Need urgent help please

[*Yvonne*]

Our little goldfish looks very poorly, it's hardly swimming at all it's going black on its fins & tonight I actually thought it was dead but Chloe's adamant it's not. When I tried to catch it with the small net to put it in the smaller tank, whilst I clean the big tank out, it went in without any fuss at all & it's mouth (?) is opening & closing but not doing much else. Anyone any idea what's wrong & can it be saved or is a it a case of trying to prepare Chloe for the worst? Baring in mind she won this at a local fayre the summer Lauren was born so I'm surprised it's lasted this long tbh.

Thanks :kisshands:

[denise1981]

hmmm, its hard with goldfish as there is not much you can do! Mind you our goldfish likes to sleep alot and plays dead! Although I have not checked him today......... just checking..................... He's fine. They are over 3 years old now!

Not sure what the black is about he may have an illness! Does not look good for him:kisshands: maybe have a chat with your petshop if he is still alive tomorrow?

[saluki]

ahh poor thing, really sounds like little goldie is on his way out im afraid, goldfish are not very hardy, especially from the fair. xx:kisshands:

[-Joy-]

Aww Yvonne doesnt sound too good.. but Im not an expert, but having had them ages ago.. maybes hes old now ?x
xx

[*Yvonne*]

Well as we speak Lee's going to give the big tank a through clean, redo all the water, gravel, everything at least then if sadly it doesn't make it then we'll have the tank ready for a new one. How long do fish last from a fayre normally? She's had it about 18 months now, is that good?

[curlywurly]

If you've any mineral water in the house, try changing the water and putting that in - sometimes after we've had alot of rain, the tap water freaks them out.

Could be clap trap, as I can't remember where I read it - but it might be worth a try.

[Purplecat]

Aww Yvonne doesnt sound too good.. but Im not an expert, but having had them ages ago.. maybes hes old now ?x
xx

goldfish can live upto 50 yrs with the right care.

don't do a complete water change every time and only feed a little veryother day.

it maybe too late for this one.

[*Yvonne*]

That's why we have 2 tanks, we put a little water in the smaller tank from the bigger one to keep it in whilst we clean the big one out then transfer that back into the bigger one - does that make sense? I know you shouldn't overfeed a goldfish but with Chloe it's usually the opposite.

[Purplecat]

you've done whats best for the little one.:alright:

[*Yvonne*]

It's moving about a bit more now, anyone any ideas how long you should keep the gravel without changing it completley? I'm thinking of buying some fresh when I go shopping.

[denise1981]

It's moving about a bit more now, anyone any ideas how long you should keep the gravel without changing it completley? I'm thinking of buying some fresh when I go shopping.

If he is ill, dont change too much it may make him worse.

Gravel is fine to keep just clean it!

[duck_egg]

We have lots of fish and they do play dead sometimes! We bought 3 new ones a few weeks ago and they have developed new black markings! I did hear that if you give them a splash of cold water it can revive them but don't hold me to that! Just keep an eye on him hun.....btw we had fish from a fair last 6 yrs!!! x x x x

[kybirkin]

Sounds like a fungal infection but can't be sure without seeing it. when you do a water change only do 1/2 a tank maximum otherwise the good bacteria in the water that take ages to build up will all go and the fish will die.

Can keep gravel with no problems but you may want to get a suction type thing to remove the water as it lets you clean the gravel at the same time.

Other thing that will help getting the gravel clean is to buy a loach type fish to go in the tank as they are like mini fish tank hoovers!!

[Ellie]

We have a goldfish still on the go eight years after we bought him - I think he is indestructable! - Our tank cracked and we put him in a basin in the spare room til dh picked up a new one on his way home from work. When I got home at 5.30 the fish had jumped out and was lying on the floor, not moving. Now I'm sqeamish about these things, so I left him there thinking he was well and truly dead (we'd both been out since lunchtime so no idea how long he'd been there). Dh got home about 9ish, picked him up and put him the sink with some water, and he swam!! - I couldnt believe it!. The dh made a pond in the back garden, we put said fish there about 6 years ago, got him some friends, but they got eaten by a herron that likes to visit! - this one is still going, and he's HUGE now (the only fish in the pond). Unsuprisingly we called him Lucky!
Fish can be fairly hardy, but they also do just do very little a lot! - hope yours is ok :kisshands:

[saluki]

How is the ittle fish today? x

[bunniemummee]

it might be a problem with his swim bladder in which it should sort itself out< theres nothing you can do about it> the fish sometimes looks like its just rolling about aimlessly in his tank or maybe dead. hope he gets better!:happy72:

[*Yvonne*]

Well it's still going & seems fine now, the markings are still there but s/hes swimming round happily.