bent over goldfish

lobbyludd

sorry for all the questions.

I'm back from the pet shop and have tapsafe, a multipurpose fish tonic, test strips, an more powerful filter.

I've changed 50% of his water and will set up the big box tank this evening at the moment I'm running both filters in his little tank, and will do in the big box tank - little one won't cope with all that water but has some good bacteria in it?

I've tested the water (after the change)

NO2- is 0
N03- is 10 (must have been very high before all this)

general hardness is 8d (whatever that means) which the strip package says is "OK"
Carbonate is also in the OK range
pH is between 6.8 and 7.2 but closer to 7.2
chlorine is 0 so fine.

It's a long time since chemistry so does the strip not test for ammonia or are the nitrate/nitrite levels indicative of/breakdown products of ammonia?

because this is the dumb part - they also sold me a de-ammonia-ing solution - but I don't know if this is a problem - whereas clearly the No3- (can't remember if that's nitrite/nitrate) is a problem and I haven't got a treatment for that?

Froglet

Hi again.Well done,you are getting there and i am sure by now he will be a lot more comfortable.Even i can't answer all your questions on those readings.I suggest you sign up on the Practical Fishkeeping website,explain the story so far and ask what is the best way forward.I am not one for too many additives.So long as the water is right ,that is the main thing.The filter will take a long time to mature ,it is a case of getting the balance right between feeding it some ammonia but not so much that the fish suffers,that is why water changes are so important.

If you know anyone with a mature filter the best way is to have some of their filter material and place it in your new one.I will look out for you on the website,if you do join,my name is Margaret on there.

lobbyludd

thanks Froglet, I registered last night same user anme but havn't posted yet. He's in the bigger tank now, but looked worse this morning hope he's a bit better by the time I get home from work.

this is why I have cats - I am darn sure I am treating them royally because if I wasn't they'd find a better hotel with more subservient staff! (elderly cats - fish chasing days very much over)

Froglet

You are obviously trying your best but i fear the damage may already have been done.Fish from fairs are very stressed to start with after the rough treatment they get.The RSPCA were meant to have put a clause in with the 1996 animal welfare bill about them not being allowed as prizes but sadly it never happened.There is a petition on the fishkeeping website to try and get it banned.

In any case they can be bought so cheaply,as can the bowls,that it is no wonder people look upon them as a quick and easy pet for a child.In reality they are anything but.

I have spent thousands on mine,but then it is my passion.I agree that mammals are easier.

lobbyludd

very much agree that they shouldn't be prizes at fairs, and in some countries those small bowls can't be sold? but I should have looked into it far more when he arrived.

Friend with much more fish experience came over and looked at the readings for the tank, brought an ammonia test kit over, and he says now the water is immaculate but that he thinks goldie has the bends, like divers get, from high levels of nitrate poisoning him over a long time , and he's too thin generally . and that the first day when I changed the water over before I asked for help here I probably double shocked him because nitrate levels have to be gradually reduced over a day or two.

He's helped me raise the depth of the water (?increased pressure makes the fish more comfortable, like a pressure tank for divers I guess) and raised the new filter so that it's oxygenating the box-tank as goldie needs as much oxygen in the water as possible, so I'll carry on with that, changing the water and checking it's quality.

he doesn't hold out much hope though but fingers crossed, and hopefully he's more comfortable than he was. Thanks for all your kind help.

Froglet

Under feeding is better than overfeeding or the ammonia and nitrite levels would have been even worse.But then it gives them no strength or resistance to poor water quality.So it is something of a vicious circle.

Anyway I am glad you have found someone who can help,and let's hope it isn't too late.Though once he is bent like that it is unlikely he will look normal again and even if he survives this,long term it may not be the kindest thing to let him exist permanantly bent.At least you have someone who can advise you now,there is no substitute for actually being there and assessing the situation.