Goldfish injury question

Hi,

I have a fantail goldfish who seems to be injured. I noticed a pea-sized red spot on his left side last night, as well as some red streaks on his tail fin on the same side as the red spot.

Can anyone tell me what this might be, and also how it possibly can be treated?

This goldfish swims alone in a lightly decorated 10 gallon tank. Hes about 3 inches long, and has shown no unusual behavior before or since I noticed the spot.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

Is there anything he could have gotten caught on?

I'm not exactly sure what is wrong.. you would have to show a picture or give more info, but there's generally one cure that works for pretty much anything with goldfish. Just get freshwater aquarium salt and give half a teaspoon every 3 or 4 hours every day until it cures. You can give a full tablespoon once a day, but it will most likely kill your cycle. If you add it in moderation or use a separate side tank to cure him, you will be able to keep your cycle. Aquarium salt cures a LOT for goldfish.. including ick and everything else.

People from the fish store will suggest you buy expensive medications, which may work, but in the past, I have had no luck with them. Salt has always worked for me. I once had a black moore that was literally white from ick and after a week and a half of salting, he was spotless.

 

Welcome to 3reef.

I agree with MaroonClown. Is there anything he could have gotten scraped/caught on? Maybe a sharp/hard edged object in the tank, such as a rock, or sculpture piece?

 

Its possible that he got caught on a small decoration. There is an opening in the decoration that he might barely fit through if he angled himself. He usually swims around it rather than through it. There are also a few (maybe 4) plastic plants on the opposite side of the tank. There is an airstone in one corner and the filter hangs in the other.

I have resolved to avoid putting chemicals into the tank of any kind since the last (my first) group of goldfish died as I was panicking and putting all this stuff in that wasnt helping, including aquarium salt. I now keep (4) 1-gallon milk jugs filled with straight tap water with which I use to complete water changes. I dont condition that water, I let the chlorine dissipate naturally.

The streaks on his tail look like blood to me. That sounds crazy, right?

 

That's what I thought the streaks were. When you used chem. before, did you use them all at once/ in a short period of time? You should use the chemicals, if any, one,very few at a time. Change your variable(being the chemical) too quickly, too much, & you won't know what you did right from wrong & what worked & what didn't.

 

When I was using the chemicals, I used them most likely without letting enough time pass in between. I was very much a beginner back then (still am!), but since I stopped using any chemicals, this fish has been in this tank and growing for 3 years now.

I checked with the wife and she told me that he currently is acting normally, and that he did go after a small snack she gave him like usual. She thinks that the spot is getting lighter in color (more pink than red) if that makes any sense.

So what is the best course of action to take now? Do I just change the water (25%) tonight when I get home from work? Do I add some aquarium salt? Both? Do nothing and wait and see?

Thanks to everyone for all your help, it is much appreciated!

 

Good job on having the fish for 3rys. lol. A water change would be a good idea if the fish was acting weird or differently than normal, but you said yours is acting normal, and eating. So there no pollutants in the water(that we know of). Also, I would only do a 20% emerg. if you do a weekly WC(water change). of 10% Some people do 20% weekly, like me. In that case I would still do 20% and no more. Too much water would be too drastic, creating stress for the fish.

Try the salt trick.

 

Alright, I'll change 25% water and afterward add .5 teaspoon of aquarium salt tonight and see what happens.