Curing sick goldfish

Why Goldfish get sick

Before we can talk about ways to cure your goldfish if it is sick it is important for you to understand what happens inside your goldfish tank. Your fish live in a closed environment. This means that any waste that they produce will stay inside the tank with them and eventually make them sick and unhappy. Goldfish produce two kinds of waste; solid waste and invisible ammonia. If their environment is not kept fresh then they become stressed, causing their immune system to weaken and leaving them open to infection. One of the biggest causes of stress is poor water quality and this leaflet will give you advice on how best to keep your goldfish tank clean and fresh.

 

You may also want to read the leaflet “Providing a home for your Goldfish”.

Preventing your Goldfish from becoming sick

It is far better to prevent your goldfish from becoming sick in the first place, rather than try to cure it once it has a problem. There are a few steps that you should take in order to reduce the risk of your goldfish becoming unwell.

1) Goldfish should be fed on a good quality fish food that supplies them with all of their dietary needs. A good fish food will be well digested and therefore minimise the amount of waste the fish produce. Poor quality foods not only provide a diet that may be lacking in essential nutrients, but they also lead to too much waste in the aquarium, clogging up the gravel and polluting the water. The TetraFin range of goldfish foods are manufactured to the highest quality, providing goldfish with all of their dietary needs and resulting in very little waste production. See the “Feeding and caring for your Goldfish” leaflet for more information.

2) The tank should have a correctly sized filter to remove solid waste and ammonia. Filters such as the Tetratec series are designed to remove solid waste and pollutants from the tank and keep the water clean. They also have a special fitting that blows air into the tank, in order to increase oxygen levels. Oxygen is essential for goldfish and a lack of it can quickly lead to health problems. If you are not using a Tetratec filter then it may be necessary to install an air-pump in order to increase oxygen levels. Tetra Whisper AP air-pumps come in a range of sizes to suit all tanks and are designed to deliver oxygen quietly and efficiently.

3) The gravel should be kept reasonably clean, as accumulated dirt can break down and pollute the water. This is best done with a Tetratec HydroClean gravel siphon, which if used regularly will keep the gravel clean and tidy.A water change should also be performed every 3 to 4 weeks, using tap water conditioned with TetraFin WaterSafe or AquaSafe. Alternatively, Tetra EasyBalance should be added weekly to refresh the water. See the “Feeding and caring for your Goldfish” leaflet for more information.

4) New fish are particularly susceptible to health problems, as they tend to be stressed, having been transported from the shop to your tank.To minimise stress, the bag they are in should be floated on top of the tank for 20 minutes in order to get them used to the water temperature, and any lights should be turned off for the rest of the day. New arrivals should not be fed for a day or so after being introduced to the tank.

The main types of Disease

There are three main types of disease that affect goldfish: parasitic, fungal and bacterial. Many of the microscopic creatures that cause these diseases are in the tank and on the fish in low numbers all of the time, and it is only when the fish becomes stressed or damaged that an infection can develop. The majority of common goldfish diseases can be cured using TetraFin GoldMed or TetraFin Goldfish Disease Treatment.

Treatment tips

Once the underlying cause of the problem has been rectified it is then possible to treat the tank using a suitable remedy. There are a number of treatment tips that can help to increase the chances of a successful recovery.
1) Increasing the oxygen content of the water can aid recovery, particularly in situations where levels are not good. Adding a TetratecWhisper air pump will raise oxygen levels, increasing the efficiency of the treatment.

2) Cut back on feeding to only once a day to decrease the amount of waste and ammonia being produced, as well as reduce the amount of oxygen used by the fish.This will help to create a good environment for disease recovery.You can then go back to your normal number of feeds.

3) Change one quarter of the water in your tank before adding the treatment. This will dilute any pollution, as well as refresh the water and decrease numbers of water-borne diseases.TetraFinWaterSafe should always be used to condition the water before it is safe to use for fish. A water change should also be done before each treatment if you need to treat your goldfish more than once.

4) Use WaterSafe or AquaSafe to promote healing and give the fish added protection. TetraFin WaterSafe or AquaSafe can be used along with any treatment to aid disease recovery. It protects the fishes’ gills and skin against wounds and abrasions, as well as against fungal and bacterial infections. It also aids the healing process and reduces fish stress.

5) Add aquarium salt to the tank. Salt can be very beneficial when treating goldfish as it reduces stress and frees up energy for fighting infection. It is particularly useful when the fish are suffering from ulcers, wounds or abrasions, as it helps them to control their internal water balance. Aquarium salt can be added at 3grams per litre or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Following these simple tips will help to ensure that your fish has the best chance of recovering from a disease.

Common Mistakes

If you are having disease problems in your tank then there are a number of commonly made mistakes that could be to blame:
1) Cleaning the filter foams with tap water: tap water contains chlorine that will kill off the beneficial bacteria which live in the filter.This will result in a build up of ammonia and nitrite. Filter foams should be rinsed in a jug of tank water.

2) Over-feeding: Feeding your fish too much will result in too much solid waste being produced.This will lead to poor water quality and the encouragement of disease causing organisms. Goldfish should be fed no more than two to three times a day, feeding no more than they consume within a few minutes (see the “Feeding and caring for your Goldfish” leaflet).

3) Dirty Gravel: If the gravel is allowed to get very dirty it will provide an environment in which certain disease causing organisms will thrive. It will also lead to increased levels of pollution and a decrease in oxygen levels. Gravel should be kept clean through the use of a Tetratec Hydroclean gravel siphon.

6) Too many fish in your tank: If you have too many fish in the tank then the filter will have a harder time maintaining good water quality.There may also not be enough oxygen in a heavily stocked tank, in which case a Tetratec Whisper air pump should be added. Physical damage is also more common in over-stocked tanks, and the levels of stress tend to be higher as well. If your tank is too heavily stocked then you will either have to buy a bigger home for your fish, or upgrade the equipment.

7) Unsuitable décor: If your tank contains a lot of sharp objects then there is a danger that the fish will damage themselves.This often occurs when they are startled and they dart to safety, knocking into the tank decorations. Physical damage caused in this way can quickly lead to infection, and therefore the offending items should be removed from the tank.

8) Not changing the tank water often enough: Failure to refresh the tank water with either water changes, or by using EasyBalance, will result in poor water quality. Ideally water changes should be done every three to four weeks, or EasyBalance should be added weekly and water changes done once every three to six months (see the “Feeding and caring for your Goldfish” leaflet).

9) Not conditioning tap water: Tap water contains chlorine and heavy metals that are harmful to goldfish. When adding tap water to the tank it should always be conditioned with TetraFin WaterSafe or AquaSafe in order to remove these elements. Failure to do this will result in damage to the fish’s gills, leading to health problems. These are just some of the more common mistakes to avoid, it may be that in some cases the cause of a problem requires further investigation. In such cases we would advise talking to your local aquatics retailer.

For more information on keeping your goldfish see the “Feeding and caring for your Goldfish” and “Providing a home for your Goldfish” leaflets.