No, she is not a he. She is a she. No breeding tubercles, and another way I can tell is she is kinda pudgy and also her anal opening is larger than most. That is how I know. Opal is the one with the breeding tubercles lol! Yes, Amber is not doing "nudging" or even just "chasing around". Horus' behavior sounds exactly like Amber's. She was practically trying to bite off their heads!!! On one occurance she actually got Opal's fin in her mouth and tried to pull it off. I don't want anyone to get hurt. Not to mention something - if Amber actually WAS a boy why would he be chasing Opal (who we know for sure is a male fishy) around??? I thought the boys chased the girls, not other boys.

After she did some time in jail, I decided to let her back in to the tank. But she went right back to her old habits in about a quarter of an hour.

Just a little idea: I got bored of having no aquarium background for my tank but don't want to spend money on something storebought (which I don't care for anyway). I decided to use some wrapping paper I had on hand to decorate. Will post photos when done

Goldiegirl: If the separation method won't work, maybe you should consider a divider like pappy-fish suggested? It may be rather unsightly but... I'm afraid it would be needed. Unless you'd get another fish that can put Amber in her place! That's how I dealt with Horus I got the bigger, older moor by the name of Mr. Big, and he bit right back when Horus tried to mess with him. BUT, Mr. Big on the other hand wasn't messing with anybody, only defending himself and others

You could of course move her to a smaller tank of her own?

That would always be an idea! Letting your sister car for her would probably be the best thing to do since she's got experience

That's terrible! Poor Citrine!!
You need to give her some rest really, and separate Amber asap!! D:

Will Citrine's condition get better? It has been two days and she still shows no signs of improvement. I hope and pray it won't be another issue like Topaz's...

My sister is unwilling to take the fish. She says she doesn't want to get addicted like me and end up doing a ton of work That still leaves me with an aggressive male who is traumatizing fish land. My only choice is leave him in the main tank, isolate him for a while, or take him back. Advice?

I'd say... maybe you should take him back? Hopefully Topaz will be happier and nicer after being put in his place

I know, it's really sad But sometimes you have to think more about the rest of the fishes than one :C

It's true. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one for the good of all. I don't want my fishies to be stressed or unhappy - they all deserve a good quality life

btw Citrine's swim bladder problem is all better!!!!!!    

I did a water change the other day, and last night Amber went belistic. He shredded Opal's tail, nipped at my blue oranda's tail, attacked Panda Puff, and most of all was determined to show his dominance towards Citrine. Poor girl was so swollen in the belly (I have a suspicion it's eggs) she could barely waddle. Amber has a hive of breeding tubercles, as well as Opal. I couldn't watch anymore. I netted him out and put him in a gallon jar. Today I will take him back to the store  That fish was becoming my favorite, but I won't have him tormenting the others. It will be hard for me to do because I am so attatched to him, but what must be done must be done.... 

So I took Amber back to Petsmart and they wouldn't take him, but they told me to go to some specialty store a million miles away. SO I went. Drove for about half an hour, but when I got there they put him in a tank with a ton of fishies all his age now I know he will go to a good home. So long Amber I love you!!! <3

Opal has reasserted his domination in the tank. Though he has come out of this mess as a stronger, tougher fish, his tail is a bit shredded and he can be a bit skittish.

Citrine's swim bladder was acting up again, and I tried something totally new I heard of. I held her at 45 degree angle and held her up against the wall of the tank with one hand. Using my right hand, I gently stroked the area by her anal fin with the grain of the scales. This is much like the way some goldfish breeders (including me) attempt to hand spawn. Suddenly I felt air hiss out from her body, and she began to wriggle free. I believe she had a problem with gas inside her intestinal tract. Ever since then she hasn't had an issue with it!

Onyx my poor baby had a spot of ich on his head from all this stress with a jumbo fish picking on him, so I medicated with salt and now he's all better

Thank you trft! To be honest I found it intimidating to attempt the proceedure - my hands wouldn't stop shaking! But it was all worth it to see my friend happy and able to swim properly again.

Yes, I soak the food beforehand every time and feed peas at least once every week to avoid those problems. I would feed pellets but they're too big for my fishies to fit in their tiny mouths! hee hee poor Panda of the tiny mouth couldn't even get a hold of it. I don't think Citrine's issue was dietary related...I think it was Amber bumping into her and perhaps even spawning with her, causing her swim bladder to get messed up.

But now that Ambers gone Citrine has made herself queen of the tank, and Opal thinks he's the king. I think they feel a bit puffed up now that no one's there to boss them around. But Opal isn't mean anymore to the others, I think he's learned a lesson.

I'm thrilled he's finally learned to get along.

Hmmmm I'll look for it...my LFS doesn't care Hikari, I've tried to find the wen growth formula you recommended but it wasn't there.

However a new store just opened up (all fishies ) and I could check there. I want to start giving my fishies a more nutritious diet, perhaps with a high protien pellet food, a wen formula food, and more carrot XD  

The comet/common goldfish at my LFS were super small at the store yesterday, and I bought a teeny tiny yellow and white comet with blue eyes. Named him Whisp because he is so small, and he hasn't yet come out of hiding. I'm afraid he might end up lunch for my other fish, but he's super fast so perhaps he can survive. Really cute and apparently healthy - I shall post pictures when my camera is charged.

That's a very good idea! I shall try that. Thanks!!

Just as an update: Citrine's swim bladder still acts up every once in a while, but it typically goes away. Onyx's eye is very strange though...he has a small black bump growing off the "stem" of it. Keeping an eye on it, and treating the tank with salt just in case. It seems to be shrinking...no idea what it could be.