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Author Topic: raised red spot on tail.  (Read 1025 times)
wiki
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raised red spot on tail.
« on: June 08, 2011, 03:14:05 AM »
Ok... So I have come to the conclusion that fluffy is a very sickly fish... the other two are fine... He has a raised blood red spot on the tip of his tail and his tail is getting ragged again... We are gradually phasing out the salt in the tank for a case of ich that he has recovered from.

The water is perfect... the only thing i can think of is stress... I am wondering if it is the bubbler, the pump is very vibrating and noisy. If you put your ear to the tank, it is loud... Would this bother the fish? They love the company of my cats... they hang around her like little puppies Smiley So i dont think it is the cats bothering them...

1. How big is your tank:  Gal / litres 60gal/250litres

2. For how long has the tank been set up: 10  days

3. How many fish: 3 small fish - under 2 inches (not including  tail)

4. What kinf of fish:1 comet (sick) 2 comet/commons

5. What are the water parameters:    Ammonia.........0ppm
                                                            Nitrite..............0ppm
                                                            Nitrate.............1-2ppm (like almost not registering)
                                                            pH..........................7.4
                                                            Temp...............18-22 degrees Celsius

6. How often do you perform water changes: once a week or when needed

7. How big are your waterchanges:      10% or as needed

8. What kind of waterconditioner are you using: Prime

9. Do you add beneficial bacteria: Yes Stresszyme

10. Symptoms your fish is showing: Raised blood red spot on his tail and split/ragged tail - the edges of the splits are not red or white, just normal tail colour.

11. Since when does your fish show these symptoms: The spot turned up 4 days ago... the splits are old ones that healed and then re-split.

12. How is the normal behaviour of your fish: Happy... no clamping, lively, friendly... nothing wrong except for his tail...

13. How do the other fish behave: same

14. Post pics of the sick fish: yeah right.... he just looks like a blur in photos!

15. Do you have a filter on your tank, what kind, how big (gallons per hour) Yes, aqua one canister 1000 L/H

16. Do you provide extra aeration with an air pump and air stone/diffuser of some kind. Yes a bubble screen
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fantailer
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2011, 05:30:04 AM »
Ive read that loud noises andvibrations could freak out fish but not really stress  Undecided.

Not to get off topic but Fluffy is really good name for a fish! Cheesy
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Ron H
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2011, 06:56:15 AM »
Hi Wiki, noticed your problem getting a pic of the spot (No. 14 bullet point)... if you can get a digital camera with a manual mode, set the ISO (film speed) to 800 or above (that should stop the blur) other things you can do to get a reasonable pic are to turn the flash off, and change white balance setting (if it has one) , set it to fluro or tungsten depending on your tanks light source... you may need to move the tanks light to the front to get some illumination onto the fish... hope this is of some help and my explanation is not too complicated, sorry to get off topic.. > Ron.
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Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2011, 01:58:05 PM »
All I can find that is inadequate in your description is the water changes. 10% a week isn't helping at all, the nitrates will be building up gradually. Think about it as thinning out a red liquid Smiley The more you replace with clean water, the thinner the color Wink
Take at least 50% every week, that way the water quality won't deteriorate too much between changes, and your fish will thrive! Smiley

Now, this poor little fellow sounds like he's gotten an ulcer of some kind :/ But I'm not sure, I haven't noticed any such symptoms on my own fish so... if someone else has a better diagnose, you should listen to them Smiley
However, I would move him to a quarantine tank and treat with some anti-bacterial medicine. I wouldn't use melafix at this state. If they have something called "bactopur" by Sera in the pet shop, I'd go for that one! I've treated countless cases of torn fins and wounds with that Smiley

You haven't noticed the other fish picking on him or anything while he's sick? That could have caused the infection :/
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wiki
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2011, 01:12:08 AM »
Thank you Nossie! I am only doing 10% changes at the mo as Nitrates are still WAAAY low... we has 0.25ppm of ammonia and then the smallest amount of nitrites... and now they have disappeared completely and nitrates are slowly starting to build up... we are testing the water every day and if there is nitrates, a water change will definately happen!!! Dont worry... we wont let it get poisonous!

I am kinda worried it  isn't cycling very fast as they are quite small fishies in a very large tank!

No... the other fish haven't been picking on him... as far as I can tell... he isn't acting unwell at all... he just has this spot!

I will get my boyfriend to get a quarantine tank set up (I am away on work at the mo... he is taking care of all this for me) and look for some meds Smiley

Thanks again!
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Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2011, 06:57:09 AM »
I was referring to the water changes for the future, when the fish grow bigger Smiley As long as you're testing the water during the cycle and changing as much as needed, it's all good!

Did I already ask if you're adding beneficial bacteria to the tank? That usually speeds the cycle up quite a bit, and it's safer for the fish Smiley

Keep us updated over here! Cheesy
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wiki
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #6 on: June 15, 2011, 04:50:56 AM »
Ok so as far as I can understand from My Bf's description, the red spots are getting more.. there are 3 now not 1... Fluffies tail is going raggy and there is white around the splits... is this fin-rot?

The tank still hasn't cycled... the ammonia is around 0.25 (or possibly 0 - the test colours are subtle and Bf doesnt see colours very well LOL ) but he is water changing to try and get it lower and  no nitrites or nitrates... The tank is salted but not heavily - 1 tsp per gallon - slowly phasing it out from the Ich treament but leaving 1 tsp/gallon in preparedness for the Nitrites when they finaly arrive...

I thought salt would make fin-rot go way or not happen or is that in higher concentrations?... Bf is setting up the quarantine tank but isn't confident moving Fluffy over... I am home in 2 days so I can do it then... (not that it is hard to catch a goldfish but.... LOL silly boy:) )

Benificial bacteria is being added to the tank and Bf is doing water changes whenever there is a trace of ammonia...

If it is fin-rot, does it stress the fish?? It sounds like there is no bottom-sitting, fin-clamping or any other sign of distress... Fluffy is swimming around happily and had become best friends with Klaus (cant be seperated lol)...  Sumner stays away from them though... she needs a friend  when Fluffy is better I think Smiley If fin-rot stresses a fish, then this may be something else as Fluffy is acting normally...

This is so frustrating! The water is great and they have more than enough room and Fluffy is still unwell  Huh

On an entirely different note... How smart are goldfish??? When our cat sits on the top of the tank, the fish all swim so they are directly under her and she can't see them anymore... every time she moves, they do the same thing... are they just winding her up? do they have a sense of humour? It definately annoys the cat-all she wants to do is watch them lol! CUTE!
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Goldiegirl
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2011, 11:05:33 AM »
If the tank ever does get a trace of ammonia while cycling, that could possibly cause stress. I'm just guessing 'cause...I'm not there lol.  Smiley I know that turning the light on/off frequently can also cause startled fishes, so best not to have that happen if for some reason you are. Also, it is good to have a bit of nitrate in the tank; nitrate shows your tank is cycled. I would add some extra prime as well...it can be used in concentrations of up to 5x the original doses in cases like this.

That definately sounds like fin rot! The white around the ragged tail splits gives that a clear indication. When my Elsie Amber got a severe case, I had to get it under control before it chewed her whole tail off! It's a hard thing to get rid of once you have it in your tank, but try this: adding a concentration of salt, (1 tablespoon per 10 gallons) epsom salt, (1 tablespoon per 10 gallons) and baking soda (1 teaspoon per 10 gallons). Also, dab the effected area on the tail with a q-tip dipped in hydrogen peroxide. Do this once every 2 days because it is a bit stressful for the fish. However, TRUST ME it will help.

And I think goldfish, for being so small, are brilliant  Wink Some may have a personality that just has a sense of humor, you never know  Cheesy
« Last Edit: June 16, 2011, 11:11:39 AM by Goldiegirl » Logged
Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2011, 11:21:45 AM »
I agree with goldiegirl!

BUT: If you're cycling the tank, know that salt is slowing the process down. The beneficial bacteria are working slower when there is salt in the water. So actually, I'd let go of the salt and simply separate the sick fish. He really needs to be treated since the infection is getting worse. Anti-bacterial meds and filtering with zeolithe might work. But of course, you may want to try Goldiegirl's method, but then rather in the quarantine tank, then he'll get to be in peace while he heals Smiley
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Goldiegirl
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2011, 03:47:39 PM »
That's too true, Nossie, about separating him in a QT.  Smiley Just try not to stress him too much when you transport the fish to a new tank. If you can, try using a plastic cup without sharp edges to capture him. Wriggling around in a net could cause him to get injured and further increase his stress.  Smiley
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wiki
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2011, 11:21:53 PM »
I usually catch them with my hands (as I have heard that it is a lot softer on the fish) and put them in a plastic bag of water for transport... a cup would be less leaky though... I will try that Smiley I will get J to fget a quarantine tank up and running for me Smiley
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Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #11 on: June 18, 2011, 12:36:29 PM »
I use my hands too Smiley The net just doesn't feel like a good idea for a goldfish >> Smaller tropicals maybe.

Hope your fish recovers Smiley
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Goldiegirl
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2011, 05:28:02 PM »
Sorry, this is off-topic a bit, but my fish are so gullible   Grin They swim over to the corner where I feed them and start begging, and if I need to separate a fish to quarentine or administer a disinfectant to, I can just scoop them up in my hands - though I'm careful not to let them jump!  Shocked
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fantailer
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #13 on: June 18, 2011, 07:44:41 PM »
OMG! Gullible fish!?!?  Cheesy
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Goldiegirl
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2011, 10:41:45 AM »
They have complete trust in the one who feeds them...which isn't such a good idea sometimes Wink
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wiki
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #15 on: June 19, 2011, 06:19:16 PM »
Haha gullible fish? Really? who woulda thunk it? LOL!!!

Now that I have seen Fluffy,I dont think he has fin-rot - the splits in his tail are healing... And there are no white patches (Boyfriend was panicking a bit I think LOL) I think these red spots may be that he is a lot more sensitive to the samll amount of Ammonia... I will keep doing the water changes and add Prime and I will keep you all updated!! Thanks!
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Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #16 on: June 20, 2011, 03:54:48 PM »
Good to hear! Smiley
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Goldiegirl
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #17 on: June 27, 2011, 10:29:49 AM »
Good thing it wasn't fin rot after all! Tell your bf not to exaggerate so much next time, lol!  Cheesy
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wiki
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #18 on: June 29, 2011, 05:37:38 AM »
hahahaha Goldigirl... I think he has grown very attached to the fish!!!

The splits are almost healed now... I cant wait for this tank to finish cycling!!! ammonia is dropping and i am starting to ge a trace of nitrates now... hopefully it wont be too long... it has been 6  weeks already! I have 2  new fishies to add when the water is nice!
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Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #19 on: June 29, 2011, 02:58:07 PM »
When you add the new fish you'll have to keep an eye at the water quality again, the ammonia may come back with the raised amount of waste in the system. But that usually goes away so quickly you will barely notice if the tank's cycled already when you add the new fish Smiley
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wiki
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #20 on: June 29, 2011, 09:03:02 PM »
Thanks Nossie! I do remember reading tha somewhere... Smiley My new fishies are soooo small though! I think they are too small to even get the quaratine tank cycling lol! I will keep an eye on it all Smiley
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Nossie
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #21 on: June 30, 2011, 09:44:44 AM »
Aww! Cheesy Good luck with them! Smiley
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Goldiegirl
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Re: raised red spot on tail.
« Reply #22 on: June 30, 2011, 02:16:24 PM »
Good to hear the man cares about the fishies. I know my future one will have to...and he needs $ so I can buy lotsa fish and a jumbo fancy garden pond. *sigh*  Kiss

And soooo cute about your fishies! Wow 6 weeks is a long time, but I've heard 21 days is the bare minimum for a cycle to complete...
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