shannonp23

Goldfish, in freshwater..This started with a tiny spot of missing tail fin at the top, I thought fin rot, but then, the red streaks, I keep reading online, mean bacterial hemorrhagic? already tried treating the tank with an all around product called 'lifeguard' which is supposed to cure everything.. it improved a little, but is coming back now.. if anyone knows, any help is appreciated.. 11 year old fish, more of a pet now.. i'd hate to lose her..

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gregpape23

Welcome to FTF! I am sorry to hear that, and I have to say, 11 years is longer than some dogs live! I am impressed.
Ok, before we jump to conclusions lets get some basic info. Look at this thread and answer as many questions as you can so we can better assess the situation. http://www.fishtankforums.com/5-fres...ting-help.html (Getting Help)


-Greg

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Venus911

When fins start shredding or deteriorating; it's a definite sign of bacteria in the water. When you treat the tank, you'll notice symptoms begin to improve, but only for a short time; this is because you haven't fixed the problem. There's a reason that harmful bacteria is forming in your tank, and that's because conditions are right.

A few things you can do; if your tank is enclosed, open it up so that the surface gets fresh air. Increase water changes. Increase surface action; harmful bacteria prefers stagnant conditions. Increase the size of your friendly bug colony; where you find large colonies of friendly bugs, you'll find very few unfriendly bugs.

Get a water pump; water pumps sit on the bottom of the tank where the nasties accumulate. Think of these nasties as the food source for your friendly bugs. If your filtering system sits at the top of your tank; your friendly bug colonies are weak.

These pumps create surface action without adding current to the body of water. They are also very affordable. Every freshwater tank should have one. If the ecosystem in your tank is healthy, you'll never have to worry about harmful bacteria again.

Jay

I would not usually jump in here but I think Venus' point is well worth thinking about.

Health Organizations have known for decades that dramatic decline in disease in third world countries is directly proportional to the strength of an infrastructure that provides Safety, Nutrition, and Sanitation rather than medicine.

Jay

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