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The Goldfish Gazette, Issue #127 Saving very sick fish July 31, 2024 |
Goldfish Care TipsA Free Monthly Resource For Goldfish Enthusiasts In This Issue Saving very sick Goldfish is a matter of swiftly removing the fish from the possible source of the problem, and treating with the least number of medications at the appropriate dose. Saving Very Sick Fish
If a fish is still able to maintain its balance, it should be saveable. Assume the fish has been attacked by multiple pathogens. Rarely do very sick fish have only one pathogen problem. Symptoms of DiseaseThe first thing a sick Goldfish does is clamp its fins by dropping its dorsal fin and holding its ventral fins hard against its body. If that is noticed look for the obvious disease signs:• Little or no response to food at feeding time, a BIG danger sign • Frequent jerky swimming motions and rubbing against objects in the aquarium or pond • Loss of color or increased body slime • Swimming in a vague listless manner • Long periods lying on the bottom or gasping at the surface • Faster than normal breathing rate • Red patches on the body or fins • Thin or emaciated body First ResponseJust doing a water change isn’t going to do much to help very sick fish, but getting the fish into clean fresh water is the first step to recovery.Fresh clean water, especially tap water has few, if any pathogens in it such as bacteria or fungal spores, so you eliminate a source of further attack. Also, if poor water quality has caused the problem, fresh water eliminates toxic ammonia, nitrites or high nitrates. Because the fish is weakened and stressed, make sure water temperatures and pH are the same before moving the fish. Note that the pH can be higher, but not lower. MedicationsFew medications are required to treat most Goldfish diseases.Salt is the first medication to use on very sick fish. Salt does multiple jobs:
• It stops electrolytes leaching from the fish through damaged skin or injury.
Goldfish have a higher salt level in their bodies than the surrounding water You are aiming for a 0.3% salt solution or a tablespoon per gallon. Goldfish tolerate this level easily but this is a very sick fish, so start with a tablespoon per 3 gallons, increasing this to a tablespoon per two gallons after 8 hours and the final amount 8 hours later. Watch the fish carefully as you increase the dose, and if it starts to turn over on its side, it is too weak to take that concentration so remove the fish and halve the dose. Any salt is better than none. If the fish has a fungal attack, Methylene Blue should be added to the water; follow the instructions on the container. Because fungus if often caused by parasites, the next medication to administer is a praziquantel based medication such as API General Cure or ParaGuard. This will kill flukes that salt won’t kill, and protozoan parasites that have become tolerant to salt. Bacterial conditions will be taken care of by the salt. Hospital Tank EnvironmentMore fish are killed by overdosing or sudden water quality drops in the hospital tank than from the disease itself.Maintaining pristine water quality is critical for a successful cure. A filter is of little use if Methylene Blue is used because it kills the filter bacteria. I install a clean uncycled filter to provide aeration, and do frequent large water changes. If Water temperatures are below 15oC (59oF) heat the water slowly over several days to 20oC (68oF). Feed live foods if possible, or frozen equivalents. Leave the fish in the hospital tank until the fish is active and eating well, and all signs of disease are gone. It will take weeks to reach this stage. Slowly reduce the medication levels over a few days before returning the fish to its home. Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this e-zine and tell me what you think, or what topics you want to be covered. Next Month's Topic Treating Dropsywww.facebook.com/aboutgoldfish |
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