You know, I don't think that's crazy at all. They can see the tv screen from the side of the tank. I swear sometimes you'd think Ronnie was "watching" the tv, if there's something with colours and movement he'll barrel down the tank and sit staring at it for a bit.


I'm looking into adjusting the vibrations from the speakers to minimise upset, also we keep the volume even lower now. And I'll be blocking their view of it tonight as well.

I hope it wasn't the Anthony Bourdain show where they were catching and preparing fish

Will try him with these things, and then see how he is, then I could try him with the other fish.

I doubt it will be the cookery show but I like your way of thinking. I always tell mine to look away during nature programmes Maybe something just made him jump or maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree completely.

As long as he has lots of cover that's good

Keep an eye on the spot for any changes. Also keep an eye out for any other symptoms of a problem like red streaks in fins/tail, red patches on body, fluff anywhere (especially on the spot), bulgy eyes, sticky out scales, cloudy eyes, clamped fins and fraying fins. Keep an eye on his poo as well, anything other than food coloured might indicate a problem.

HTH, if there is anything you're not sure of just ask

Came home today and while he jumped and darted away when I came in, he eventually swam over to me, but he wasn't his usual wiggly self. But this meant I got to have a closer look at him, the spot is still the same with no changes, so at least it hasn't gotten worse.

BUT! He does have a problem with his tail - it's like clean slits in the tail, not ragged or frayed.

He has had this before a few times.

Clean splits, if they run parallel along the tail fin rays are usually caused by flightly fish being spooked and knocking into decor, wood or plastic plants i.e. just injury related (tail rot, is very different). Is there anything like that in the tank?

Possible filter injury perhaps (tail sucked in). If the water is good and clean they usually heal very quickly

Quote:

Only just noticed this comment. That wouldn't happen to be a Juwel sponge would it by any chance (one of my tanks is a Juwel)?

If so, it's just a ploy from the filter manufacturer to get you to spend more money on new filter media you don't need.

Foam pads should last for years at a time. You only replace as they get crumbly or start to disintegrate. A good wash in tank water each week or so should see them last for at last 2-3 years min.

Yes, he could easily have scraped it off something, there's a lantern ornamental thing in there, or it could have been the filter. I need to check the tank for sharp bits.


Yes, it is indeed a Juwel sponge! I've not changed the sponges, I've learned now to not believe the manufacturers and rely on people who actually keep fish!

Fancies do suit soft decor set ups really. If you have any plastic decor or hard rocks etc I'd recommend removing them, even if they don't have sharp bits as such.

Plants are all they need to give interest, general mooching and a likely snack source lol.

Suey has done a fab article on planted tanks for fancies/goldies

http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles ... ed-tanks-for-goldfish.htm

On the sponges - do I still need to change the white fiilter and the black carbon sponge? Or do I leave out the black sponge altogether (have heard this as well)

It's currently out of the tank at the moment anyway for the pimafix and melafix treatment.

Reggie is still VERY jumpy and nervy - though he will swim over to me after a while now, he wouldn't do that before.

You can leave the black sponge out - you only need carbon to remove meds etc. from the water, ordinarily you shouldn't need it

How are they doing now?

No change!

For some reason I undercalculated the dosage of Pima/Melafix (not sure how) so we did a 30% waterchange on Sat, and started the dosages properly.

They both seem a bit out of sorts, Ronnie had a touch of white spots on his head - that seems to be gone today, Reggie still has his bump and he's still very shy.

I studied him most of yesterday, I'd say maybe twice he did a strange jerky movement with his head, but barely imperceptible, so I'm not sure if that was a sign of anything or I'm obsessing! He doesn't rub off the stones or glass, isn't flicking or doing anything else odd at all.

Sometimes orandas get white spots on their heads which are wen/hood growth spots - can you get a pic at all? These are normal but it can be worrying when you see them!

Try the melafix and pimafix at the right dose (oops!) and hopefully they will pick up a little. If you have an airstone make sure you've got that running as meds can lower the amount of oxygen in the water which in turn can make them a little grumpy.

Hope they seem better soon, if you're worried about anything just shout