Can anyone advise re my goldfish please

HurdyGurdy

I think it has swim bladder problem It is one of three "common or garden" goldfish in a 60 (width) x 30 (height) x 36 (depth) tank. There is a filter.

We have had the biggest fish for 20 years, if not longer, and the two other fish for 15 years or so.

I read online to make them fast for three days, and to change the water, which I did.

It seemed ok for a while, but today it has started floating around at the top of the tank again.

We feed them Aquarian advance nutrition goldfish flake food, and the water was changed and the tank cleaned out about three weeks ago.

Is there anything I can do for the fish?

krlyr

Might be worth popping to a proper aquatics store (not just the fish section of a petshop) for some specialist advice

Fosterdog

How do you change the water? Do you do a 100% change or just partial? How do you treat the new water going in? How do you clean the filter?

Are your tank dimensions in cm or inches? If inches it would be 3ft deep, almost 3ft wide and almost 6ft long and while an odd sized tank is a good size for goldfish. If in cm then your tank is so far below the minimum required it is outright cruelty keeping them in it, each goldfish needs a minimum of 40 US gallons of swimming space, your entire tank is only 17 US gallons so you have crammed three fish into a space less than half the minimum size for one fish.

You'll be better off posting on an aquarist forum such as http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk but be prepared for it to be too late to undo any damage already caused.

Froglet

Fosterdog wrote: »

How do you change the water? Do you do a 100% change or just partial? How do you treat the new water going in? How do you clean the filter?

Are your tank dimensions in cm or inches? If inches it would be 3ft deep, almost 3ft wide and almost 6ft long and while an odd sized tank is a good size for goldfish. If in cm then your tank is so far below the minimum required it is outright cruelty keeping them in it, each goldfish needs a minimum of 40 US gallons of swimming space, your entire tank is only 17 US gallons so you have crammed three fish into a space less than half the minimum size for one fish.

You'll be better off posting on an aquarist forum such as http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk but be prepared for it to be too late to undo any damage already caused.

Great advice there fosterdog.Seems that 20 years of being in too small a tank has caused this fish to be stunted and I doubt it can be helped but put into a larger tank or even a larger plastic tub for now would help.Filtration is so important to the quality of the water and 3 goldfish would need a good filter with good maintenance.

Ultimately these fish would do much better in a pond as soon as the weather warms up.Tropicals could be kept but better knowledge of their needs is important.

no1catman

Interesting that no estimates of the size of the fish were given. I have a several fish eight to ten years old that are at least the width of A4 paper - but then all mine are in a pond.

As an aside, does anyone wonder when watching programmes such as Escape to the Country - and properties featured include a pond - why aren't the sellers taking the fish with them!?

Froglet

Until recently I worked part time for an estate agents.I have lost count of the number of properties of neglected fish in equally neglected ponds that had been left when the owners moved out.Upsetting when I spend so much money and time on mine.I just had to hope that new owners would look after them better.

When you remember though that some people move out and leave cats and dogs to starve,fish come very low down on the list of caring.

no1catman

While on that programme I haven't seen any dogs or cats included with the property, apart from fish, I have seen chickens, and even a horse.

When I was moving from a terraced house where the garden was only about ten feet long, to view a semi, with an 80' garden, I was delighted to see a pond. However, the vendor took all but one fish with him!
Just like I would want to if moved (euro-millions fingers crossed), as it is so relaxing just gazing at them swimming, I enjoy looking out of the bedroom window in the morning to say 'plenty of fish up'. Moreover, it was upsetting to see a couple of dead fish, and one in two half pieces - a heron standing on the net had pounced. Now the net is supported two-feet above.

teddysmum

Years ago, a work colleague's friend bought a house from the parents of two pupils.


About six months later, the children were sent round to ask if they could have the pond fish back , now that they had settled in their new house.

System

I don't keep goldfish so no experience but I'm sure I've read that the temperature has to be turned up alongside the fast.