Ryukin has long clear strand of poo

[squigglyhopper]

He has no other weird symptoms. I've looked out for ick and swollen belly and can't see anything. He is swimming around perfectly happily, and is eating as usual. I have him and a Blackmoor. I'm not sure what the size of the tank is but the petshop I got it from were very strict that I could only have 2 goldfish in it and no more, so it's a decent size. I do all the maintence I have to, although the gravel could do with being sifted.
I give a varied diet - flakes that came with the tank, peas and bloodworms. My ryukin (Ronnie) has had dark poo come out before last week and someone said this may be because I am feeding him too much. So I cut down on food a little bit. How often should I be feeding them?
My Blackmoor (Reggie) has never had any problems. I know that Ryukins are a little more sensitive. But I hope he hasn't contracted anything life-threatening. Some imput would be nice.

 

[achase]

Do you know the measurements (LXWXH) for your tank? Or have the receipt it would probably tell you what size of tank it is. Knowing the exact size is important because what (most) petstores consider "decent size" for 2 goldfish is usually very different than what this forum would suggest..

What are your water parameters? Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite?

 

[squigglyhopper]

My tank is 40gallons. I found the box in the garage. Is this too small? They said I might need to buy a new tank when the fish get bigger but that might take a couple of years (?) I don't really know how fast fish grow. I know that fancies need more water. I had my water tested two weeks ago at the pet shop and they said it was fine. Tiny bit ammonia but they gave me something to put in the water and I'm getting my water retested at some point soon.

 

[littletankbigworld]

A Ryukin and a Black Moor would require a tank of, at the very least, 80-100 gallons. The Ryukin will grow to be a minimum of 10 inches and the Black Moor will grow to be around 6-10 inches. Both will produce a ton of waste. Even in a 100 gallon tank, you will need a very strict water maintenance schedule. In addition, you will need a liquid test kit for the parameters achase mentioned. I assume you have not cycled your tank.

Edit:

NEVER trust the pet store. They will tell you your water is "fine" even if you have deadly levels of ammonia. Any reading over 0 ammonia is too much, so even "a little bit" is lethal. Pet stores do not care if your fish die because you will come running back to buy a replacement, hence giving them more money. Forty gallons is too small for both of those fish. You could keep just the Black Moor in that size tank with little to no problem. I suggest you take both fish back to the store and do a fishless cycle.

 

[bassbonediva]

That's a perfect size for two goldfish. The general recommendation is 20 gallons for the first goldfish and 10-20 gallons per goldfish after that (this only applies to fancies like the ryukin and moor).

You should really invest in your own liquid test kit rather than relying on what the pet store tells you. That way if something happens (like Ronnie's changed poo), you can immediately test the water to see what the culprit may be. When you have the LFS retest your water, make sure you ASK THEM what the readings are for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. They should 0, 0, and 10-20, respectively. If they don't want to give you the readings, go somewhere else that will, but definitely get your own test kit. Walmart has the API Freshwater Liquid Master test kit under a generic name for $20 shipped on their website.

What kind of filter do you have running on the tank? Goldfish are HUGE waste producers (hence the need for more water volume per fish) and the tank should be overfiltered by AT LEAST double to handle all the waste they produce.

All that being said, clear poo is generally a sign of internal parasites.

 

[bassbonediva]

A Ryukin and a Black Moor would require a tank of, at the very least, 80-100 gallons. The Ryukin will grow to be a minimum of 10 inches and the Black Moor will grow to be around 6-10 inches. Both will produce a ton of waste. Even in a 100 gallon tank, you will need a very strict water maintenance schedule.

Sorry, but I think this is bordering on the extreme. If they were comets, commons, or shubunkins, which are faster moving, get larger and require more swimming space, then 80 gallons would be a better bet, but these are fancies and therefore do not move nearly as fast. I do 15% water changes on my 46gal bowfront coldwater tank twice a week and my water parameters are perfect, and that tank is even sorely underfiltered.

 

[aakaakaak]

How long have you owned your tank squiggly? I'm going to guess you just got it?

 

[squigglyhopper]

I've had it for three months. I don't know the protocol for fish-keeping in the US but in England the major pet shops have very strict rules about selling fish. We've got some strict laws now. They aren't allowed to sell fish unless the water is just right. I had the tank for three months, all set up before they let me buy even one fish. It took another three weeks before they let me get fish number two . They insist on regular water check ups in the first six months. If I don't and the fish die they can refuse to sell me more.

That is why I believe them why they tell me that the tank is okay and my water is okay.

If it is internal parasites, how did he get them? The fish at the pet shop were all quarantines before sale and as far as I know there is nowt wrong with the tank water. How do parasites get caught? And how do I know for sure its parasites? Are there other symptoms I need to look out for? And then, how does it get fixed?

I think it might be a good idea to pop into the pet shop and ask some questions, maybe. But I appreciate everything you've all said. Any more info is great. I am quite new to fish-keeping, and I'm terrified of accidently killing them.

 

[achase]

I wasn't aware that England had such strict rules that were regularly enforced. We don't have that in Canada....at all unfortuently!

Like Bass said your 40 gallon tank is a good size for your two goldfish (+1 for your petstore). Although you trust your petstore I would still suggest getting exact readings from your water tests, just so you have an idea what's happening plus it can help in the fish keeping learning process.

Another thread on here on a similar issue suggests water changes and a varied diet. (http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/freshwater-general-discussion/59016-goldfish-long-stringy-clear-poop.html)

I would pop into the pet store and get an exact reading. Normal readings should be ammonia 0ppm, nitrate Under 40ppm but not 0ppm and nitrite 0ppm

 

[aakaakaak]

The diagnosis in that other thread is "probably constipation". Feed more veggies and less fatties.

 

[squigglyhopper]

Okay, I'll take more care with his diet from now on. More veggies. I know they can eat peas, and courgette. What other veggies can they eat. Someone said to me that they can eat fruit as well ? Not sure if I believe that. And I'll keep a very close eye on him over the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[aakaakaak]

From what I've heard peeled peas are the best for them as a diuretic. I've heard of people feeding their fish peas, courgette, romaine lettuce, zucchini, carrots, and cucumber. There's a vid of someone feeding their giant gourami cherry tomatoes.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Sorry, but I think this is bordering on the extreme. If they were comets, commons, or shubunkins, which are faster moving, get larger and require more swimming space, then 80 gallons would be a better bet, but these are fancies and therefore do not move nearly as fast. I do 15% water changes on my 46gal bowfront coldwater tank twice a week and my water parameters are perfect, and that tank is even sorely underfiltered.

I believe bigger is better, and I get my information from reliable sources. Anshuman has two goldfish (smaller variety) in a 46 gallon and he said that they are quickly outgrowing the space, and they produce a ton of waste. I couldn't imagine a 10 inch fish having 20 gallons of water by itself, as it would be difficult to imagine that size of a fish turning around in even a twenty gallon long tank.