'One Fish' passed away last night

So sad to hear about One Fish. (great fish names btw).

Whatever caused the infection is most likely still in the tank. Along with the charcoal removal, I would be increasing your water changes with proper aged water, and around 50% water changes every two days.

Take a look at Two Fish from above the water looking downwards, take note of the scales. The spidery threads sound more like the mucus layer being eaten away from some kind of infection or fungus. What I would be looking for is if her scales are jutting outwards from her body. (from above this will look kind of like VVVVVVV down her side.) If so, they might have been affected by dropsy.

Also, 1 foot goldfish are a very messy species. And it is often quite harder to keep them going tropical fish because they foul the water so quickly, so keep up those water changes.

(You can take a look at the link in my sig at some pretty aquariums to maybe consider doing a planted tank without fish for a while if you do lose Two Fish as well.)

(Red/Blue fish btw is a Neon Tetra whoever posted that )

a reply to: FlyersFan

Sorry to hear about your loss. I know we had our goldfish for 16 years,you do get attached to them. How sad his passing is for your other fish. Maybe get her a friend?

originally posted by: Dimithae
Maybe get her a friend?

Right now we have to get her healthy and get the tank cleared of fungal infection that is probably in there. I'd like to get her a friend or two, but being a foot in size I'm afraid she might eat them.

Two Fish spent the night sitting in front of the mirror on the bottom of the tank. She, once again, refused to eat. I know she is capable of swimming because when I go near the tank she goes to the other side. Usually she'll swim right up to me, so I know she doesn't feel well and is probably upset.

a reply to: Qumulys

The scales are okay. The red spider veins are in her tail One Fish had bright red ones on him everywhere and it popped up literally overnight. So far Two Fish just has them in her tail.

a reply to: FlyersFan

Well I'll keep my fingers crossed for Two Fish. Also, dont just take the local fish shops advice as concrete. Quite often the people in there are pretty clueless and just reccomend some broad spectrum m.blue stuff, which can sometimes work. But it can also be very hit and miss. Maybe try and get some good pics of the problem and post it on specific fish forums. One of my old contacts was good friends with the fish doctor who consulted with our fish clubs local aquarium. He is a proper vet specialising in fish and a lovely guy and might help you if you ask very nicely and send a pic.

The 'spidery red' description sounds like it's bleeding out into the thin vulnerable tissue of the fins, big worry. See if this fish vet Richmond Loh will offer you some advice. So that hopefully you go from One Fish - Two Fish, to Two Fish - More Fish once Two Fish feels better.

a reply to: FlyersFan

I am so sorry for your loss, a truly sad story....poor Two Fish....I hope she survives.

I know people think it's silly to be attached to a fish but we are grieving him just like someone would grieve for their dog passing away. (yes, I get teary eyed thinking about it )

Two Fish update ... she ate a couple of pellets this evening. First time she's eaten something in 2 1/2 days. She didn't eat the amount she usually eats and she's still acting sad/sick. She still has the red vein streaks on her fins, but she ate something. I hope this is a good sign.

Right now she's out of the corner with the mirror. She is droopy and looking at me but at least she left the mirror. I feel bad because I can't comfort her or explain to her what's going on. I know it sounds silly. But that's what is going through my mind.

I'll give more updates as time goes on.

Poor Two Fish.

Any pet is like a family member. We love and care for them. Still hoping for the best for Two Fish.

a reply to: FlyersFan

Well, I'm sure her sadness is not helping her healing....I hope she does recover....that is one nasty sounding disease.

Any idea how it invaded your tank????

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
Any idea how it invaded your tank????

We went 10 years with absolutely no problems. We were very good parents. Then, a week before One Fish died, we turned the light on in the tank for the first time. We were cleaning the tank and left the light on for four hours afterwards. That's the only different thing that was done. It has to be the light being on for that time. The fish experts say 'no'. But It has to be. It's the only thing that we did different in the 10 years we have had them.


ETA - Two Fish update. Every morning when I walk into the living room, both fish would get happy and come to greet me. They'd jump around the tank and sometimes even hit the top of the lid splashing water out of the tank. This morning (and the past two mornings) Two Fish didn't move except her eyes did to look at me. I put her pellets in the tank but she didn't go for them. She's just sitting there looking at me. She gave up on the mirror for company. I wish I spoke fish and could tell her what's going on.

Two Fish update = Wednesday Evening -

This afternoon she came up off the bottom of the tank and started hanging out at the top near where we feed her. I took that as a sign that she was asking for food so I went and got her favorite snacks - frozen petit green peas - and dropped 10 in the tank in the feeding spot. She gobbled up 8 of them. She ate!!

The red spider veins have not spread. Her fins are not as droopy but they still aren't perky like they should be. Her tail looks a bit thin and still has some red streaks in it.

I'm happy that she ate. It's too early to say that she'll make it but the fact she ate is making me happy.

She'll be on anti-fungals until Sunday and thats when we'll change out the water and vacuum the tank etc.

a reply to: FlyersFan

I'll take the eating as a good sign!!!!!

*fingers crossed^

Hope Two-Fish is holding her own.

btw, Miley Cyrus wrote a song about losing her goldfish. The name of it is "The Bottom of the Ocean", I think. Her Dad said she wrote it when she was a kid right after it died.

I listened to it, but there is no mention of a goldfish. Sounds like a lover's lament, so I didn't post it.

I took that as a sign that she was asking for food so I went and got her favorite snacks - frozen petit green peas - and dropped 10 in the tank in the feeding spot. She gobbled up 8 of them. She ate!!

Most excellent!


Y'all take care.

Friday AM update.

Two Fish is swimming in the tank and looking to us for companionship again. She is off the bottom of the tank and away from the mirror and instead is reacting to us in the room. She is eating. She still has red streaks in her fins and they are thin and frayed, but they haven't spread.

I think the anti-fungal anti-bacterial infection meds have screwed up the balance of the tank. It had that brown haze and milky look to it.

We cleaned the tank yesterday. Changed out the water and put in a filter to help with the bacteria. We are putting the anti-fungal meds at the opposite end of the tank from the filter.

There is still illness with her but she is acting better. Too soon to say she'll make it, but I have hope now.

Sounds hopeful.

a reply to: Night Star

My concern at this point is fin rot because of the unbalance in the tank.
Still working on it.

a reply to: FlyersFan

So far, so good......glad Two Fish is perking up a bit....

Saturday update - The red streaks in the fins of Two Fish are gone. The fin rot seems to be under control. She is swimming around the tank again and interacting with us so she is now back to functioning after the three day intense grieving.

Still continuing the treatment for the full week and we'll keep an eye on everything just in case it's only in remission and not fully cured.

At this point I think she'll make it.

a reply to: FlyersFan

That is great news!
Looks like Two Fish is a true survivor

Yay Two Fish!!!!