FireFly

Hello.
I recently got 4 abandoned goldfish that were left behind in a tank for 2 weeks with no filter and no food. they are your everyday comets and are about 4 inches each. I got them from the animal shelter that my friend works at as they were part of a cruelty investigation.There is 4 of them and I had to put them in my 30 gallon tank right away because they were in a bucket at the shelter.There was one lone 4 inch koi in my tank. They all love each other and my koi is super happy to get some buddies. Here is my concern.. the goldfish are turning black.. or maybe its a disease. Im not really sure. they are eating and swimming and besides the black look fine. Any ideas on why they are turning black? I tested the fish tank and all the levels are fine. I know its not good to add that many fish so quick to a tank so maybe that is the issue. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank care

nemo addict

gold fish can turn black mine done this when i added them to my pond ,,, being in a happy tank they should turn gold/ornage again

Alessa

Hello Firefly!

It was a very nice thing of you to take care of those goldies! it really says how nice of a person you are!

Do you know what the water readings are? ammonia , nitrite and nitrate?

the thing with comets is that they need tons of water for each, if not a pond. Look at it this way: regular goldfish need 20 gallons for the first goldfish and 10 extra gallons for each extra goldfish.

comets in the long run would need a huge tank... but the most important thing right now is to do a 50% water change with conditioned water and figure out your readings. Also, please read this link, it will answer a lot of questions, and it is also very important for the health of your fishies:

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Good Luck! let us know how it goes.

FireFly

wow that was some fast replys lol! I forgot to mention that after i added the goldfish the water got very cloudy then filtered out on its own. i read somewhere that this is the "bloom" of the beneficial bacteria. Sadly that was my last test strip and i dont remember the exact readings. .. i should have written them down, ah well. I will be sure to get more test strips and let you guys know after i do the 50% water change. Do you think the goldfish will be ok in my tank untill the spring time when its ok to put them in my aunts 1000 gallon pond =) i think they will like it much much better there then in a tank. im going to put my koi in there too. Then i can take and redo the fish tank and put my platy and her 5 babies in there lol. man i love fish. take care

nemo addict

i wouldnt use test strips as they arnt very accurate get liquid test they a lot better

FireFly

hm.. good to know.. liquid test it is then. thanks =)

Alessa

I think they will be ok, but you need to be dilligent with the water changes. The bacterial bloom indeed is a signal of the tank cycling, but it is also a sign that the tank isnt cycled.

Just keep it up with the water changing... daily 50% to protect them, at least until you get a liquid test kit, ammonia and nitrite test 0. Also, while you move them to the pond, it would be a good idea to get another filter.

Good luck.

Lucy

Hey! Congrats on the wonderful save. What a kind person you are.
Looks like everyone has you covered.
Good luck.

FireFly

oo ok. i will def keep up with the water changes and i actually have another filter that is brand new. ahh the joy of working retail and getting the filters and hoods from broken kits lol. thanks for all your help and i will be sure to get a test kit tomorrow in my journeys.

FireFly

so i got the test kit today and i before i did the water change the ammonia was at .25, the nitrates were at 20, nitrites .5 ,the water was very alkaline reading at 40 and the pH was very low reading at 6.2 which is acidic.and the water is reading very hard at 300. poor babies. i did the 50% water change, and will test again in the morning. how often should i do the water change with that many fish? with the readings coming out as they did.. is that why they are turning black? thanks for all your help and thanks for the kind words on me saving them. soon i will be working full time at the animal shelter as a cruelty investigator and animal control officer =)

Shawnie

I would do daily 50% water changes until you have 0 ammonia, nitrites and under 20 nitrates...the color change could just be from the feeders growing..they change all kinds of colors...do you have a water conditioner? prime will neutralize the ammon and nitrites for 24 hours until your next change and make it safe for them goodluck!

Alessa

Like Shawnie said, do them daily until both filters can handle the bioload (Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <20).
Congratulations on working at the animal shelter! I am happy someone like you will work there; someone that cares for non-furry animals too... that is very important, as you know how people ofter treat fishies, in stores and homes alike.

FireFly

looks like i have my work cut out for me lol. 50% daily water changes it is. I have a magnum 220 canister filter. do you think this filter will be sufficient? i have another power filter to add to the current power filter if its not.
I cant wait to work at the shelter. When i worked in retail selling fish a young kid wanted to take one of my (and yes he was technically the stores fish but mine cause i took care of him every day lol) fancy goldfish and thought it would be cool to feed it to another fish or something he had at home and i denied him the sale. he got mad and i waved and smiled as he sulked off. i love all animals fin, scales feathers or fur lol

Matt

I agree with Nemo because they may just be a bit scared.

FireFly

hi everyone just wanted to update everyone on the goldfish. sadly one did die, but the other 4 are still alive. i know i said i got 4 originally but i really got 5 opps lol. they are all gold again, bright and clear. they look much better and stalk anyone who comes near the tank for food. all the levels are much better and alot closer to normal. thanks for everyones help the goldfish appreciate it and so do i.

fishex.

your welcom

Lucy

I'm really sorry to hear you lost one of your fish.

Sounds like the others are doing better, good luck.

Plecolover12

I would not know the answer to that. But I would take abandoned fish if I have the room.

Phyllis

Hi, My goldfish is turning black on his top fin, and top of his body,actually, both of my fish are, what`s wrong?They are eating well,water is fine, just can