Curved back, swim bladder, & torn fins

hi all. editmy oranda has scales sticking out and a fat belly also). i got this oranda at the pet store because i have seen him multiple times over the course of a few weeks and noticed his health was getting worse. i have two other fancies he’s going in with after quarantine. but i’m trying to figure out what exactly has caused these problems so i can treat him properly. the pet store water was definitely high in ammonia and not cycled because they replace the filter media daily. it smelled like dead fish and had a yellow tint in the bag. so that could have caused the swim bladder and the torn fins. he seems to only tilt to one side, if that helps. he definitely has that curved back which has me stumped. if his back is a problem and you know what may have caused it please let me know and possible treatments for all of his symptoms. he gets around well enough right now, can swim to the surface fine, occasionally bumping into things but nothing that can injure him. i have him in a 29 gal tank alone, it’s already cycled with 5 tsp of aquarium salt per 10 gallons, an air stone, and i did a fresh water change just before he went in but didn’t touch the filter media. he’s swimming around and ate a pea and seems to be doing better than he was at the store. this was him before and after so far & the black dots are fluval stratom because it used to be a planted tank . i babysat for a while and he doesn’t eat them

 

This is a pretty complex case so I'd say best to keep the water clean before treating for anything definite.

Curved back could be hereditary or from TB but I think the fish would be sicker if it was from TB.

 

This is a pretty complex case so I'd say best to keep the water clean before treating for anything definite.

Curved back could be hereditary or from TB but I think the fish would be sicker if it was from TB.

thank you for replying! that’s what i was thinking too. i read that tb can take a long time to develop and he’s not that old i don’t think. i also read that swim bladder can cause a curved back but it usually curves upwards, right?

 

thank you for replying! that’s what i was thinking too. i read that tb can take a long time to develop and he’s not that old i don’t think. i also read that swim bladder can cause a curved back but it usually curves upwards, right?

Thanks!

Mm in my experience it is either genetic, TB or microsporidia.

Nothing else really causes bending except those things. Well according to the fish disease book anyway

 

Lately I have been reading up on nitrate poisoning in goldfish. If this little guy had been exposed to high levels of nitrate for a long period of time it may be what has caused what is happening. Of course I don't know this is what has happened but it might be possible and may be something you will want to look into. Some symptoms of nitrate poisoning are lethargy, breathing problems, abnormal swimming or movements, fading color, and curled body. You are seeing at least 2 of these symptoms.

One thing I read was goldfish can recover from poisonous nitrate levels but they will likely become very sensitive to nitrates in the future. If that is the case keeping the nitrates down as low as possible may help him/her over time..

 

Lately I have been reading up on nitrate poisoning in goldfish. If this little guy had been exposed to high levels of nitrate for a long period of time it may be what has caused what is happening. Of course I don't know this is what has happened but it might be possible and may be something you will want to look into. Some symptoms of nitrate poisoning are lethargy, breathing problems, abnormal swimming or movements, fading color, and curled body. You are seeing at least 2 of these symptoms.

One thing I read was goldfish can recover from poisonous nitrate levels but they will likely become very sensitive to nitrates in the future. If that is the case keeping the nitrates down as low as possible may help him/her over time..

thank you! this makes sense because he was in very poor water conditions for over a week before i got him. do you know of any treatments for it besides clean water?

 

The only treatment I have found is keep the nitrates as low as possible. Once they have been poisoned by high nitrates it doesn't take much to affect them. I don't know enough about it to type with confidence but I have to think this wouldn't have happened with high nitrates for just a week. I don't know how high the nitrates would have to be to cause it or how long they have to be in it to affect them.

For now though I would try to keep the ammonia and nitrites a constant zero and nitrates down as low as you can. Hopefully by doing so this little guy will start feeling better. If that doesn't happen soon or if it gets worse some medication may be needed.

Before turning to any kind of medication I would add aquarium salt. In fact adding some now may not be a bad idea. I would start out with half the recommended amount. Be sure to dissolve it before pouring it in the tank. We don't want this little guy thinking it is food. I know salt is considered and old fashioned thing to do but just because it is old fashioned doesn't mean it no longer helps

 

thank y

The only treatment I have found is keep the nitrates as low as possible. Once they have been poisoned by high nitrates it doesn't take much to affect them. I don't know enough about it to type with confidence but I have to think this wouldn't have happened with high nitrates for just a week. I don't know how high the nitrates would have to be to cause it or how long they have to be in it to affect them.

For now though I would try to keep the ammonia and nitrites a constant zero and nitrates down as low as you can. Hopefully by doing so this little guy will start feeling better. If that doesn't happen soon or if it gets worse some medication may be needed.

Before turning to any kind of medication I would add aquarium salt. In fact adding some now may not be a bad idea. I would start out with half the recommended amount. Be sure to dissolve it before pouring it in the tank. We don't want this little guy thinking it is food. I know salt is considered and old fashioned thing to do but just because it is old fashioned doesn't mean it no longer helps

thank you so much for your help! he could be affected by ammonia poisoning rather than nitrates because the tanks are so overcrowded and there are fish dying constantly & sitting in there. i did add some aquarium salt, 5 tsp per 10 gallons, i hope that’s okay

The only treatment I have found is keep the nitrates as low as possible. Once they have been poisoned by high nitrates it doesn't take much to affect them. I don't know enough about it to type with confidence but I have to think this wouldn't have happened with high nitrates for just a week. I don't know how high the nitrates would have to be to cause it or how long they have to be in it to affect them.

For now though I would try to keep the ammonia and nitrites a constant zero and nitrates down as low as you can. Hopefully by doing so this little guy will start feeling better. If that doesn't happen soon or if it gets worse some medication may be needed.

Before turning to any kind of medication I would add aquarium salt. In fact adding some now may not be a bad idea. I would start out with half the recommended amount. Be sure to dissolve it before pouring it in the tank. We don't want this little guy thinking it is food. I know salt is considered and old fashioned thing to do but just because it is old fashioned doesn't mean it no longer helps

i just noticed that his scales are starting to stick out, which explains his belly being so round. i think he has dropsy.

 

i just noticed that his scales are starting to stick out, which explains his belly being so round. i think he has dropsy.

I do hate to read this. Let's hope the clean water and the salt you've added helps the little guy.