Hey, goldfish experts (and by that I mean anyone who can keep one alive for more than 6 weeks) - my goldfish has a lump. It's going to die, isn't it?

[MadEyemarthamooDy]

Any ideas? Pea sized lump behind (not on) its gill on one side. Seems otherwise well.

I don't know why I'm asking...I know it's going to die...but the cunning creatures keep thinking of new ways to cark it.

This is fishie no. 5 in a year, btw.

Anyone want to buy a really nice tank?

get this instead - no-one will notice.

I know BBBBasilisk. I may plant a yucca in my BiUbe instead.

Madeye - Have you checked the water quality? And am assuming you did the bit where you have to let the system/filter grow enough bacteria to do it's job etc? How often do you do the water changes?
Goldfish can live over 10 years - I think the record is way more than that actually - so if yours keep giving up in about 6 weeks, something is wrong with your setup.
Not sure about the pea-sized lump - do they all get this? There is something called gill-flkes that they can get but have never seen it.

sorry - gill-flukes

I haven't checked the water quality. I did do the getting the tank established before putting any fish in. And I do a partial water change and change the filter once a month. This fish (I was exaggerating slightly with the six week thing) has actually lived about 8 months - but, as a child, I had one that lived about 20 years (and no, my parents weren't replacing it when it died ) so I know I'm going wrong somewhere. I'll have a google for gill flukes - thanks.

No, it doesn't look like a fluke. Did you know they can get a thing called "Hole in the Head Disease"? Ugh.

Try looking here - see if you can find anything that looks like it!

There are various water test kits available - some more technical than others. Having tried the 'v accurate but buggers to do' tests with little tubes etc, we are now on multi test strips which you dip in the water and wait 60 secs, and check off the colours against a chart. Bit like the urine dip strips the midwife did when I was pg - same principle. Can't remember how much the pot of strips was, but was told by our tame fish guy that is ok to cut the strips in half lengthwise to effectively double what you get!

Actually I didn't know that goldfish could get Hole in the Head - thought it was just the more sensitive types like Discus etc.

Thanks Fangzooki - I can't make a diagnosis from that chart (though there are some hideous photos on there - glad I'm not eating). I'll go to the pet shop tomorrow and see if the "fish man" has any ideas.

god I can't believe I am on a goldfish thread but hellloooooo martha

You're not a golfish aficianado then, harpsi?

Have I spelled that right? Doesn't look right. Aficianado, not goldfish.

Afficianado?

It's aficionado.

no, I fear not.
bunnies, I lnow about bunnies.
also keyboard instruments
want to know anything about keyboard instruments?

My keyboard instrument has a lump...

Nah, I'm good

Why are you harpsichordcuddler? Is it an extremely obscure Harry Potter reference?

no, I don't do Harry Potter.it was from ages ago when everyone was being NICE. even cod.
it was a rather disturbing day, actually
how are you? apart from a notorious piscine murderess, of course

Sorry, went to bed. I don't murder them - they just die a lot.

I'm OK - sick to the back teeth of this dreadful weather, but OK.

martha: try the unofficial Biorb forums they'll help you out.

FWIW, I have a Biorb, and they do need cleaning out MUCH more frequently than once a month - especially with goldfish as they are really messy fish. You could also do with a water testing kit - the important parameters to keep track of are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.