Goldfish Problem

[Vipex23]

Woke up this morning and one of my 3 Goldfish looked like it was bleeding around the mouth area.

ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = 10
pH was 6.2 but I just raised it to 7.0

Could the pH be the problem? What's a good pH ranger for Goldfish? If I changed it to 7.0 just now, when should I do another pH check? Should I check pH every week? Since I put it at 7.0, say it goes to 6.9 in a few days, should I raise it to 7.0 or should I raise it when it gets a little lower? What do you think?

 

[FroggyFox]

The fluxuation in ph can definitely harm the fish, I'm not sure if bleeding around the mouth would be a side effect from it though.

I don't know about a good ph for goldfish...but I know they are hardy and can take a lot of different pH levels. Why did you raise it??

Its much healthier for the fish to let them get used to a stable pH than it is to kill them with constant pH fluxuations. I would leave your pH alone.

 

[Vipex23]

I thought ph 6.2 was too acidic for any fish so from now on I want to keep it at about 7.0

 

[Angelfish]

It sounds to me as though your goldfish has a disease. Go to your LFS and describe what it looks like so that they can give you some medication.

 

[FroggyFox]

6.2 is not bad at all. I know that a lot of fish will only breed if they're in slightly acetic water like yours...maybe you should consider breeding neons or some other tetras?? I'm pretty sure they love the lower ph water.

I wish I had your problem...unfortunately mine is the other direction with a ph of 7.6+

Of course its your water and you do what you want...just saying that if you're worried about the ph hurting the fish...the fluxuations are worse than getting them used to your natural/stable ph level.

 

[colesea]

As Froggyfox said, goldfish can tolerate a wide range of pH. They would prefer harder water, but can be acclimated to a more acetic environment.

I'm noticing now that the wheater is getting extreamly warm, that my own goldfish are becomming more disease prone. Goldfish do not like warm water, so the best thing to do is drop your water temp. If your water temperatures are going above 80oF on a regular basis, this is what you can do:

First remove any heating devices from your tank. Next remove the hood and hood lamp. Third do a 50% water change every day, replacing the removed water with cold water strait from the tap. Add twice the recommended dose of Aquari-sol after your daily water change. Once a week add one palmful of aquarim salt.

Don't worry about your pH at all.

That's how my fish make it through heat waves over the summer and it keeps their fin rots and disease to a minimum. Sure it is a lot of work, but staying healthy is always more work than being unhealthy.
~~Colesea

 

[Vipex23]

Diagnosis

Came home today and noticed something hanging out of the Goldfish. I went to Petsmart and showed them a picture and they diagnosed him with Anchor Worm and the bleeding is caused by hemridging which is another effect of the worm. Just started treating with Maracide as recommended. I hope he doesn't die. This has been a horrible week. Lost 3 loaches and I hope I don't lose one of my original Goldfish.