please help!

Jul 24, 2004
13
0
0
42
Visit site
#1
Hello everybody. I did post a thread elsewhere on this forum but nobody seems to be able to help me. One of my Comet goldfish is acting wierd. In my previous thread i explained that i have an Easter Island head cup that is roughly 1 1/2" in diameter. It was intended for my Pleco who doesn't like it when i turn on the hood light at night. This goldfish refuses to swim out of it, he just stays in there all day. At one point i couldn't tell if he was alive or dead, then he started squirming around i tried to make him come out but the only thing that happened was he came out a little then swam back in it. Before i couldn't tell if he was sick, i couldn't look at him. To add insult to injury, as if i weren't worried enough already, when i went to feed my fish i looked at him again, i constantly check on him, and part of his tail was missing. I think, i'm not sure, he has tail rot. I have this book about goldfish and it said to use Tetracycline tablets. So i set up my hospital tank, i used one of those water conditioners and i let the tank cycle overnight and i put the fish in the tank already and a tablet. Is there anything else i should be doing? Why is he behaving like this? Why won't he come out for feeding time? I just don't know what to do. If sombody out there could help me i'd be extremely grateful. Thank you in advance. :( :confused:
 

Jul 24, 2004
13
0
0
42
Visit site
#3
To answer your questions the original tank is 55Gal but the hospital tank is 10Gal. I have 4 Comets. The Ammonia level is normal in that my tester says there is no ammonia in the water. I used bottled water for the hospital tank. As for nitrate and nitrite i don't know, i don't have a tester for those i've been meaning to get one though like one of those kits that test everything i think it would be a great investment for me. Anyway, just an update he has come out of the cup and he is eating, but i'm still not sure what i should do. Is there anything else i can do? Will he recover from this? I feel really bad about this, i keep feeling like i should so more than wait for medicine to work, but if thats all i can do, so be it. But I need some guidence on this, i've never had this before. Anyway if somebody could help me that would be great. Thank you in advance. :( :confused:
 

Sep 23, 2003
197
0
0
Illinois
Visit site
#4
I personally would take the cup out so that he can not hide all day. It will be easier for you to check on him too. What type of meds are you using? Also did you make sure the ph of the bottled water was the same as the normal water in his tank? I would just use your water you use in your regular tank as bottled water is missing a lot of things fish need.
 

fyremarble

Small Fish
Jul 24, 2004
13
0
0
42
Visit site
#5
Hello, and thank you for all your replies so far. To answer questions: Yes i did check the ph and it was fine but i guess i should be more specific when i said i used bottled water. I didn't just use bottled water, there wasn't enough so it was half spring water and half tap, plus i took some water from the main tank as well. As for meds i'm just using tetracycline tablets nothing else, should i be using others? Also he doesn't hide in the cup any more i suppose i could put it back in the main tank for my Pleco. His only behavior now is he is upset and he seems rather sad, but who wouldn't be sad if say part of their legs came off, just as an example. Heck i'm just glad he came out of the cup and he's eating normally. I talked to someone about it last night and she said to do a water change everyday and keep using the tetracycline, is there anything else i should be doing? None of the other fish are exhibiting any form of tail loss. How can i certain that this is tail rot? Just for future reference. Anyway, i hope my answers were helpful enough to where you can tell me what i should do? Should i keep doing what i'm doing or should i be doing something different? If somebody could help i'd be very grateful. Thanks again in advance. *SICK* :( :confused: