What wrong with this fish? (pic)

[MatthewScars]

This is off topic of marine fish, but i dont want him to die.

two weeks ago he had fin rot and we thought he'd not make it. But he lived and now has this black stuff all over him. What is this and how do i treat it?

 

[Killerdrgn]

That may be his scales falling off. Though if thats the case it turns white very quickly.

 

[NYreefNoob]

Or Black Ich Or Scar Tissue

 

[KathyC]

What did you treat it with for the fin rot?
Is it currently being treated with anything?
How big is the tank and is he alone in it?
Definitely not black Ich...

moving this to the Nudibar...

 

[MatthewScars]

Pimafix for 2 weeks. His fins started rotting and he had this white fungus on him.

He's in a 55g tank with another goldfish (same size) and a 1/2" molly. (Over kill? - ha)

The other fish had the rot but made a full recovery, he just need to regrow his tail.

 

[KathyC]

Well, at least he has plenty of swimming room! lol Many folks think goldfish don't need much room but that isn't true.

Is he eating well?
Is he always oriented with his nose toward the surface of the water? (even before he got sick too?)
No heater in there - -right?
How big/how often on the water changes?
..and what dechlorinator do you use?

(sorry about all the questions!)

 

[MatthewScars]

yeah, he sleeps upside down too (been doing it since i got him). I got the pair last xmas for my gf.he sleeps upside down at the surface of the water or at the bottom. I think he's dead half the time

No heater temp 73-70

I dont use a dechlor right now, I'll pick some up next time im at the store.

He eats like a pig. I spot fed him during the fin rot and he still ate everything.

I do like 50% a month and clean the Ehiem canister filter/gravel.

 

[KathyC]

Yeah, goldfish are strange like that..lol

Best to use a dechlorinator, I'd suggest StressCoat Plus in your case, you can just pour the proper dose directly into the tank after you take out the water during a change..oh so much easier than SW

No heater for cold water fish- good man!
Might want to consider doing 25% per week if you can spare the time, so that you can get more pollutants out of there quicker, and hopefully not experience the fin rot (or worse) again in the future.
Best not to clean the filter at the same time as a water change to minimize bacterial loss, better a few days before or after a water change.

Also might want to thoroughly clean 1/4 of your gravel during each water change until it is in better shape, and then increase it to 1/2 the gravel each week. With your fish load so low, that should be fine as long as the filter is cleaned as mentioned above.

Are you using a Python to clean the gravel?

...and because I tend to give too much advice anyway...my pet peeve..canister filters..just make sure that if you ever forget to turn it back on after cleaning it, or lose power to it for more than an hour, that you throw out ALL of the contents of it. They can so easily wipe out a tank after being shut down for more than an hour

Please let us know how Mr. Goldfish does!

 

[MatthewScars]

So the black is nothing to worry about/medicate? Just scars tissue?

thanks for the advice though

one more related question, I had a Koralia 3 in the FW tank while I was medicating... I used the Primafix stuff AND a Ich med. The generic 'super ich' whatever API product they make.

Can I just vinegar the powerhead to use it in my reef? Just want to be on the safe side and really clean it. my current 2 k3 arent enough, adding a third for my 90

 

[regal]

Up side down goldfish is indicative of swim bladder problem which is common among fancy goldfish. Some people attributes that to dry fish food clogging up the swim bladder. As far as the black marks, may be just color change when he gets more mature.

 

[KathyC]

I wouldn't worry much about it, more than likely scar tissue which may or may not go away. Happy to help, I spent a lot of time working on FW boards before I came over to the dark side..lol

Sure, I see no issue with that as Primafix can be used in SW tanks too...I would soak the snot out of it in really hot water and give it a vinegar bath and it should be fine.

 

[MatthewScars]

sweet deal.

I bought a few new goldfish from a LFS that shall remain nameless and the new fish infected the tank with ich and fungus.

Its a tough call buying goldfish. all LFS and everyone treats them like sht. poor guys.

ill definately QT next time

 

[georgelc86]

I had the same issue with some fancy goldfish of mine awhile back. I added melafix to the tank at the recommended dose for two days left the fish alone developed the blackness and it was gone within a month. I am thinking it was scar tissue.