If you have gold fish and enjoy keeping them, it's really sad when they show signs of dying. Goldfish can die for many reasons, from illness to depression. However, by taking the first steps, you may be able to save a dying goldfish and even keep it for 10-20 years.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Defining the Problem
Step 1. Separate the sick goldfish
If you have a sick goldfish, it's important to keep it separate from other goldfish to avoid transmitting potential disease. If you only have one goldfish, leave it in the tank.
- To transfer a sick goldfish to a “hospital” aquarium, use a plastic bag placed in a paper bag to avoid stressing the fish.
- You may want to fill the new tank with water from the old tank. However, if the water is causing your fish to die, this will only make the problem worse. If you put your fish in new water, just place the plastic bag in the water for 15-20 minutes to help it adjust to the temperature and not startle it.
Step 2. Check the water quality
Most dying fish can be recovered by making changes to the water. Maintaining water quality is important for keeping fish happy and healthy – and alive.
- You can purchase an aquarium water test kit at most pet stores.
- This test kit can help you identify problems with your water, such as high ammonia levels.
- Test the water temperature to make sure the water is between 10-25 degrees Celsius.
- Test the acidity of the water. Most types of fish grow well at a neutral pH around level 7.
- If the water is too acidic, you can buy chemical neutralizers at most pet stores.
- Test oxygenation to help ensure absorption beyond 70%.
Step 3. Clean the aquarium and change the water
Goldfish excrete a lot of waste and aquarium water can quickly turn dirty and full of ammonia or bacteria and algae. Cleaning the tank and changing the water alone can help save your fish immediately.
- Transfer the goldfish to a separate tank when cleaning and changing the water.
- You should clean the tank once a week to prevent bacteria from growing.
- Remove 15% of the water, all gravel, and any algae you find.
- Do not use any chemicals in the water. Cleaning the gravel and any chemicals that have evaporated on the sides of the tank will suffice. Small amounts of chemicals or soaps can kill fish.
- Fill the aquarium with clean, fresh cold tap water. Add a dechlorinator to the new water to remove excess chlorine.
Step 4. Check the goldfish
After you've cleaned the tank and changed the water, observe the goldfish for a few days to see if this works to restore it. This can help you pinpoint what has been or is bothering your goldfish.
- You may be able to see results immediately, such as whether the tank doesn't have enough oxygen, or it may take a few days for your goldfish to adjust to the new water and tank.
- Wait a day or two before trying other treatments to make sure your current medication is correct and not causing you any harm.
Part 2 of 3: Recovering the Gold Fish
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of a dying goldfish
There are many different symptoms of disease in goldfish. Recognizing the symptoms properly and early can help you save your goldfish from death.
- The best time to check for signs of illness or death is before feeding.
- Respiratory distress: look for symptoms such as gasping for air, breathing rapidly, moving across the surface of the aquarium water, or lying at the bottom of the tank, which could indicate disease or poor water quality.
- Internal parasites: goldfish are hungry by nature. If you notice your fish won't eat or are losing weight, this could indicate an internal parasite.
- Bladder disturbances: watch for fish swimming oddly, tipping over, or rubbing against the surface. These symptoms can indicate everything from bladder disease to improper feeding.
- Fungal disease: if your goldfish is showing symptoms such as torn or folded fins, blurry spots, lumps or lumps, bulging eyes, pale or swollen fins, your fish may have a fungal disease.
- Fin rot: this is one of the most common fungal diseases in fish and presents with symptoms such as a milky white area on the fin or tail and a ragged-looking fin.
Step 2. Look for symptoms in other fish
Once you recognize the symptoms of a dying goldfish, observe if other fish in the tank are suffering from the same symptoms. This can help you identify the cause of disease in goldfish.
Step 3. Remove the filter and perform maintenance on the water
You can treat ailments such as fungal infections and tail rot by properly removing the aquarium filter and maintaining the water. This method will probably save your fish from death.
- Remove the activated carbon filter in the tank and use an over-the-counter remedy such as Maracyn-Two for fin rot or methylene blue for fungal infections.
- If you are unsure whether your fish has a fungal infection or tail rot, do not use this remedy. Using chemicals to solve problems that don't really exist can seriously harm your goldfish.
Step 4. Treat the water with the salt and heat method
If you notice that your fish has white patches on its body, it may be infected with an ich parasite or infected with anchor worms or fleas. Using the heat and salt method can help cure illnesses and save your goldfish.
- Slowly increase the temperature of the tank to 30 degrees Celsius over a period of 48 hours to stop the ich parasites from reproducing. Leave the aquarium at this temperature for 10 days.
- Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 19 liters of water.
- Change the aquarium water every few days.
- Lower the water temperature gradually to 18 degrees Celsius.
- You should use the heat and salt method if there are healthy fish in the tank. It can also help get rid of single parasites that have infected healthy fish.
Step 5. Feed your fish vegetables and low protein foods
Some fish can have bladder problems that cannot be cured by changing the aquarium water. Feeding fish a diet of vegetables, such as frozen peas, and low-fat foods can help relieve bladder problems.
- Frozen peas are a good choice because they are rich in fiber and sink in the tank and goldfish don't have to look for them on the surface.
- Do not overfeed sick fish. Only give the fish new food when it has finished the previous meal. If you don't follow these rules, your tank will have an ammonia problem and make your fish sicker.
Step 6. Remove the parasite with tweezers
If you notice that your goldfish has parasites such as anchor worms, you may be able to remove the parasites using tweezers. Be sure to do this carefully so as not to injure or kill your goldfish.
- Some parasites hide deep in the fish. You may be able to combine removing the parasite with killing it with a commercial drug.
- Be sure to pinch the parasite as close to the wound as possible to help ensure that you get rid of all the parasites.
- Put the goldfish in the water every minute to allow the fish to breathe.
- It may take a few weeks for the parasites to disappear from your tank.
- Only use this method if you are sure your goldfish has worms or parasites and you can handle it carefully enough not to kill the fish.
Step 7. Use a commercial fish remedy
If you're not sure what's bothering your fish, try using a commercial fish remedy to cure any disease. This may save your fish from any parasites or disease.
- You can buy commercial fish medicine at most pet stores and even some major retail stores.
- Be aware that commercial fish medications are not regulated by government agencies, which means they can be useless or can harm fish. The best treatment is knowing for sure what disease to treat.
Step 8. Take your fish to the vet
You may find that home remedies do not cure fish. If so, take the fish to the vet. The vet may be able to find out why the fish is showing signs of dying and can make a treatment plan.
- Be sure to bring your fish in a plastic bag covered with a paper bag to keep the fish from stressing out.
- Keep in mind that the vet may not be able to help your fish, and fish may die even after receiving veterinary care.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Diseases in Gold Fish
Step 1. Understand that prevention is the best medicine
Preventing disease in goldfish is the best way to save it from dying. From cleaning your aquarium regularly to feeding your goldfish a diverse diet, properly caring for your goldfish can help minimize the risk of death.
Step 2. Maintain water quality
Keeping the water in which your goldfish swims clean is important to keep them alive. You must not only ensure that the water temperature is optimal, but that there is sufficient oxygen in the tank.
- Goldfish grow well in water between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius. The colder the water, the higher the oxygen content.
- Goldfish excrete a lot of waste which causes ammonia levels in the tank to rise, which increases the risk of illness or death.
- Test the water weekly to help ensure high quality water.
Step 3. Clean the aquarium regularly
If you clean the aquarium regularly, it will not only maintain the quality of the water, but also remove any bacteria or algae that can harm the life of your goldfish. Cleaning it every week will be very useful to prevent disease in fish.
- Change a few liters of water every week to help get rid of excess chemicals.
- Clean the gravel and sides of the tank from any algae or slime that appears.
- Prune any plants that have overgrown.
- Clean or replace the charcoal filter once every month.
- Avoid using soap or any chemicals, as they can kill the fish.
Step 4. Give the fish a varied diet
One of the best ways to prevent goldfish from dying is to feed them a varied and balanced diet. It is equally important not to overfeed your goldfish, as it will not only make the fish sick, it will also affect the quality of the water.
- You can feed your fish commercial fish food in the form of thin strips. These foods provide a balanced diet.
- Feed your goldfish a variety of foods such as peas, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and silkworms.
- You can give algae fish from the tank as a snack by allowing them to grow in one corner for the goldfish to nibble on.
- Don't overfeed the goldfish. Goldfish only need one meal per day and any leftovers will fall to the bottom of the tank and can contaminate the water.
Step 5. Separate infected goldfish from healthy goldfish
If only one or a few goldfish are sick or on the verge of death, separate the infected goldfish from the healthy fish. This can help prevent healthy fish from getting sick or dying.
- Maybe you need to have a "hospital aquarium" for sick fish.
- Return the fish to the tank once they are healthy.
