Hello,
I have tried and tried to find any info that will help save my fish. Not having much luck!
Specs:
Two goldfish that were 'rescued feeder fish' 24c each. Have grown into fine fishies in the 18 months that I have had them - now appx 4.5 inches long. ALways had good colour but recently began loosing scales. Was told all sorts of things from 'sharp rocks' inthe tank etc etc.
Have rectified everything I can think of ... water changes, bigger tank ( 18 gallons) 50 gallon filter, air pump, aquarium salt, Maracyn, Melafix, regular water tests and keeping it balanced.
Have looked up diseases and can't find anything that mentions scale loss... and now they are not swimming straight all the time. Still eating well - at least they were this morning.
Have always been wonderfully playful with each other.
What can I do.... what can I do... what can I doooooooo?
Maybe I can tray Maracyn again... someone wrote that you can use that with the Melafix - but then the Melafix didn't do anything. Fish don't have open wounds or anything - but they were getting some very slight white film over the edge of their front fins. Not so noticiable as the scale loss.
Please help.. .. ( trying not to sound too panicked here!)
Tanya.
Los Angeles, CA.
I would have suggested the salt, Maracyn, and MelaFix but you've done that. I assume you've looked for and removed any of those sharp things in the tank. How do they look now? Could you possible include a photo? You can put one in the forum, up on a web site, or e-mail it directly to me (help@fishpondinfo.com). A picture is worth a thousand words! It does sound like physical damage but scale loss can come with some diseases like fin rot, an external bacterial infection, or even some skin parasites. A few scales lost here and there are no problem but it sounds like it's a lot. For now, without seeing a photo, I would say try the salt, Maracyn, and MelaFix again for a week.
Robyn, I have a question about this... do the scales that fall off ever re-grow? I am talking about a healthy average Goldfish that might loose a scale or two. Thanks!
Yes, scales do regrow.
In e-mail correspondence with Tanya and photos she sent, I told her I think the fish (at least one has pronounced tubercles) were getting frisky and slamming into a fake log she has. It also has a cave they might have jammed themselves into it. The fish themselves had injuries consistent with spawning injuries I see in my pond fish in the spring. The photos were helpful.