robin Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 HI, how long do goldfish live? My friend has had this guy for over 5 years and got it from her daughter..... He is floating, upright, but his top fin is drying out because he stays right at the surface. The rest of his fins seem to look kind of shredded, so I thought maybe fin rot? No one is picking on him, he is in with tetra's and a few other huge goldfish. Any tips? Bloat? Old age? What makes a fish so bouyant? Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmaan. Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 you should probably take that fish out of it's misery lol. that sounds terrible. i have no information other than that fish doesn't deserve to have such a brutal life lol. i think you guys should do something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 HI Robin, Goldfish can live ~10 years. So it's probably not old age. Is he able to go down and stay down under water or just pops back up? Is he eating/pooping? Off hand,my guesses would be #1 - swim bladder infection, #2 - possibly constipation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endugu Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 HI Robin,Goldfish can live ~10 years. http://www.goldfishinfo.com/goldlife.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted April 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 HI Robin,Goldfish can live ~10 years. So it's probably not old age. Is he able to go down and stay down under water or just pops back up? Is he eating/pooping? Off hand,my guesses would be #1 - swim bladder infection, #2 - possibly constipation. is there anything we can do? for #1 or #2? If not, we must put him down, you are right........the other person who replied, either he gets better fast or we have to end his misery!! Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 HI Robin,Goldfish can live ~10 years. So it's probably not old age. Is he able to go down and stay down under water or just pops back up? Is he eating/pooping? Off hand,my guesses would be #1 - swim bladder infection, #2 - possibly constipation. is there anything we can do? for #1 or #2? If not, we must put him down, you are right........the other person who replied, either he gets better fast or we have to end his misery!! Robin You haven't said if he is eating. Swim bladder disorders have a variety of causes, so treatment varies. One book I have mentions air-gulping when eating - treat by soaking food so it sinks. Also mentions infection - antibiotics. Constipation - 1 tsp Epsom salts to 5 gal water in hospital tank, starve 3-5 days until resumes normal behaviour, feed live or freeze dried for 1 week, return to normal tank. There are more possible causes. From the Manual of Fish Health "If the affected fish seems very distressed or is unwilling or unable to feed then it might be kinder to have it put down." I hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmaan. Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 i thought swim bladder infections make the fish sit at the bottom of the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parachromis1 Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 i thought swim bladder infections make the fish sit at the bottom of the tank? It makes them float. And with this condition they never fully recover....anytime the fish will get stressed out it'll puff up like a balloon, it may be hard but I'd put it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmaan. Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 i thought swim bladder infections make the fish sit at the bottom of the tank? It makes them float. And with this condition they never fully recover....anytime the fish will get stressed out it'll puff up like a balloon, it may be hard but I'd put it down. did some research on swim bladder infections and apparently it goes both ways. QUOTE: Symptoms can include: Either floats uncontrollably to the top of the tank, or sinks to the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parachromis1 Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 i thought swim bladder infections make the fish sit at the bottom of the tank? It makes them float. And with this condition they never fully recover....anytime the fish will get stressed out it'll puff up like a balloon, it may be hard but I'd put it down. did some research on swim bladder infections and apparently it goes both ways. QUOTE: Symptoms can include: Either floats uncontrollably to the top of the tank, or sinks to the bottom. That's true, but the sinking is often associated with a disease which causes wasting away of the fishes body. I'm just waiting for Jorg's or Neil's 2cents now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 She did some water changes, the fins look better, she can now swim to the bottom, but still stays mostly at the top. She has to fight to stay down...if she stays still she will float up. She is pooping. Melafix or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 I am not an advocate of Melafix. I know some people swear by it. If possible use a hospital tank and one of the broad spectrum antibiotics, off hand I couldn't say which I would use. According to Manual of Fish Health, slowly increase the temperature ~5 C (9 F), dose the tank with antibacterial remedy and/or aquarium salt. May help, but many cases fail to improve. Good Luck and hope it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 I find that adding epsom salts and aquarium salts seem to help with it in some cases. I know some fish (especially fantails) get it when the temp fluctuates, which is why fantails don't do so well in ponds up here. I do a 25% water change, vacuum the gravel well and add the salts even if I suspect something is out of whack. The salt and an extra water change certainly doesn't hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 The fish is doing much better on the floating part, but now he is pooping skinny strands...... I guess we will see, we did add salt and do the water changes, and he is better... Someone told my friend that frozen peas help with consitpation? Anyone hear of that before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 I have posted this site before but I think it is a good one. See the part on Diagnosis by Poop. http://weloveteaching.com/puregold/disease.../technique.html I have heard of using peas for constipation but I don't think that is the problem, now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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