Danielle77 Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I have been trying to help a friend that's new to fish keeping. I haven't had goldfish since I was a kid and she lives in another town from me so I just have the pictures to go by. To me it looks like a fungal issue. But I'm not sure what would be best for treatment, I'm not sure if she can get meds, would salt help with this? She also doesn't have a way to test water so I'm in the dark on that. Just looking for advice I maybe haven't thought of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 (edited) I would recommend she gets a test kit as it more than likely a water quality issue that has caused this it looks like a bacterial infections with a secondary fungal infection I would treat with kanaplex in food and ick x to treat the water column if you can't get These meds I would treat with aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 1 gallon start at 1 table spoon for 3 gallons and gradually increase over a couple of days just remember to only put the amount of salt back in that you take out so if you do a 1 gallon water change put 1 table spoon of salt back in Edited January 25, 2022 by Colu 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanF Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 @Danielle77 I agree with @Colu. Looks like a few issues going on and a water test is needed to know the water parameters. To me, it looks like some ammonia irritation/burn and fin rot due to a bacterial/fungal infection. I would also treat with salt before I put medicine in the tank. I start with 1/2 tablespoon per gallon initially, and then up it to 3/4 tablespoon after 12 hours, and then 1 tablespoon per gallon after another 12 hours. Let it stay at that level for a week or two and monitor. Goldfish are very salt tolerant and I have actually gone as high as 1.25 tablespoons per gallon to treat a fungus infection. I also recommend daily water changes if you don't know the water parameters. I am guessing that there are high levels of ammonia / nitrite/ nitrate. Be careful to carefully measure how much water comes out during water changes and only place that amount of salt back in again. I do five gallon water changes each time, so I just dose the fresh water in my bucket for the correct level to match the tank. If your friend doesn't have a test kit, take a water sample to a LFS for free testing. Even the big box pet stores will test your water for you. Best of luck! StanF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danielle77 Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 (Alkaline, hardness, and ph lvl are high and ammonia is high) this is the message I got from her. She got some test strips. I told her to do a water change but she doesn't have a siphon so I told her to use a cup, lol. Anything to get some water out. She is going to travel and bring me the goldfish. I already have a QT tank ready and meds on hand as well as salt. So fingers crossed in a few days I'll be able to help as much as I can. Thanks guys. I'll post an update once I get him. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 way to go @Danielle77! I hope she just needs some fresh water and time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danielle77 Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 So the goldfish didn't make it 😕 I got him home and In the tank after a few days of meds, I tried to stay hopeful but he was in bad shape. Came home today from work and he was gone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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