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Original poster

White spots on goldfish

15 replies

kid · 27/02/2006 21:58

We have 4 goldfish and 3 of them have some white spots. One has loads and the others have a few. I have been reading that we can add a small amount of salt to their water? Do you think this is wise? I have visions of it buring them and killing straigtaway.

I remember now why I never have fish, they never survive for long.

How about if I just leave them, will they recover by themselves?

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bourneville · 27/02/2006 22:03

I can't remember the name of it but my fish have had it 2 or 3 times. There's a medicine you can buy to put in the tank to treat all kinds of fish fungus, it's called Aquarium Doctor FC+ (Anti Fungus Treatment). I got mine from the local aquarium shop. No idea about salt. But I think you do need to treat them...

bourneville · 27/02/2006 22:03

are the spots cotton wool like btw? If not it may be a different thing!

Original poster
kid · 27/02/2006 22:04

Off to the petshop tomorrow then. Thanks Smile I wasn't going to put salt in their tank unless someone else has tried it before, even then I would be weary.

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Original poster
kid · 27/02/2006 22:06

The spots are raised off the skin and quite small. They started off on the tail and have spread to the rest of the body, poor little fish Sad

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Original poster
kid · 28/02/2006 16:40

I got the treatment today on my way home from work but when I got home, one of the fish are dead. The kids don't seem too bothered though.

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bourneville · 28/02/2006 17:10

Oh dear. I remember flushing a fish down the loo with my dd ages ago, god knows what she thought! Don't think she was even 2 by then!

Nbg · 28/02/2006 17:13

It sounds like the fungus White spot.

You can get treatments for your water as well as the fungus itself.
I definatley wouldn't put salt in though.

Original poster
kid · 28/02/2006 19:17

I put some treatment in earlier, it says to repeat it after 7 days and do a 3rd water change. I'm not very good at looking after fish Sad

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cupcakes · 28/02/2006 19:38

It's a hassle. One of our fish got the white cotton wool type fungus - he'd had a trauma (been brought in from a pond by our cat) and the fungus was a result of where his scales had torn and were vulnerable. We gave them the medicine daily for weeks and the recovery was really slow. Then dh changed too much of the water and they seemed really ill from the chlorine.
I make dh do all the work.

wannaBe1974 · 28/02/2006 21:18

you should dechlorinate the water before you change it. You can buy dechlorination fluid or alternatively if you leave the water to stand for 24 hours before adding it to the tank the chlorine will evaporate.

tigi · 28/02/2006 21:21

My 2 fish are 8 years old now. In the past I have used an aquatic type of salt for healing, but it was a long time ago- check with the petshop before you try. (just looked in cupboard- aquatic tonic salts) Mine have been ill on and off over the years and i have put in the medicine to clear it up. Keep the water clean- change it often. After cleaning them out I always add a trail of 'stress coat' which is leaves a greasy protective film on the scales'. It works, they are hardly ever poorly since I used it. They only fall to pieces when we go on holiday and leave someone else to feed them- it's stress- think they get lonely and worried!

Original poster
kid · 01/03/2006 07:53

How often and how much water should I be changing? They have 3 filters in their tank, a sponge, some bio balls and something else that I can't remember. I know to rinse the sponge in some water taken from the tank.

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wannaBe1974 · 01/03/2006 12:52

You should change approx 20% of the water once a week. if you have a filter with two sponge/two carbon components, you should rince one and change one once every 4 weeks.

Original poster
kid · 01/03/2006 16:15

okay thanks.
I've checked the fish again when I got home from work and the spots look as though they are clearing already. Infact, it looks like it is coming off in a slimey layer, yuk!

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Original poster
kid · 02/03/2006 20:36

they have all died now Sad
well they managed to survive for almost 3 weeks.

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