Folks... Has anyone ever heard of a little fantail ( 3 inches) being picked on by his siblings. He is showing signs of missing( chewed) fins and a sore spot on his head. He is the kind that has the black ruffles on his head that look like they have been chewed at too. I observed another fish picking at it. It disappears for days at a time. I think that it is hiding from the others and won't come up for food. I don't know if it is sick and the others are picking on it or the picking has caused it to be sick. It seems to be emaciated. It has been in with the others for about a year now. and everything has been fine, until now. I have added goldfish since him. Everyone has lived together nicely.
I now have it in ICU ( large fish net) in the pond and am feeding it seperately. It seems to be swimming and eating OK, so I don't think it is float bladder problems. All the other fish are healthy in an screened in lanai pond. The pond is 9 by 16 and very Happy! Started out two years ago with 10 fish and now have approx. 60.....fantail, comets and shubunkins. The water is crystal clear with a 3 foot waterfall. I have lots of plants and water lilies, so I don't think it is the eco system. Am I doing the the right thing for the little guy? Patti
Goldfish are notorious for picking on each other. If a goldfish is weak, slow, injured, or just a more fancy variety than the others, it will often get picked on. Such pestering can result in infections, anorexia (from them not letting him/her eat), or even death. It is good to separate the little guy if you want him to more easily recover. It seems goldfish just like the taste of fish, even if it's their goldfish buddy. When there's exposed or dangling flesh, they can't resist. Once an injury is started, that gets it picked on even more. I hope the fantail does ok! I have three fantail boys but I keep them inside in my 65 gallon aquarium. They would never last in the pond from either predators or their goldfish "friends."
Hi Patti, and welcome to the forum. I hope your little guy recovers! It sounds like you are doing the right thing for him. Your pond sounds really nice, do you have any pictures of it you could post??? We LOVE to see pictures of everyones ponds! Elaine