Missing goldfish scales, tips for regrowth?

I’ve had this goldfish for 6 years. In a 20g cycled tank. 0 ammonia. I do 25% water changes at least once weekly, sometimes more than that. Recently added aquarium salt, he was bottom sitting and water changes weren’t helping. that problem has resolved Today I noticed he was missing about 5 scales in one spot! Since it’s only in the one spot I assume he hurt it rubbing up against something. I haven’t added any new decorations to the tank, should I remove something? What can I do to encourage healing besides water changes? This happened today, I check on him all the time and he was fine last night. Included a pic of missing scales and current tank set up. How long does it normally take for scales to grow back?

 

My guess is that the missing scales & the sudden illness might connected. Possibly a virus.
Viral outbreaks can occasionally raise the tissue under the scales causing patchy scale loss.

 

My guess is that the missing scales & the sudden illness might connected. Possibly a virus.
Viral outbreaks can occasionally raise the tissue under the scales causing patchy scale loss.

oh no! i have lots of fish meds from over the years (kanaplex, aquarium salt, furan-2 i think, etc). i don’t know much about viruses. what would some other symptoms be?

 

Make sure there's nothing edged that might have knocked off the scales. Scales will start growing back in 2 weeks if good conditions are kept, and take like 2 months but they may never grow back exactly the same as before and might be different color.

Fastest healing and regrowth is with keeping high water quality and low nitrates.

There isn't a faster way but you can cut it down to under 2 months just keeping nitrates low low and bacteria down in the tank water to promote healing and recovery.

 

Make sure there's nothing edged that might have knocked off the scales. Scales will start growing back in 2 weeks if good conditions are kept, and take like 2 months but they may never grow back exactly the same as before and might be different color.

Fastest healing and regrowth is with keeping high water quality and low nitrates.

There isn't a faster way but you can cut it down to under 2 months just keeping nitrates low low and bacteria down in the tank water to promote healing and recovery.

thanks! will def be doing biweekly water changes!