Please help - scales eaten off!

Japanese/Chinese Algae Eaters get very aggressive and will often chase/kill other tank mates with there insuffient algae. Which was probally why somebody was giving it away. It sounds like your goldfish isnt going to make it and its suffering. Either bag it up and freeze it or flush it. It sucks when it comes down to this, but theres no need in letting it suffer.

 

Freezing is very humane, they are cold blooded animals, there body shuts down in freezing temps. We use to do that at the store.

 

Goldfish are very resilient. Let her be and she may come around. Don't leave the tank lights on a lot and don't fool around with the tank, it will just stress her out more. Be careful if you medicate her since some may be strong enough to send her into shock. Something mild like stress coat would do well.

I've had a goldfish with missing scales, and even though they never grew back the fish was fine.

As to the aggressor turn it in to a LFS or petsmart or something like that. Is it all orange or does it have stripes?

 

i dont have a septic tank system

 

After doing some reading, I did add some salt last night. She actually went upright and swam a bit after that. However today she's on her side again. I will get some stresscoat. The agressor is on his way to a new home. We have a friend that has tanks all over his house - his wife said she was sure he'd take him. He's a non-descript olivey color with spots down his back. And a huge sucker.

 

well,thats good news then. hopefully she makes it!

 

That algae eater needs to done away with, I wouldnt give that to a friend. Its just going to cause problems for your friend.

 

Why do away with it if it can be reasonably placed? Just put it in a non-peaceful tank. My bro had one in in with a big 'ol tiger oscar that could take care of itself. As long as he's not with fish he can hurt it will be fine.

As to the goldfish I'm glad she was able to swim upright again for a little bit, that's an improvement. Like I mentioned earlier, goldfish are extremely resilient and a lot of people don't give them the time they need and end up flushing a fish that has a possibility to recover. I'm glad to hear that you are giving her a chance.

 

She's doing amazingly well, considering! She's now swimming upright, although she has a hard time leaving the top of the tank - and has a hard time controlling exactly where she swims (The dorsal fin apparently was damaged also). This does make eating hard though. The pellets we usually feed will sink, and she can't get to them fast enough, nor can she eat off the bottom now. She also doesn't seem to be able to eat off the surface. Doesn't leave much, does it?! If I use thread and hang the guts of a cooked pea about an inch below the surface, she can get at that until it falls. I hope this continues to improve!! She sure is a fighter.

As far as the algae eater, the person I gave it to is fish-smart enough to take care of it.

 

I've been dropping the pellets over a rock and she's been eating off of that. She's even been managing to pick at the bottom here & there.