Help me save my fish !!

[StarWarsStanley]

Had to do a major water change yesterday - wed rather neglected the tank and the water was dire.

Water levels are ok for ammonia etc.

However poor fishy seems to be suffering somewhat - barely moving and just hovering at the bottom of the rank. Gills are moving - so he's hanging in there.

What do I do now?

[bzoo]

Was there a huge change in temperature of the water?

I'd never advise a big water change. However neglected small changes every other day would have been far better for the fish

[StarWarsStanley]

Thanks i will bear rgat in mind for the future.

But what do I do now though?

[EauRouge]

Big water changes are fine in an emergency, as long as the fresh water is the same temp and pH (or very close) as the water in the tank.

What are the water readings? How big is the tank and what type of fish are in there? When did you last clean the filter and how did you do it?

[StarWarsStanley]

30 litre tank. One fish - orlanda. Had him a couple of years now - usually a hardy chap and has outlived two others - max 2 in the tank at each time.

Oh levels ok. Made in sure i put the anti chlorine stuff in the fresh water and left the new water about two hours before gradually reintroducing the fish.

Did ammonia and nitrate levels this morning all okay as you would expect with a larger water change. Cleaned filter yesterday too be squishing it out and rinsing thru in the old water.

He is still very quiet and at the bottom of the tank. No interest in food this morning. Not flakes out the pellet food.

I am willing him better.

[EauRouge]

Right, first things first, get a cup of tea and sit down.

Your tank is way too small. I wouldn't keep anything in a 30 litre tank, especially a large, messy oranda. This could be why you've had a couple of deaths. An oranda that's going to live a long, healthy life needs a 140 litres, minimum- more if you want to put friends in there with him. I realise you are probably just following what you were told in the shop, but most fish shops don't know their arses from their elbows. This happens to pretty much every fishkeeper I've ever spoken to.

Info on goldfish tank sizes and life expectancy

The best thing you can do for him is get him in a bigger tank and the sooner the better. Have you got room for a larger tank? It'd be 3ft+

Sorry for bad news, probably not what you were expecting :(

[StarWarsStanley]

EauRouge. Thankyou for your advice. Unfortunately I don't have room for a bigger tank - I do take in board your comment on it being too small and yes we were advised by PAH.

To update in my fishy status - he is actively swimming around the tank now which is good news, I wonder whether he was in shock?

He isn't a big fish - about 2.5" long. We won't put any new friends in with him now as I understand what you say about size of tank etc.

We will be more diligent re water quality now and see how we go - if he is unhappy we will look to finding him a new forever home.

[EauRouge]

If you've had him a couple of years and he's still only 2.5 inches long then he's probably quite stunted. This can cause all kinds of problems, especially with a fish like an oranda that's selectively bred to be a certain shape. Their organs are very compacted in their body and a bit of stunting can cause all kinds of health problems and by the time the symptoms are showing it's usually too late.

I know you want to do the best by your fish, but keeping him a tank this small will make him ill and significantly shorten his lifespan. If you don't have the space for a tank that's big enough to keep him healthy then I'd be trying to rehome him ASAP.

[StarWarsStanley]

Okay Eau.

I agree.

[EauRouge]

Sorry I couldn't help you out more :(