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[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

DC won two goldfish at the funfair last weekend.

We brought a tank complete with filter live plants etc for them. Had then on top of a chest if drawers ( inlaws choice) but the tank was too heavy and bowed the drawers.

So fil moved them on top of the freezer. Placed on top of mats to minimise vibrations from the freezer.

This was Friday. Yesterday one died. Today the other has bed. Swimming around but hiding in the fake tree trunk most of the day.

Why?

[EauRouge]

Sorry about your fish

I would guess the death is down to water quality. it takes around 6 weeks preparation for a tank to be safe for fish and adding them before this exposes them to harmful levels of ammonia and nitrite. Doing a large water change will help for now. will posts some links in the morning, am currently trapped under a small pile of children.

[EauRouge]

Right, this explains all about the nitrogen cycle. Basically what you need to do is get a water testing kit (one like this would be just right) and keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels for the next few weeks. You'll probably need to do a lot of water changes, more than just the usual once a week, until the tank is cycled.

You might also want to have a read of this to find out exactly what you've let yourselves in for (sit down first!). Goldfish make lovely pets but they are a big commitment and will outlive most other pets.

Finally, not sure how old your DC are or whether they were with someone but it's illegal to give fish as prizes to un-supervised under 16s. If they just turned up with the fish then you might want to report the fair to the council.

Hope that helps a bit!

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

Thanks!

The other fish doesn't seem too well either. If I take out half the water and replace it with fresh would that help it?

Think a trip to the pet shop to get the water tested is in order.

DC are 3 and 20mths dh thought it would be a good idea. I've had fish before but never had this happen.

[EauRouge]

Yes, replacing half the water will help. You'll probably have to do that a couple of times a week until the cycle has finished- maybe around 4-6 weeks. Make sure you use a dechlorinator like API tap water conditioner or Aquasafe or something like that, chlorine in tap water can damage a fish's gills and it also kills off the good bacteria so the tank won't cycle.

If you can get the shop to write down the readings, that would help. Some shops just tell you it's 'fine' or try and sell you stuff that you don't really need. Pet shop staff are often just not knowledgeable enough about fish. There aren't any magic potions that you need, just lots of water changes and some dechlorinator.

Aw, your DC's are about the same age as mine. They'll love helping you look after the goldfish and if he perks up then they could be coming home from university to visit him!

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

Well I've done that but little fish has still not come out of hiding

[EauRouge]

Have you tested the water yet?

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

No not yet. DC didn't get up until after 9 so we are still getting ready.

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

Right... I took a water sample to the pet store and explained. They tested for ammonia and nitrates which are fine. Nothing in water which would harm fish.

Suggested water change which I had already done.

Diagnosed stressed fish and possible over feeding. To leave it for n

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

To leave it for now and a gentle stir if gravel and scoop any debrie out. Minimum contact and interruption. Plus changed food from granule stuff to flakes and minimum feeding.

Fish does come up for food.

Still spending most if time at bottom if tank hiding.

[EauRouge]

'stressed fish' is a pretty meaningless term really. I don't understand their advice for changing the food either, other than to get you to spend money. Did you get them to write down the results or did they just say they were 'fine'? Are there any other aquatic stores near you? If you want to keep the fish then I would get your own testing kit anyway, you need to test regularly and it'll be a pain to keep going back to the shop to get the water tested.

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

That's what I thought. No this is the only one near me. Major store. I looked in the shelves but they only had tropical water testing kits.

Ah poor fish I don't know what to do it did come up and have a swim for a while when I fed it.

There are creamy sacs on the gravel?

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

Bah my tropical fish were a lot easier!

I've had gold fish before in a bigger tank which I released into a pond and they bred. Feel very sorry for this poor thing

[EauRouge]

Tropical water testing kits are fine, as long as it tests for ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte and pH then it'll do. It's probably cheaper to get one on ebay anyway, you can get an API master kit for about £20 or a bit less.

If it was a large chain of pet stores then they are pretty notorious for being crap at fish.

Creamy sacs on the gravel? Could be snails eggs maybe, or possibly some kind of fungus.

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

I'm not sure. So goldfish lay eggs? They are in plant leaves too. Kind of creamy middles and hazy mucus on outsides

[EauRouge]

Goldfish do lay eggs, yes, but they are small and round. Could you get a photo?

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

I've no idea how to put one on here. Tanks in darkness now. Would that make a goldfish just sit?

[InsanelyBrainDeprived]

I think it's. rotten food most likely. They are white in middle and cloudy outsides

[EauRouge]

Ah yes, could be food. You need to get it out, rotting food releases ammonia. I would also test the water asap because I don't think the guys you saw in the shop knew what they were doing.