tank (when I was expecting a much longer adjusting period). He does spend some time in his chosen "spot" tucked behind a bit of rock, and on the gravel, but it doesn't seem like a sick or unhappy habit. I feel he's just settling in. 
<Likely so.>
Now Charlie is a small fellow, about 1 1/2", and the bubbler I have in there is pretty big- a flat round disc about 2 inches across, placed under the gravel. I was concerned that he wasn't "enjoying" the bubbles, and felt trapped on the "quiet" side of the tank. I just turned it off briefly, to see if he prefers the lessened agitation. Should I hold off on the bubbler until he's a bit bigger, or is his aversion to swimming the whole tank just due to him settling in?
<Could be. You could get a valve for the airline to shut off some of the flow so it would be less intense, if you like. These are usually sold at large/r fish stores, in packages of things like "T" splitters and such, near the air pumps and air tubing. There are brass ones, and clear or green plastic ones.>
I searched "goldfish" and "bubbler" and "small", but didn't find anything related to the goldfish size. (Or lack thereof). Your site has been SO very helpful, and I appreciate the patience for my multiple questions.
<Glad to be of service.>
Can't I send a box of cookies to the Crew or something?
<<A box of See's dark chocolates are always a good way to go.  Marina>>
<Mmmm, peanut butter with chocolate chips? Just kidding.... your thanks and the fact that you have learned something that you can now pass on to others is more than thanks enough!>
:) Julie
<Wishing you the best, -Sabrina>

Ozone / goldfish 10/10/05
Hi,
Do you know what level of ozone can be maintained without killing goldfish?
Thanks,
Trevor
<Likely a Redox reading in excess of 400... but would keep about 300... Bob Fenner> 

New Goldfish in Quarantine  10/5/05
Hello there again, I wrote a few weeks ago about my sick Oranda (Dr. Jellyhead Lobotomus)  and Ryukin or Veiltail- it's debatable- (Squab). Unfortunately, Dr. Jellyhead died but Squab recovered slowly over about a week, and is now back to his old self.
I wanted to wait until Squab was better to bring him home a new friend. Last night, I found a really nice black Oranda (or maybe it's a panda Oranda, as it has a white belly) and ended up purchasing him/her?) Very cute and lively, a good appetite, with a nice looking Wen. A little spooked of people. I've named him Sir Hamhead Hopkins (Hammy, for short) Unfortunately, there are no really good fish stores in my area, so I have to get my fish at the local PetSmart.
Here are my questions:
1)Hammy is 3.5 inches long and my quarantine tank is only a 10 gallon. I planning on doing daily 20% water changes for the duration of the quarantine.
<Good>
I feel bad having Hammy in such a small tank, but It's all I have. Will this be okay for a few weeks?
<Should be... monitor ammonia>
2)Hammy had a bite taken out of his anal fin with a little whitish fuzz on it, and a few scales that looked like they may have been injured, so I am treating the quarantine tank with Maracyn and Coppersafe and 2.5 tablespoons of salt.
I know the pet store water is shared in all of the tanks so parasites and diseases are probably there. I wanted to be safe and take precautions.  Am I doing this right?
<I'd leave out the copper>
3) The Maracyn really seems to be clouding the water. The quarantine tank is right next to the other tank and looks like "the smoker's lounge" in comparison. Is this okay for Hammy? Will it hurt him?
<Possibly>
4) Finally, how many weeks do you think I should keep Hammy in quarantine? Squab looks lonely, but I want them to be healthy!
<Don't worry re loneliness... a couple of weeks will likely "do it"
I'd appreciate any advice, corrections and suggestions!
<I wonder what these fish call themselves, you and I? Bob Fenner>
Thanks again,
Michele

Aggressive goldfish  9/5/05
We are very new to this fish keeping game, but have thoroughly enjoyed our
new pets over the past couple of months, but we now have a problem!
Our fish, 1 goldfish comet(?), 1 fantail goldfish and 1 black moor, have all
been fine, but suddenly tonight, for no obvious reason, the two goldfish
have become extremely aggressive towards the moor, even to the point of
cornering it under a stone and biting it continually.
<Yikes>
They seem to be very protective over a certain area of the tank, both
resting on the bottom, almost looking like they are 'on guard' and becoming
very agitated if anything goes near them.
<How big is this tank?>
The moor has been put in a separate tank for the time being.
We have an 'off the shelf' aquarium, including an under gravel filter, real
plants, gravel and air stone.
<Undergravel filters are not recommended for goldfish systems... Please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm>
The water has been partially changed on a
regular basis (using 'Gold Tap Safe from Interpet') and we are feeding them
with fish flakes twice a day.
<Dried-food only diets are a poor idea... Please read: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshfdgfaqs.htm>
There are no signs of disease (we have looked through your site to try to identify anything.
We really don't know what to do next, and would appreciate any advice.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Kay Fitz-Gibbons
<Your goldfish may have to be separated permanently... the system may just be too small. Bob Fenner>

Goldfish... do folks read the "sending messages" pitch? 8/5/05
Hi,
I'm new to the fish keeping business and need your help. I have a few worries, I've had my fish for 4 days now. I have 8 fish (1 calico, 2 shubunkin, 2 fantail, and 3 feeder fish) my tank is 10" x 15" is this too small for my fish?
<Yes... goldfish need several gallons per individual... Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and the linked files above, where you lead yourself>
Also they sometimes eat each other's poop. Is this normal, and how often are they supposed to poop?
<... happens and whenever/how many times ever>
Next, I'm not sure how much to feed them, I'm not sure what you mean when you say feed them as much as they can eat in a few minutes. When I feed them they seem fine but then they seem like they want more.
<See the linked files...>
One shubunkin, Nemo, was just introduced to the gang yesterday he was fine at first but know he just sort of floats there, then swims slowly, then goes back to normal. This has been repeating all day.
Lastly, all the fish stay to a certain side of the tank in a group like their having a meeting. Is this normal or am I just worrying for nothing?
<Could be trouble... Bob Fenner>
                                                Thanks!
Lethargic goldfish 7/29/05
Hello Experts,
<Okay...>
We recently bought a 30 gallon Jewel tank, read beginners' books, followed
the instructions to the letter to set it up and two weeks ago bought two
fantails from a reputable dealer.  They did very well, settled down and
weren't disturbed at the partial water changes.  Kipper (2") is still
flitting about, eating well and looking gorgeous.  But Tiddles (1 1/2") now
swims around the tank only occasionally and seems to be eating, but spends a
lot of time facing the wall, head in the plastic moss cave and waving its
fins.  Is this normal?
<Not atypical behavior for goldfish in a new system...>
There are no signs of disease as far as we can see
and s/he seems to get on well with Kipper.  Should we be worried, or is this
normal?
Can you PLEASE give any practical tips on how much to feed them?  Every book
/ fish dealer gives different advice.  "How much the fish can eat in 30"" is
not helpful, as we feed mainly dried food (we vary the diet between pellets,
sticks and flakes, and those dried bloodworm things once a week), and the
fish spit the food out several times before they eat it so we can't estimate
the time they take to ingest it.  For example if we feed, say, a teaspoonful
of pellets to them twice a day, would that be OK / far too much or far too
little?
Best wishes
Catherine
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Goldfish, humans, life 7/21/05
I have a pet gold fish. And I have had him for almost four years. He
lives in a fish bowl on my bedside desk. He is an all white fish and
even has white eyes. So I noticed right away when he got a big red
blotch on his forehead. He eats and swims just the same and even rests
in a pair of swim goggles in his bowl just the same. I feed him once a
day the same amount of food and always had. I cleaned out his bowl
when I saw his red mark and nothing has changed. Where I live it is
really hot and we have no AC so everyday at the hottest part of the
day I put one or two ice cubes in his tank to help keep him cool.
Could this be the reason for his red blotches?
<Likely a contributing effect>
Also I have been
thinking of buying a bigger tank and a filter and a bunch of other stuff
for him and get him a friend.
<Good>
But he is so old and now he seems to be
sick.
<Not old... goldfish can live for a couple of decades>
Is that a good idea? Please e-mail me back and let me know.
--
Jasmine Ortega
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwlivestkindex.htm
scroll down to the articles, FAQs on Goldfish Systems, Disease... and read. Bob Fenner>

Re: Need help transporting my goldfish Oranda 7/4/05
Hello, so my roommates and I decide to move. The move is about 15 min.s. away. How would you or what would you recommend I do to transport my 2 goldfish Orandas. I have a 30 gallon tank.
Thank you,
Ryan
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/movgaqfwfaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>

Concerned about Orandas, cleanliness is not sterility 07/01/05
Good Day,
<And to you>
I am new to caring for Oranda's.  I have (2) since February 14th, Romeo and
Juliet.  I have a 29 gallon tank for them and overall they seem to be well.
About 2 weeks ago Juliet (the smaller of the two) began to lie on her side
after I had cleaned the tank.
<Define "clean"... not completely emptying the tank I hope>
  After I cleaned the tank I gave them both
some cooked mashed peas.  About two hours later I saw her struggling to swim
and laying on her side.  I turned off the lights and let her rest.  Though
the night she seemed stressed, but by the next afternoon she was totally
back to normal.  When I cleaned my tank before, I just left my fish in the
tank and cleaned and vacuumed the gravel with them in there.
<Good... no more than 25% of the water at a go>
  So after her
little episode I take them out with a net and put them in a large plastic
bowl while I clean the tank.
<I'd leave the fish in place>
All of my water readings are fine.  0 ammonia,
my nitrites are perfect.  Today when I cleaned their tank I was putting them
back into the clean tank and I noticed that in the plastic bowl that I had
held them in, there was what looked like to me, little bits of what I
thought was blood.  When I felt it with my fingers it just felt like a jelly
  It was red.  Do you think they might have a parasite?
<No... but bizarre>
  Should I treat them
with a medication?
<Mmm, no>
My husband thinks I am crazy, but I really do worry.  
They both are very social and exhibit no signs of sickness other than Juliet
s little episode 2 weeks back.  I have not given them any more peas since
that time.  Also sometimes Juliet swims very fast, just a couple of passes
around the tank and then she's back to normal.  The water temperature is 72
degrees and they are the only fish in the tank.  Any input would be very
much appreciated.
Thank you,
Kim Spurling
<Please read through our goldfish area on WWM... there is nothing that "jumps out" that is wrong here... but I would modify your cleaning practices. Bob Fenner>

Goldfish Transportation, International Style
Hi!
<<Hello Thea, Marina this morning.>>
I'd emailed you a while ago about my sick goldfish Pepper. Thanks a lot for all your advice and help. Now, I'm moving from Dubai to India and I want to take him with me, but I have no idea how.
<<Easy, once you know how.>>
I've heard that goldfish are usually transported by plane, but don't know anything else.
<<All ornamentals shipped beyond a certain distance go by plane.>>
Any suggestions? How do I take a fish all the way across countries? What do I do? What are the risks involved? Any special preparations? Food? How do I carry him?
Thanks again,
Thea
<<Alright, don't feed him for a two to three days prior to the move, this ensures an empty gut and greatly reduces pollution in the bag. Have some water that's been aged and well-aerated for a couple of days on hand, you'll bag him in this. 
Ratio of water to air (oxygen, if you can access, is even better) is 1/3 water, 2/3 air/O2, in relation to bag volume. For a single fish, assuming he's about 3" or less, I'd try to get a 1-2 gallon bag. Too much water will let him slosh around, too little allows no buffer. If he's not much bigger than 3", then a two gallon volume will work just fine.
Also, put some Methylene blue in the water, just a few drops are all that's needed (a pretty ocean blue).  DO NOT use a Ziploc bag! They seem really neat, but are prone to "poppage". 
When you do bag the fish, DO NOT fill the bag tightly, it will pop once you hit some altitude. Double-bagging with fish bags is recommended, and twist the bag end well, loop with rubber bands, twist again and loop it down on itself, and rubber band most securely. Put all this into a small Styrofoam container. If you can hand-carry your fish, better for you both. If NOT, then place this box into a cardboard box that's lined with several layers of newsprint. As long as he's kept calm and time in the bag isn't beyond 24 hours, all should go well. Upon arrival the fish will need new, clean water, be sure to acclimate him well to it as you did when you first purchased your pet. Marina>> 

Sexing, feeding goldfish
Dear WetWeb crew,
I have two goldfish and are not sure is they are girls, boys, or both. How do I distinguish their gender? Oh, and can I feed them Betta fish food, or do I need to go buy some goldfish food? 
Sincerely,
Margaret Shelton 
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwlivestkindex.htm.  Scroll down to Goldfish... re Reproduction, Feeding. Bob Fenner>

3 Different "fish rookie" Questions re goldfish keeping
Hello!
My kids and I have just recently (2 months or so) acquired a 55-gal.  
aquarium, and have been happily and slowly learning and developing it.
<Good>
We  
really appreciate your site, and use your volumes of knowledge almost every day,  
to help us avoid doing anything stupid, and killing our fish!
So, today I have 3 pretty basic questions for you:
1. We have 3 goldfish and 2 Orandas.  We've fed them almost  exclusively
flake food, and try not to overfeed... but they still spend a lot of  time at the
bottom, sucking up pieces of gravel and spitting them back  out.  Is this
normal behavior?
<Yes, quite normal>
  Is there something we're doing wrong  with their feeding?
<Mmm, well... I would definitely adopt a broader food choice... some dried is okay... but fresh baked, microwaved vegetables of different sorts, cooked rice... are better for their health>
2. What is the best way to keep the inside of the glass clean?  Is it  best
to scrub it manually, or is there a water treatment to help out, or is  there a
particular species we could add to the tank that might help keep it  clean (a
housekeeper fish, if you will)?
<For this size system, the use of one or two "Plecostomus" (there are many species) of a type that doesn't get too large will be much appreciated... along with regular (weekly) manual wiping with their gravel vacuuming and water changes>
3. I haven't seen any discussion about tank lighting for plain old  
freshwater tanks - could you point me in a direction, or "enlighten" me a  little? How
important is it to have lighting at all?  Is there a better or  worse type of
light?  How important is the lighting to live plants?
Thanks, guys, for any help.
Tom
<Good questions... For freshwater systems w/o plants the lighting issue is mainly for you, aquarist enjoyment... likely some sort of fluorescents... but important to/for the fish livestock that this be "regular"... that is, on a timer or strict schedule of being turned on/off.... For plants, you can read on the WWM Planted Tank subweb. Bob Fenner>

Cloudy Water and fish being bullied
I hope you can help. Two weeks ago we set up a new tank (45ltr) and introduced two goldfish, a comet and a shubunkin, who had previously been in a largish bowl. Each of the fish is approximately 2 inches long. We added a fake plant, gravel and tunnel and a power filter which also aerates the water.
<A great jump forward>
Although the fish appear happy and healthy we cannot get the water clear, it always seems a bit cloudy, milky white maybe slightly yellow. We change 10% of the water every two days and clean the filter once a week but to no avail.
<It will clear on its own... given time... a few more weeks... in the meanwhile be careful re feeding... and oh oh...>
Two days ago we brought two new fish, smaller than the others and introduced them to the tank.
<Not good to add to your troubles... the cloudiness is actually indicative of establishment of beneficial microbes... which compete with other life for oxygen... space... produce some noxious substances... Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwh2oqualfaqs1.htm  and the Related FAQs 2, linked above, in blue>
Unfortunately the bigger fish chased the smaller ones, almost constantly and then we noticed that one of the smaller fish had a bit missing from its tail! So we took the decision to move the small fish into the bowl and we will try again in a few days.
<Please wait till the water in the main tank clears here>
Are we missing anything, we are new to fish keeping and would gladly receive any advice you have to give.  Thanks, Scott & Yvonne
<Have you read our archived materials on goldfish? You should: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/goldfish.htm  particularly the article and FAQs on goldfish systems.  Bob Fenner> 

Goldfish project
Hello!
I have a few questions about goldfish. And you guys seem to know your stuff about fish. -I am doing a project for my science class where I see what different diets do for goldfish. I am going to keep 4 goldfish, and each will  have a different diet.  I was wondering if it would be okay to feed a goldfish once a week, and what kind of staple flake food is best.
<Better to feed them at least once a day... twice, smaller amounts even better. Once a week is too infrequently.>
I have kept tropical fish before (it didn't go to well, sadly) and I know about keeping the pH, ammonia etc. at good levels, but temperature-wise, what do goldfish need? I assume since they are 'coldwater' fish that they do not need heater in their tank.
Finally, what breed of goldfish grow the least, and how much tank space does a goldfish need? I was thinking of keeping each goldfish in about a 2 gallon bowl.
><> Lauren
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshsystems.htm
and the Related Articles and FAQs (linked, in blue, above). Bob Fenner>

Saving Lives
Hi ya, A few weeks ago, my partner and I were in a hi-fi shop, and were saddened to see that they were keeping two goldfish, one about three inches and the other about two, in a tiny tank on the counter. So we wrote them a letter, and the upshot of it is that we have ended up taking these fish off their hands to look after them ourselves. The shop said they've had them about 10 years. We didn't really know much about the care of fish, but figured that we'd give them a better life than they'd have in a nasty tiny tank in a shop. Anyway, we've given them a bigger tank (60 litres) with a filter, and added an "air diffuser" - which they love! We've treated the water with "AquaSafe", and are changing about 20% of it every week or so. In the short-term we are feeding them the TetraFish flakes, as much as they will
enthusiastically eat in about three minutes, twice a day.
<All GREAT!! And I thank you for saving these fish. In 10 years these goldies should be over a foot long. That gives you an idea just how bad off they were. You may need an even bigger tank in time. But for now all is fine. Read here on Bio Filtration. Very important subject in a new setup. http://www.marineland.com/articles/1firstthirty.asp >
My questions are these:  Firstly, does all that sound ok to you?  They seem much happier and more active to us, and some black smears they had around their fins and foreheads, which we took to be a fungal infection or something, have completely gone. Secondly, we are both vegans, and would like to feed the goldfish on a vegetarian diet, as long as this wouldn't compromise their health. Would this be possible? And if so, what would you recommend using as food? They are lovely fishes - we've become very fond of them over the last few weeks.
Many thanks in advance,
Chris
<Well you're lucky on this one. Goldfish love veggies. Shelled peas are a favorite. But you can try any finely chopped veggies. Mix it up. A varied diet is a good diet. Blanch anything hard, like carrot. There are many good foods formulated just for goldfish. I suggest you pick up two or three brands and feed them as a staple. Feed the veggies a couple time a week as a treat. Stay away from floating pellets and flake. They can gulp air while eating and become bloated. Good luck and thanks again! Don>  

Goldfish system
Hi its me Tara again, <Hello>
I am also wondering if you can tell me how to clean my tank. this is my first time and I really don't want them to die. Also, I don't have a filter, is that okay?<It depends on how often you change the water.> Should the fish be separated? I'm sorry if I'm a hassle<You are not> to you and I'm sorry for asking all these questions <No worries> but I have researched and haven't found anything.<I found a link for wetwebmedia.com that gives you much more information that I could type here.  Here is the link. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/goldfish.htm> I would also like to maybe teach one of my comets to go through a maze.<Lets worry about getting them to eat correctly first.  One step at a time> What would be the best way to teach them?

Goldfish questions - Follow up 
<Thank you Jorie,
    It is so nice to know that dedicated people are out there for us Fish Newbies.  You have a good heart to take the time to help like you do.>
It's my pleasure, Gayle.  The wonderful folks here are the ones who taught me everything I know just about 2 years ago - who knows, maybe you'll find yourself answering questions on WWM one day in the future? I very much believe in what goes around comes around and am happy to help out dedicated folks who want to provide the best homes for their fishies.
To answer your questions...
<How do I do that without just ending up with the salt residue
in the water as I scrub the sides of the tank? >
Gayle, I would suggest that you do use some sort of sponge or algae pad, then just siphon out the salt with rubber tubing or a gravel vacuum, if you have something like that. I'm not sure how you do your water changes, but I personally use plastic tubing, create a suction effect, then "vacuum" up whatever leftover food, poop, etc. is on the bottom.  You should be able to do that with the salt residue also.
<When outside I was salting at only 1/2 pound per 100
gallons and they were fine and happy.  With NO BUILDUP of salt residue on
the metal livestock tanks walls...Also, when can I add more
salt and how much as they were healthier outside with salt and no parasites
present?>
I think you've answered your own question, my friend.  There are always many, many answers to many different questions out there, but I think in this case you should trust what you have already seen for yourself.  I'd try the lower dosing of salt, as you were first doing when the fish were outside, remembering two things: salt doesn't evaporate and if needed, it is much easier to add more salt, rather than remove it.  That would be my suggestion...start slowly, add a little bit at a time, and just see what works best for you!
<Once again, excellent website you guys run and excellent advice.  You all
are to be commended.  Gayle>
Thank you, Gayle.  And you, too, are to be commended for taking such wonderful care of your pets! Keep in in touch and do check out the message boards...it's a fun community full of people who love fish where you can find lots of great advice.
Best of luck to you and your fishies!
Jorie

Editing the Goldfish FAQs?
Loved all the goldfish facts which might have just saved the life of my real
old fish, but your FAQs are a formatting nightmare.  Can I please talk you
into an edit?
-Matt
<What do you have in mind? Our situation... we are a couple of dozen earnest aquarists, some involved in the trade tangentially for a living... but none paid for their work that is WWM... there is scarce time. Bob Fenner>

Wonky-Tailed Moor
I have recently brought a small black moor goldfish and when I got home I noticed that one of the small fins at the base of his tail is caught up on his tail. It's causing him great problems with swimming as his tail is pulled to one side.  Is there anything I can do to relieve this?  He seems quite quiet and tends to stay around the top corner of his tank as he seems to have trouble getting back to the bottom!  He does manage it occasionally though!  He seems generally healthy otherwise!  Please help!
<<Well. You can always return him to the store and choose another. Fixing the problem depends on whether or not the small fin is actually attached to the caudal fin. Sounds like a minor deformity, and a healthy goldfish should overcome this. Therefore, I don't recommend that you try to physically separate it for him.. I DO recommend that you do some reading about proper goldfish care: keep the water quality perfect with regular water changes, feed him a good diet specifically designed for herbivorous goldfish, learn what swim bladder disease is, and how to prevent it, and add a bit of salt to your tank to facilitate his swimming for the time being. I believe that he has probably suffered malnutrition and crappy water conditions at the store, leading him to be in a weakened state and prone to illness. Your good care should strengthen him to the point where he will be able to compensate for any actual deformity he may have...you know, like a three legged dog :) -Gwen>>