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Original poster

Goldfish is dead. Oh no it isn't... Oh yes it is...

44 replies

Ceolas · 31/01/2007 10:53

I thought our goldfish was dying yesterday and this morning it was lying on the bottom motionless. When I went to scoop it out, it started moving again.

I put it in a shallow bowl on its own and it kees stopping, lying on its side and them starting to swim again.

Is it worth persisting or is death inevitable?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 11:09

?

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 31/01/2007 11:15

clean the tank thoroughly and hold it gently in your hand in the water so it can eat some food.

ours did this 2 weeks ago and is perfectly healthy now

Lucycat · 31/01/2007 11:16

It's when they float that you have to start to really worry.

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 11:19

It actually looks a bit perkier now...

OP posts:
Lucycat · 31/01/2007 11:20

spot of gin?

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 11:22

it's had some whisky already this morning!

OP posts:
Lucycat · 31/01/2007 11:49

no wonder it looks a bit perkier lol

i realllyyy loovee youuu ceola....

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 11:51

Saw someone recommending cucumber on another thread. Worth trying?

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Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 16:15

OK I spoke to a lady in the pet shop this afternoon. She said it could possibly be due to constipation! Apparently they an get bunged up with the flake food. Have never given them live food

So I bought a bag of some little fleas and a bottle of Disease Safe. Here's hoping it makes it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 19:31

Oh no! Other fish now doing the same!

OP posts:
mrsvern · 31/01/2007 19:34

Defrost and skin a frozen pea. Break it in to tiny pieces and feed it to the fish. It ahem, cleans them out.

Brought ours back to life twice now from not really moving

Califrau · 31/01/2007 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

marthamoo · 31/01/2007 19:36

Ours did that and lived. Then a few months later it did it again and that time it died. I blimmin' hate goldfish...if both of ours would die at the same time I'd get shut of the tank and give up. But no - one dies, then the ds whose goldfish it was wants another one so we get another one...then the other ds's goldfish dies...then he wants another one. And so it goes on. And on. And on.

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 19:48

Ha! Know the feeling marthamoo! I was literally on the point of scooping it up to flush it when it started moving again.

Have been nursing sick kids and fish today!

OP posts:
Gingerbear · 31/01/2007 20:31

peas are best for bunged up fish.

Gingerbear · 31/01/2007 20:32

Also, buy some 'goldfish weed' also known as elodea (garden centres or pond / water garden places stock it)
Goldies love to nibble it and it keeps them 'regular' also v good for aeration of water.

twelveyeargap · 31/01/2007 20:36

Hi Ceolas. Sounds a bit like mine were behaving (DD's actually but she never remembers to feed them).

Might be swimbladder disease. They get an infection in the bit that conrols their balance and it's painful for them. Has it been swimming funny before it just started lolling about? You can get "medicine" for it at aquarium shops. Ours perked up after one dose, though you have to remove any carbon filters from the tank.

Haven't read the whole thread, but noticed the peas comment. It may well be constipated and yes, peas help. I read you're supposed to pop the pea out of the outer skin.

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 21:27

Yes, sort of lopsided swimming for a coupl of days. Have used the Disease Safe tonight. Is that the sort of "medicine" you mean?

OP posts:
eviletc · 31/01/2007 21:30

oh god can you cure goldfish?!

mine always get the flush when they start going upside down or similar as i worry they are suffering....

am a goldfish murderer

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 21:34

Shame on you!

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twelveyeargap · 31/01/2007 22:32

Disease safe might do it, but I found it wasn't strong enough. There's stuff especially for swimbladder which did work on ours. The lopsided swimming is rarely anything other than a swimbladder problem - although it is often caused by the constipation mentioned.

Interpet #13 Anti-Swimbladder Should treat it. It's not expensive.

twelveyeargap · 31/01/2007 22:32

Oh and you did the right thing putting them in shallow water. The less pressure, the less discomfort they have.

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 22:35

Thanks, twelveyeargap. I searched the archives before posting. Dontcha just love MN?! Hope DH is looking after them as I'm at work now

Wondering if I should completely change the water?

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Skribble · 31/01/2007 22:38

Sounds like your fish is related o my piss taking fish. He spent ages swimming about upside down on his side and then doing loop the loops.

The problem was infact that he was being overfed and had wind, gave DS a bollocking when I saw how much food was lining the bottom of the tank. Then I discovered it was DH that had been doing this .

Reduced feeding and Methyelene Blue seems to have cured him, and there I thought he was trining for a sycronised swimming team .

Original poster
Ceolas · 31/01/2007 22:38

Methyelene Blue?

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