Diagnosing Symptoms
Photos of infected fish:
Symptoms and
Ailments
- Ammonia poisoning or high KH or pH
Symptoms: Goldfish has clamped fins; Goldfish has folded or closed
fins; Goldfish is in obvious distress; Goldfish has white patches (burns) on
body or fins; Goldfish has black patches (healing burns) on skin and fins
Ammonia, the first toxin created from waste, is only present when there is an
absence of beneficial bacteria in the ecosystem. Goldfish have no tolerance for
this toxin.
Refer to:
Step 5: Water
Treatment
Step 2: The
Nitrogen Cycle
Aloe Treatment
If no ammonia is present, test KH and pH levels. Closely related, both of these two parameters can burn fish in high amounts. Raising or lowering one can and will lower the other. Use vinegar or RO water (water without value) or distilled water to reduce levels.
The comfort zone for pH is 7 to 8 ppms
The comfort zone for KH is 70 to 120 ppms
Refer to:
Step 2: The
Nitrogen Cycle
pH:
Potential of Hydrogen
-
Nitrite poisoning
Symptoms: Goldfish has red streaks in tail fin; Goldfish has red
blotches on body only; Goldfish has broken blood vessels; Goldfish is in
distress
Nitrite; the second toxin to be converted in the nitrogen cycle. Closely
related to nitrates, but symptoms don't always show until after the fact. Goldfish have no tolerance for this toxin.
Refer to:
Step 5: Water
Treatment
OOP
treatment
-
Nitrate poisoning
Symptoms: Goldfish is bottom sitting, pressed; Goldfish has no appetite;
Goldfish has bent position; Goldfish folded over; Goldfish is curled; Goldfish is crooked; Goldfish has spasms;
Goldfish swimming in somersaults
Nitrates; the third and final conversion are found in cycled tanks and can only
be removed by means of a fresh water change or water treatment that converts the
toxin to a safer form.
Refer to:
Step 1:
Goldfish Housing
Step 5: Water
Changes
- Oxygen deprivation
Symptoms: Goldfish is gasping; Goldfish gasping at surface;
Goldfish is sucking air at surface; Goldfish has bleeding from eye; Goldfish has
bulging eye or pop eye; Goldfish has redness at gills; Goldfish has rapid gill
movement
Oxygen deprivation caused by low pH levels; supersaturated gases, green algae,
bad bacteria cloud, or carbon
dioxide in body of water, or enclosed tank,
Refer to:
Step 6:
Oxygenating Water
Oxygen
Deprivation: Anoxia
Goldfish
Salt Bath
- Harmful Bacteria Infection
Symptoms: Goldfish has frayed fins; Goldfish has torn fins; Goldfish
has missing fins; Goldfish has missing scales; Goldfish has fungus on mouth or
body; Goldfish has 'cotton like fungus; Goldfish pooh is very light; Goldfish
pooh is very dark; Goldfish pooh is very stringy; Goldfish has hole in head;
Goldfish has sores; Goldfish has ulcers; Goldfish is listless; Goldfish has film
or mucus on body or fins
Bacteria infection; caused by low oxygen levels; little or no surface action,
poor maintenance routine or overcrowded conditions.
Refer to:
Bacteria,
Friend or Foe?
Goldfish
Salt Treatment
Step 6:
Oxygenating Water
Gel Food
(Antibiotic) Recipe
-
Parasite or worms
Symptoms: Goldfish is flashing; Goldfish is rubbing; Goldfish
exhibits sporadical swimming; Goldfish is darting; Goldfish has visual
parasites; Goldfish has visual worms; Goldfish missing scales; Goldfish has
sores; Goldfish prefers isolation
Parasites and worms are caused by introducing infected fish or plants to the
environment.
Refer to
Goldfish
Salt Treatment
Gel
Food (Antibiotic) Recipe
-
Swim bladder issues
Symptoms: Goldfish is floating; Goldfish floating at top of tank;
Goldfish floating at 45 degree angle; Goldfish is swimming upside down; Goldfish
swimming lopsided; Goldfish is bobbing; Goldfish is upside down; Goldfish is
flipped over; Goldfish can't swim; Goldfish has uncontrolled swimming
Swim bladder issues may be caused by injury; loud and sudden noises, harmful bacteria
infection, constipation, or the eggs may be impacted.
Refer to:
Floating
Issues
Digestive
Disorders
Goldfish
Salt Treatment
Gel Food
(Antibiotic) Recipe
- Bubble Disease
Symptoms: Goldfish has bulging eye(s); Goldfish bulging on side;
Goldfish has bubbles escaping mouth; Goldfish has bubbles escaping gills;
Goldfish has tumors; Goldfish has tumor looking bumps; Goldfish has dilated
veins in dorsal area; Goldfish is gasping at surface; Goldfish has bulging on
one side
Gas Bubbles are caused by supersaturated gases (concentrated amounts of oxygen)
found in tap water. These gases push oxygen out of the water suffocating fish.
These gases also enter the body forming pockets of gas under the skin.
Refer to:
Step 6:
Oxygenating Water
Bubble
Disease
-
Poisoning: Metal, chemical, tannin, medication or salt or unknown
Symptoms: :
Goldfish is listless; Goldfish has loss of appetite; Goldfish is bloated;
Goldfish is swollen
Caused by exposure to extreme amounts; Metal; chemicals; tannin; over
medicating; over salting. Poisoning may cause organ failure and swelling. Some
fish may raise their scales when seriously bloated.
Refer to:
Goldfish
Poisoning
Dandelion
Treatment
-
Exposure to high temperatures or Fever
Symptoms: Goldfish has raised scales; goldfish has diminished
appetite; Goldfish is listless
Having no core body temperature, goldfish exposed to too warm of water for too
long of a time period may be slow to recover; if at all. Goldfish also raise
their scales when they have fever caused by infection.
Comfort zone: 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
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