AggieYen

I've got 2 goldfish and an oto in a 5.5G tank - the shop won't take it back, so I've been trying to do the best that I can with what I'm stuck with. (GRR dumb LPS) I do 25% changes every 3 days, with a gravel vac every week. Looking out for a bigger tank, but can't quite afford it right now.

The last week or so the water had become very cloudy, so thinking that it was an algae bloom, I left the lights off for a few days. Checked water parameters daily, ammonia and nitrites at 0, nitrates at 5, holding steady. Checked again this morning and there was a slight spike of ammonia to 0.25, so I changed 25% and vacced once I got home today.

I've been noticing for the last few days that my ryukin has started hugging the corner. Everytime I look up from my laptop i see it at the same corner of the tank - when I go nearer to the tank to check on it, it's off and swimming again, and seems fine. No swim issues, both goldfish are eating normally, but I've heard that isolating is a symptom of illness, so i'm a little concerned. Yes. He's back at that corner.

I turned the tank lights on today to check on the fish and have noticed that BASE of the ryukin's swim fin seem really inflamed. Just the area where the fin meets the body. All it's fins look fine. Initially both fish had a slight reddish tint to their bodies right after I did the water change, but that seems to have faded in the last couple of hours. I think perhaps they were reacting to the ammonia spike. pH is at 7.0 - 7.2

Anyone here have had their fish isolating themselves, and what should I be looking out for? With the inflamed fin base, but the fins themselves are absolutely fine, any advice as to what it could be?

I love all of them heaps, but I really feel like they're on borrowed time... and it's almost like it would be a relief to be able to have an empty tank again to start again properly This time with a fish that would thrive in that small a tank.

capekate

Hello AggieYen
What I believe you are witness to is some unhappy goldfish. Others did reply that the tank was much too small for goldfish. Since you found that out, its a shame that the store will not take them back, and I can understand financial difficulties .. with that said.. this is another example of why it is so important to do research first before buying fish. Do you have a heater in that tank? And if you do, what is it set on? Your oto fish is going to need warmer temps than the goldfish, and it may be a temperature problem going on with your goldfish, along with the lack of space and swimming area. I feel very bad for your fish in those conditions and I would wait before wishing on buying new fish for your tank, maybe you can save up some money for a proper tank instead. Even a ten gal tank cant possibly be that much more money?

~ kate

Barbrella

The store won't take the fish back, or the tank back? You should try and give the fish back, as they cannot survive in a tank that size since goldfish are heavy polluters of the water. Even 10 gals is not nearly big enough for 2 goldfish.
You'll need to clean the tank constantly since it sounds like the one fish may have ammonia burns already. Try and get that cleared up then when they are healthy take the fish to another pet store. They'll probably take them.

Agree the oto should not be in there since he needs warm water and cannot tolerate bad water conditions.

And never listen to petstore staff without double checking before you buy any fish. Some of them will say anything to sell something.

gremlin

How big are your fish? - I agree the oto needs a separate home, I also heard they like to be in groups of at least three. Goldfish can handle a fairly wide variety of temps altho they prefer slightly cooler than most tropical fish. The two goldfish will need at least a 20 gal with an excellent filtration system as they are heavy waste producers. They also like to have plants to swim around and will rub themselves on teh stems of the plants. If you don't have a larger tank, you can house them temporarily in a large rubbermaid tub. Are they male or female? You may have one picking on the other due to lack of space or wanting to breed.

AggieYen

Yeah the shop won't take the fish back.. tried that a few weeks ago. And yeah, I know better now with petstores. I didn't even know forums like these even existed until the night I brought them home and took a chance with Google.

Oh I've given up on the idea of buying new fish for this tank as it is now. When I said start over, I meant with a betta, that would be happy in a 5.5G, as I've been told? Funny thing about the oto - he's the only one that seems to be absolutely fat and happy. I know that they aren't hardy fish, but this one seems to be really happy! Zooms around the tank happily.. go figure.

Have tried to re-house them with no luck - no one I know keeps fish, and all the larger tanks on ebay aren't from Melbourne!! Argh. It's almost as if all the fish hobbyists are in Perth or Sydney!!

Isn't a 10 gallon still too small for them anyway?? If I'm going to invest in a larger tank, it kinda only makes sense to get one that will be big enough.. :/ And those are upwards from $150.

Barbrella

You might find something on this list and you can put your own ad!

http://www.petlink.com.au/Classified...Aquarium/Fish/

AggieYen

Oh!! That's awesome!! Depressing as well, because there are only a handful located in Victoria, even less located in the metro/inner city area. Where are all the fish-loving Victorians??

.. Maybe it's got something to do with water restrictions. :/