bubblefish

Hello to all,

I found a good deal on a used acrylic 5 gallon with heater and filter (used) to be used as a hospital tank. I went to pick the tank up last night. When I arrived, the guy had 3 feeder fish in it and hadn't broken down the set up because he had gotten home later than expected. He said it would only take him a few minutes to "get rid" of the fish and dump the water out. He was going to flush the live feeder goldfish down the toilet even though they were still alive. I couldn't stand the thought of this so I asked if I could have them. Needless to say, the water was very dirty and the fish did not look well (breathing rapidly, gasping at the surface, very red gills and a lot of missing scales). I don't know much about goldfish but I want to try to help them, even though they are just feeder fish.

When I got home, I put them in a small rubermaid tub, cleaned the tank thoroughly, put in new gravel and filter media, put in freash water conditioned with prime and put the fish back in. They do look more comfortable but look really rough. They are eating but not very much. I don't know how to treat the patches where they are missing scales as I don't know what is causing this. Any information and suggestions would be appreciated. They looked a bit better this morning so I guess the clean water has been somewhat helpful so far. I just think that they must be in pain and suffering.

Meenu

It's probably ammonia poisoning and stress, no?

I know that the 5g is way too small for goldies if you think you are going to keep them. Feeder goldies get huge, and for the 3, you'd need a minimum 40 gallons. do you have a local fish store that would take them once you get them a bit healthier?

If you decide to keep them, you should read the goldfish care guide.

Tony G.

I would put them in the rubbermaid tank instead of the 5g, just because they will have more room, Just transfer the filter and use it in the tub for now. Are you willing to keep them or just untill you find homes for them?

As far as the scales i would get my hands on some Stresscoat to regenerate them if possible, also some garlic guard or garlic juice to boost their immune system. I would transfer media from your other tanks to the tub so they can have a cycled tank. HOw big is the tub?

Hope that helps..

Lucy

Hi bubblefish.
Boy, I'm glad that man was running late and you saved the fish.
I bet that tank water was pretty high in ammonia.
Is there anyway you can put them in the 20g and move the fry (depending on how many and how big there are) to the 5g?
Goldies need more room than that, but it'll be better than the 5g.

I wonder if they just need some time in nice fresh water? Melafix might help them heal up.

Best of luck and thank you for saving these fish.

Edit: Meenu, thanks for the sig!! lol

Meenu

awesome advice! I make my garlic juice by using a jar of minced garlic from my kitchen. I take a bit of garlic from the jarm and just soak it in a little water.

bubblefish

I should have added this info at the beginning. The rubbermaid container was pretty small so my priority was to provide them with immediate relief, hence cleaning the 5 gallon and putting them back in. After doing this, I set up the 20 gallon that I upgraded to 55 gallon this past Saturday (listed as tank #2 in my profile). I wanted to have the 20 gallon running 24 hours to stabilize the temp. before putting the goldies in. When I get home tonight, I plan on putting some filter media from my established 55 gallon (listed as tank #1 in my profile) into the filter that is on the 20 gallon and then tranfer the goldies into that.

As far as keeping them, I definately will if they make it. After seeing what they are going trough right now, I can't bare the thought of this possible happening to them again. Also, if they do survive, they deserve to live and not be fed to a bigger fish. Oh Dear!!! - I'm feeling another 55 gallon tank lurking just around the corner.

I will try the garlic but am concerned that it may sting or be painful for them. Is there something that could be more soothing for them?

Tony G.

the guarlic juice you dip their food in, that way it goes inside them...

bubblefish

Thanks Tony, I thought I was putting the juice into the tank water, lol.

Thanks all for your advice. I hope they make it. They're pretty cute. One is all "goldfish orange", one is a redder orange with white and the third is all white.

Lucy

If they don't like the taste, you can add garlic juice to their tank water.

Tony G.

Aww! i love goldies, if i could have them i totally would LOL

ive been thinking of making my 35g a goldy tank but i am not sure LOL

Im pretty sure they'll make it. Goldies are really strong, hardy fish, so its very possible

bubblefish

Lucy, How much garlic juice do I put in the water (20 gallon). Will it sting as it looks like the patches where the scales are missing could be sore. I am surprised that their fins look to be in good shape.

They are very small, about one and a half inches long. Can they be in the 20 gallon for a month or a bit longer? I would like them to get healthier and stabilize a bit before getting them a 55 gallon tank.

gremlin

Good job on the rescue!

They should be okay in the 20 gallon for a while (a couple months), just make sure you keep up on the water changes to handle the ammonia. They will eventually need at least a 55 gallon since they can grow quite a bit. The missing scales are probably damage from poor water quality and - if they were feeder fish - possible injuries from larger fish trying to eat them and these three are just the left overs that actually survived. Melafix is great for goldie injuries. It does have a rather pungent odor to it, and it does foam a bit sometimes in the water, but i have not found anything better to treat actual injuries. Since they are still so small, they are probably quite young and should be able to regenerate most (if not all) of their scales. Breathing rapidly, gasping at the surface, very red gills - these are all signs of high ammonia. The fact that their gills are "very red" means that they were probably in bad water conditions for quite a while. This could also cause them to lose scales. Good clean water and melafix. That would be my suggestion. Oh, and pics of them!

Lucy

Just a few drops. I was just pointing out, that you can add it to the tank. Some fish don't like the taste. I've never seen any adverse effects from it.
Melafix as mentioned above and by Gremlin is great for goldie wounds
Gremlin knows her goldies!

Tony G.

LOL i absolutely agree, gremlin and Joy are great for goldies

bubblefish

Thanks Gremlin. They were not injured by larger fish. At first, I wasn't sure why her had them as he was in a small apartment and there were no other tanks around. When I asked what the feeder fish were for, he seemed very agitated and barked that his girlfriend bought "this stuff" about a month ago and didn't take it with her when they broke up 2 weeks ago. It was a little too much info for me but did give me with some perspective on why the little Goldies were not being cared for. He probably had not bothered to clean the tank in the two weeks after she left. Not even convinced they were fed as they are very thin.

I will go ahead and move them to the 20 gallon tonight. I will pick up some Melafix on the way home and put this in as well. The smell can't possibly be as bad as the smelly water they came in. Anyway, that doesn't matter as long as it helps them.

I will pick up a new 55 gallon tank and the equipment for it this weekend but will not put them into the 55 gallon until they are looking better.

I'll have to read up on how to post pics first. Then for sure. They are too cute to not have their pics up somewhere. I sure hope they live - my first and foremost priority.

Lucy

Here you go:
How Do I: Attach Pictures to my post

bubblefish

Thanks for the info for pics. Let me get them settled down and more comfortable and I will post pics for sure. Thanks All.

bubblefish

Oh, I almost forgot. I want to get them some very good food. I didn't have food specific for goldfish so last night I gave them a little daphnia, a few thawed frozen bloodworms and threw in a shrip pellet. Very small amouts of each. They seemed to slowly nibble at all of them. I want to pick up food for them on my way hime when I pick up the Melafix.

gremlin

I suggest a good pellet diet. I prefer floating pellets, but sinking are fine. I order the "big" bag from dr's foster and smith - blue ridge brand floating mini pellets. The float just below the surface of the water so the goldies can nibble at them as they soften, but it is easy to remove any excess.

bubblefish

Thanks.

bubblefish

Hi All,

Well, last night I picked up some pellet food and melafix for the little goldies. I moved them to the 20 gallon and fed them pellets soaked in garlic juice. They ate very enthusiastically (good sign). I dosed with melafix. This morning, they appear to be a little less red around the gills and the patches where the scales are missing looks less irritated as well. They also seem more active. I think they'll likely make it. Thanks all for all the advice!! Oh, I almost forgot, I also found a pretty good book at the LFS on how to care for goldies.

Shadowbeam

Iv'e just read this thread for the first time and it really made me smile when i read what you've done for these goldies Wish there were more like you in the world ^^

Glad to hear they are doing better now they have such a caring owner!

Would love to keep hearing how they are getting on And can't wait to see some pics *hint hint*

yukoandk

Wow, what lucky fishes--I mean, that you showed up just in time, and that you are willing to care for them!

Great advice from everyone here. And regardless of tank size, you will need a daily water change with Prime to keep ammonia/nitrite in check. As for the food for them, what they had last night must've been such a feast! All of those are great, and just try to mix some veges to their diet as well. Thawed and shelled green peas cut into appropriate size make an easy and excellent snack. You may like to add some plant in the tank for them to nibble on. If you can find goldfish pellets at the store, they are better choice than flakes, but not as the only source of food. A varied diet is good for goldfish.

I was trying some garlic for my goldfish tank last night after reading about it somewhere on this forum. I was trying to squeeze some juice from minced garlic with my fingers, and some bits accidentally dropped into the water. My goldfish gobbled them up and was chewing for a little minute. I swear they were making these funny faces saying, "wait a minute, what is this?! Tastes different?!" And they proceed to swallow the garlic bits saying, "oh well, it must be edible..."

Anyway, your story makes me smile. This is such a great place to get help and/or share your experiences. Good luck to you and your new addition!

bubblefish

Glad it brought smiles. At the lfs, it brought some laughter as they think it's rather funny that I will be spending a few hundred dollars for another 55 gallon set up just for these little guys. And... of course they had to point out that you could buy 3 feeder goldies for under $1. After laughing and teasing me for a bit, the one fellow that was nice enough to deliver the 55 gallon tank that i recently set up (because it didn't fit in my jeep), offered to deliver the new 55 gallon that I'm purchasing this weekend for the goldies. So, took a bit of ribbing but I don't care.

gremlin

You'll have to take pics of your goldie tank all set up showing how well they are doing and show them to the fish store people. Maybe they won't laugh quite so much next time.

I'm glad to hear they are doing better. Keep up the good work! (oh, and what do you think of the odor of the melafix?)

Shadowbeam

Awwww, I'm sure it was worth being made fun of
Just think how special those fish you saved are instead of three just bought for under $1 at the LFS, these guys will mean so much more to you I'm sure As you will to them!

bubblefish

The smell of the Melafix wasn't too bad at first but seemed to get stronger and stronger. It's a very unique smell, LOL. Oh well, it's worth it as it seems to be helping. They are getting a bit of a shine now. The reddish patches and gills are just pinkish now. They just love peas that are cut up and soaked in garlic juice. They're still quite shy but it's only been a few days. They're more active. I was trying to get a pick but they kept huddling behind the plant. I'll have to try again in a few days.

LFS guys: They laughed but I don't care. Even though they laughed, they were still helpful and supportive enough to offer to bring the new 55 gallon to my house tomorrow. They're just teasing. They laughed when I noticed that one of the burmese loaches had only one eye but looked fine otherwise and I asked for him because I was convinced he would never get a home. I bought 4 total that day and they didn't charge me for the one with only one eye. I call him Frankenfish but mostly Frank for short. He has the most character out of the bunch.

Tony G.

LOL @ the LFS... people can be sooo weird sometiimes LOL

This thread is so cool. The fact that you are willing to do so much for these goldies is amazing

Kudos

bubblefish

(sigh)... and I thought I was getting such a good deal on that acylic hospital tank because it was almost new LOL. I like the little goldies and I've never had goldfish before. I didn't know that they get really big until now. It'll be fun to see then grow up into the monster fish that they can become.

Red1313

I just saw this thread and thought I'd drop in and say congrats!
Also you mentioned frozen blood worms I believe? I drop a cube in my 56 gal for my fancy goldies as a treat that they go nuts for them
Can't wait to meet the lucky guys