Help with goldfish disease (photos)

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My husband has bought a new goldfish for our tank but didn't notice its anal fin is almost missing and the area looks diseased. The fish otherwise seems to be swimming around happily, eating fine and all other fins are perfect. Can anyone advise what this is and what treatment I'd need? I have looked on Google but struggling to know whether it's an ulcer, flukes or something else entirely. Thank you

Obviously it's difficult to get clear pics but I'll take more if it would help anyone. The bum are looks white and swollen

How big’s the tank and what are your water parameters?

I checked ammonia, nitrates and pH and all are within range. Tank is 200L. The fish came from the fish shop like this. Dh let the kids pick one out and didn't look at it closely apparently

Is it fin rot?

Ah OK, it arrived like that. It looks like fin rot maybe? I’d be tempted to take it back to shop, I wouldn’t want to be sold a diseased fish.

My DS says it looks bacterial and you can get treatments (Melafix? which will also kill any snails etc in your tank) though I would probably take the fish back if he got it within the last day or so.

We don't have any snails so no worries there. The kids chose this as the only one with black patches so I'd like to try and treat it rather than take back (where I presume it would be left to die)

I didn't think it was fin rot as all other fins are perfect. I'm concerned about the swollen white area on the body, as well as the missing fin

The black marks could be ammonia burn.

I'm going to be honest with you OP, that is a common goldfish, it belongs in a pond, 200 litres isn't enough space for one. Don't beat yourself up about it, fish shops are notorious for mis-selling goldfish, they should be advising that they are pond fish but they never do. If you can take it back to the shop, I would.

A 200 litre tank is ideal for a fancy goldfish (the kind with a double tale, orandas and such) providing nothing else is in there as they really should be species only.

How many fish do you have as they will need to go in a pond soon.
You can treat for fin rot or just put some new fish liquid in tank or a bacteria liquid I'm not sure of names. When did you get fish? It doesn't look like bloat or fin rot but could be start

It’s fin rot, and the black marks unfortunately will be ammonia burn.

Medicine for the fin rot, and the burns should clear up on they’re own now he’s in your tank. Poor chap.

Oh no! 😩 I told dh to go to a specific fish shop as well (rather than the nearby Pets At Home). I assumed that was the right thing to do! I'd really like to save it so would appreciate any advice on treating whatever is wrong with it. If I can heal it then one of the neighbours might take it for their pond

Two other fish in tank which we've had for years. They both appear fine and feeding normally.
Husband got the new one about a week ago. I noticed the missing fin straight away. I'd like to treat it and then hopefully find someone to give it a better (bigger) home.

I've heard good things about API melafix OP. But the absolute best thing, is absolutely pristine water quality. Because goldfish are such messy fish and produce a lot of waste staying on top of things is vital. 0ppm ammonia and nitrites and as low a level of nitrates as you can reasonably manage, ideally 10-20ppm.

If you haven't already got a liquid test kit I'd get one, they give you a much better view of where you're at with your water parameters, much more accurate than test strips, which is vital when dealing with goldfish. You can get a product called seachem prime, which is a water conditioner, that can really help, alongside regular, probably daily, water changes, to stay on top of ammonia and nitrites.

This time of year is not the best time to transfer a fish to outside, it's too cold, the best you can do, if you want to treat yourself, is try to keep your water as pristine as possible until next summer when it warms up and hope for the best.

I use the API test solution kits and the water parameters were excellent when I tested before getting the new fish.

I use Tetra Aquasafe at water changes - is this similar to Seachem Prime?
I have ordered a bottle of Melafix on eBay which is due to arrive on Wed.

Thanks for the tip about keeping the fish indoors for now. I asked on the neighbourhood Facebook page if anyone with a pond could rehome this fish and had quite a few replies. I'll let them know that I'll keep it here until it's warmer.

Really hope he can be nursed back to health! I think he'd just die if returned to the fish shop, or be sold on to die. Thanks for all the advice so far. Any other tips gratefully received!

My son said it looks like it damaged that fin and infection set in as a result otherwise it would be in all the fins (if that’s any help). He used to work in an aquatics shop and would never have sold that fish to anyone, other fish in the tank would not be sold either. Very poor show from the shop unfortunately. Hope the Melafix works.

You're on the right path OP! You're doing the best you can by the fish and that's great.

Seachem Prime removes ammonia as well as chlorine/chloramine from tap water and detoxifies nitrites and nitrates so the filter can remove them, it also helps promote slime coat growth. If your parameters are already good then you can probably carry on as you are but it's handy to know about if things get out of hand.

Keep us posted on the little guy!

Still waiting on the Melafix here! Ebay shows it's been posted so hopefully arrives tomorrow. The fish isn't swimming about as much now and having spells sitting on the gravel. Still feeding well - I just hope it's not too late.

sorry late to this thread but salt is really good for what is wrong and stopping any further damage, the black marks are not ammonia burns, all goldfish are born black and the black fades over time with the gold coming through, you may find in a few years she is all orange. Look up how much salt for your water volume

also melafix is really good and will clear it up no problem at all
and also remove the carbon from your filter before using treatments
i normally do a 25% water change before starting treatments then another once the course has finished

Thank you - I've just ordered API aquarium salt online! Just hope I'm not too late in treating this. The fish is definitely less active now than when I first posted. Best case scenario and the fish survives... will the fin grow back?

did the melafix turn up? you dont need aquarium salt but start treating soon

Still waiting on the Melafix! 😩 It was supposed to arrive on Wed (posted Tues) according to eBay. Really thought it would have come today.

The Melafix has arrived! I've taken the carbon out and added the first of seven doses. The sore area looks a bit worse but the fish is still eating and other fins all looking normal. I'm really rooting for this little orange chappie 🤞🤞🤞

Hopefully the melafix will start to do its job soon. The bottom sitting is concerning. How are your parameters looking?

Please be aware that if you keep him that he's likely to change colour 😁goldfish can change from orange to white or black and back again throughout their lifetime. As you said your kids picked him due to the black spots I didn't want them to get upset if he loses them!