Goldfish With Swimbladder?

Hello everyone! I am new to this forum.

I got a goldfish from walmart. I NEVER buy fish from walmart, but I felt so bad for this poor neglected goldfish that was floating upside down. I got the manager to give the fish to me.

My goldfish floats at the top of the tank. He can swim around, but if he loses balance he will float right to the top upside down. I have treated him with enthromycin and epsom salt. He has also developed an ulcer on his belly.

As of today, he no longer floats to the top, but he is at the bottom still upside down. Still active and has a great appetite. He also has long, stringy CLEAR poop.

I have tried everything, not sure what else to do. Is this swimbladder? Is this dropsy? Please help. Thank you!

 

It's probably Swim bladder disorder + internal parasites & maybe dropsy. If possible, could you post some pictures? One from above would also be helpful.

 

You can kinda see the ulcer. And he never used to be able to go to bottom without floating up.

 

Epsom salt bath. No dyes. Just pure magnesium sulfate. 1 teaspoon per gallon. Quick!

Gypsy13 Rtessy Goldiemom

 

I've done this before. How long do you recommend?

Epsom salt bath. No dyes. Just pure magnesium sulfate. 1 teaspoon per gallon. Quick!

Gypsy13 Rtessy Goldiemom

 

I've done this before. How long do you recommend?

About ten minutes

 

You can kinda see the ulcer. And he never used to be able to go to bottom without floating up.

If donea DIY floating tank which helps relieve pressure from the swim bladder which allows it to heal!

Take an appropriate sized food safe container and drill holes in the side for filtration purposes. Then take airline tubing and tie it around the side so the container will be bouyent (spelt wrong)

 

If donea DIY floating tank which helps relieve pressure from the swim bladder which allows it to heal!

Take an appropriate sized food safe container and drill holes in the side for filtration purposes. Then take airline tubing and tie it around the side so the container will be bouyent (spelt wrong)

Good idea. I saw Joey do that with one of his arrowana.

P.S it's spelt buoyant

 

Welcome to FL! Poor baby...doesn’t Look good. I agree with continuing Epsom salt baths if he can handle them. I only leave mine for 2 minutes at a time. Fast him for 3 days and then feed him a cooked, peeled pea. See if this helps. The clear poop makes me question if food is passing through. Keep the water clean for the ulcer for now. I would use some Melafix too for the ulcer. Good luck!

 

It doesn't look like Dropsy, so that's good, but it doesn't look great...
Lol, you're getting all kind of conflicting info on the epsom salt bath, and I'm about to give you even more conflicting info...
I recommend 1 tbsp per 1 gallon for a 10-15 minute bath, but remove immediately if the fish defecates or seems to be in extreme discomfort. Whichever dosage you use, you can do up to three times a day, and I recommend shooting for at least 2 times a day.
You can try feeding a blanched and deshelled pea as well.

 

It doesn't look like Dropsy, so that's good, but it doesn't look great...
Lol, you're getting all kind of conflicting info on the epsom salt bath, and I'm about to give you even more conflicting info...
I recommend 1 tbsp per 1 gallon for a 10-15 minute bath, but remove immediately if the fish defecates or seems to be in extreme discomfort. Whichever dosage you use, you can do up to three times a day, and I recommend shooting for at least 2 times a day.
You can try feeding a blanched and deshelled pea as well.

Glad you came on to help.

 

My two cents to hopefully not confuse you more.
Swab the red area with 3% hydrogen peroxide three to four times daily. If the epsom salt baths don’t help, treat with maracyn 2. If the maracyn 2 doesn’t help, use general cure. If that doesn’t help, and you can’t take him to a vet, super clean water. Feed the green peas or daphnia until he’s pooing ok. They can live quite a while upside down but the quality of life depends on getting the redness gone and getting him pooing right. Which will always be an issue if he stays upside down so be prepared to feed daphnia or peas every other day. Questions? Ask.
And the floating bin idea is good unless he can swim some. The more swimming the better he’ll be.
Bless you for trying to help this little one!

 

My two cents to hopefully not confuse you more.
Swab the red area with 3% hydrogen peroxide three to four times daily. If the epsom salt baths don’t help, treat with maracyn 2. If the maracyn 2 doesn’t help, use general cure. If that doesn’t help, and you can’t take him to a vet, super clean water. Feed the green peas or daphnia until he’s pooing ok. They can live quite a while upside down but the quality of life depends on getting the redness gone and getting him pooing right. Which will always be an issue if he stays upside down so be prepared to feed daphnia or peas every other day. Questions? Ask.
And the floating bin idea is good unless he can swim some. The more swimming the better he’ll be.
Bless you for trying to help this little one!

Glad you guys came on. So Gypsy, you recommend feed him peas now instead of fasting, is that correct? Just clarifying for my own knowledge. Thanks!

 

The redness points me to aeromonas bacteria.

 

The redness points me to aeromonas bacteria.

Could very well be. If that’s the case then a round of antibiotics is needed quickly. Would Kanamycin work or what would you suggest?

 

Good idea. I saw Joey do that with one of his arrowana.

P.S it's spelt buoyant

Ahah yes buoyant

Yeah watch his video and replace the pool foam noodles with old airline tubing.

Good luck

 

Glad you guys came on. So Gypsy, you recommend feed him peas now instead of fasting, is that correct? Just clarifying for my own knowledge. Thanks!

They shouold be fasted 3-4 days before feeding thawed, diced peas or daphnia.

 

Glad you guys came on. So Gypsy, you recommend feed him peas now instead of fasting, is that correct? Just clarifying for my own knowledge. Thanks!

If he’s not bloated, feed peas or daphnia. If he is fast a few days then feed the peas and/or daphnia.

The redness points me to aeromonas bacteria.

I was thinking that or when he was floating at the top his skin was allowed to dry out. You know I can’t see it so I’m relying on what others see and say. My hubby can’t see the red area enough to say whether it’s ulcerated tissue or just severe irritation. But to be on the safe side I see no reason oxytetracycline can’t be substituted for the maracyn 2. (I actually use a tetracycline in SBD because I’ve had iffy results with maracyn 2 even though maracyn 2 is the recommended treatment for SBD). Do you see any other signs? I know a microscope would help.

 

He is a lot less bloated but he just lays at the bottom now. I found some normal poops in the water

I just gave him a pea and did a 2 minute Epsom salt bath as he started to get irritated.

Also, since he hasn't been floating now, his ulcer has almost gone away.

I just reduced the amount of water in his tank so he can get air easier. Also added another bubbler.

I am going to try a new medication tomorrow.

Thanks for everyone's help so far! I appreciate it

 

I just reduced the amount of water in his tank so he can get air easier. Also added another bubbler.

I am going to try a new medication tomorrow.

Thanks for everyone's help so far! I appreciate it

I know when they float at the surface for a while the skin will get very irritated and raw. The skin in those situations need to be covered with Vaseline. I’m hoping that’s all the redness was. Which med are you going to try? Hoping for a good update.

 

I know when they float at the surface for a while the skin will get very irritated and raw. The skin in those situations need to be covered with Vaseline. I’m hoping that’s all the redness was. Which med are you going to try? Hoping for a good update.

Vaseline?

 

Vaseline?

Yes. To keep the skin from drying out. This is only for floating fish with the same area exposed to air all the time. Kind of like a bed sore. Only bedsores you want a heat lamp. Fish “air sores” you use Vaseline.