Pearl scale sick!

MrFishead · 10-29-2006, 06:54 PM

My pearl scale goldfish has been floating upside down periodically for a few days now. I noticed he has these tiny little red dots on his underbelly but other than that he looks fine. I need help!

Tommy Gun · 10-29-2006, 08:26 PM

Do you test your water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates)? If so, it would really help to know those numbers....

How often and how much do you change water and/or clean the tank?

How long have you had the fish?

What type of tank do you keep him in (gallons, decor, type of substrate)?

So there is no bulging of the fish's belly or scales popping out that make it look sort of like a pine cone?

I dont want to speculate too much without knowing more. I am sure that these are the questions that everyone else is most likely going to ask as well.

In the mean time, I would do a quick 25 to 50% water change just to be safe (using dechlor conditioners).

MrFishead · 10-29-2006, 08:37 PM

I cleaned the tank yesterday but thinking back on it he was doing it even before. I dont know the water parameters. Ive had him since August 10th, tank is 10 gallon with a large gravel bottom with a small cave structure and a fake skull. On one side of him a few scales have an inflamed red to them that only recently appeared. They dont look like a pinecone.

Tommy Gun · 10-29-2006, 08:56 PM

How soon was the tank set up before the fish was put in there?

This is pretty critical as your water may have some toxic chemicals in the water that are causing this fish's symptoms. Read this 'sticky' article quickly to better understand what I mean:

http://www.fishtankforums.com/5-fres...-aquarium.html

My instinct from reading your origonal question was that this may be ammonia poisoning and now I believe that is a good probrability here. I would do another water change tonight or as soon as you can at a rate of about 50% of the water in the tank. (The sticky article above will also help you understand why)

Are the red scales more close to the gill area?

From your last post, it seems like the fish's condition is worsening, but I wouldnt give up just yet. There are some people that can find ways to get past this and spare their fish's lives in the process.

By the way, I am glad to see that you are keeping this goldfish in something other than a bowl! You may also want to think about adding an airstone as this will help oxygenate the water. Keep in mind that it is not actually the bubbles that the airstone produces that helps with the gas exchange (CO2 out of the water, O2 in) but more so the aggitation of the water's surface. I dont know if you are running a filter on this tank, but many of them create the same surface aggitation effect. If you are not using a filter, then it may be wise to help promote gas exchange through the use of a air stone. The more aggitation (to a point, of course) the better, especially if you can do it throughout the entire surface area of the water.

Hope this at least gets you pointed in the right direction!

MrFishead · 10-29-2006, 09:07 PM

The tank was setup approximately one month prior to when the fish was added.The redness is more around the lowerback region and not close to the gills. I do have a filter running, not sure on the exact make or model, but it has been running since the fish was put into the tank. The article didnt really help

MrFishead · 10-29-2006, 09:07 PM

Would it help if i posted pictures of my setup?

Tommy Gun · 10-29-2006, 09:18 PM

Ok, sorry to assume that you were unfamiliar with the cycling process. It is hard to know how much other people know and understand obviously.

I think a pic might be a great idea and someone might be able to diagnose something. Typically, the signs that your fish is showing are not the real cause of a disease/sickness or otherwise problem in general, but only a symptom of another underlying problem.

MrFishead · 10-29-2006, 09:22 PM

I will try to get a pic of the fish itself but i dont know how that will turn out as he is not that big. I can however get a pic of the tank itself online by tommorow. This is my first tank on my own, i used to have them but i never had to take care of them so sorry if i dont know very much

Tommy Gun · 10-30-2006, 06:09 PM

MrFishead,

Trust me, no noe will judge you by how much you know now or at any other time, hopefully. This is why these forums are created and thrive as they do, to share as much knowledge as possible.

The reason I brought up the article, and I think it may still apply, is that just having a tank with water in it for a month will not always lead to a tank that can support a fish in it. I truly think that your fish is suffering ammonia poisoning, but the only way to know is to have your water tested. If you do not want to buy a test kit, you can take a sample to a LFS and ask them to test it. However, instead of just letting them tell you that your water is 'good', ask for some spacific numbers and bring them home. If you have any questions, you can post those numbers and many people can help you understand what they mean.

In essence, you test numbers should reveal a level of 0 ppm ammonia and nitrite, and just a very low level of nitrates. If you ammonia and/or nitrite number is anything above 0, you may not have a cycled tank and the results could be what you are seeing in your fish right now. If your numbers are all good, then we can take a look at some other possible causes and effects.

Pictures are always welcome for me! I love to see other people's tanks since it help to keep my number of tanks down instead of having to have 1000 of them to use up all of my ideas and dreams! :-)

gm333 · 10-30-2006, 06:24 PM

Sounds like a bacterial disease with maybe also swim bladder problem, although the bacterial disease could be causing the fish to swim upside down. Treat with a bacterial medication and see if this doesnt help.