6 inch shubkin - Id say about 7yrs old - pond kept in is 3ft deep 3ft wide 5ft length - this is third year in this pond - only 7 fish in total in pond - stocked with weed etc - since sept this fish has been floating upside down but was able to go to the bottom of pond and has survived winter. I have just started feeding the fish bloodworms and wheatgerm pellets and fed peas as told helps with bladder probs.This fish is now constantly on its back with bottom exposed out of the water - it looks bright in every other way .. today I have noticed the other fish bumping it - hopeing they arnt nibbling it! I had removed the fish earlier and placed in salt bath and 'sling' to try to keep it upright..hasnt worked ..now back in pond ...any advice greatly appreciated - have noticed two other goldfish appear to have growths on fins ... but all are swimming well and eating .. also have been troubled with blanket weed all winter..aquatic centre near me were pretty non chalont and basically told me to kill the fish...any advice please

Hi, welcome to FK Sorry to hear things aren't going so well for the scaly one though. Being upside down like that often indicates gas in the guts, the gas is more buoyant than the fish's balance can cope with so they flip over as their guts are underneath their bodies. If it's been like that for a while it might not be so easy to get him back on track again, might take a while but that certainly doesn't he's doomed! Unfortunately it can be a number of things, the thing is to try and narrow down the possibilities and look at the bigger picture

Can you test the water in the pond to check for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Just helps to rule in/out some of the usual suspects. Does the pond have a filter? If so was it running during the winter?

Was the fish upside down all through the winter or was it just now and then? Does he have any other marks on him like red patches, or red streaks in fins/tail? Can you describe the symptoms you are seeing on the others a bit more?

Any chance of a pic of him? That can often say a lot more than words

Hi - thku for replying - Filter has ran all winter - should I have switched off..also this is a new one , first yr it has been in.
The fish was upside down all winter but was able to submerge and stay at bottom of pond , now it doesnt seem to beable to do this , it has probably been at the top for2/3 wks now.
The fish doesnt have any noticable marks , eyes look clear , did notice yesterday that one of the back fins was flat to its body.. Ive checked this morning and fish is still at surface , upside down , does try to go to the bottom when disturbed but rushes to the top again. Fins are back in normal posistion - one factor this fish was the greedist in the pond and always devoured the pellets.

The other fish have warty like growths on front fin , both affected fish are feeding and swimming - I will try for pics but Im not vry tehincal!

I could buy a watre test kit - if any use the water is crystal clear , drinkable even , and i poss tend to under feed rather than over feed as plant material in pond ..however had and still have the blanket weed problem...any advice greatly appreciated , a friend has offered to dispatch the fish if no solution ... Id like to give it a chance if at all possible.

Well had water tested and everything fine there - aquatic centre chap was very helpful ..doesnt seem to think I need to dispatch fish ..advised treating pond with salt which I have and feed some bran , as fish may eat and it may help - would still welcome your advice as dont like to see anything suffer..fish however is quite active at times but is still at surface , belly up - as for the other fish he feels its fungus based... many thks for your time and help.

Hi Mellwo,
In my opinion, I think it's because you've been feeding them with bloodworm, shubs are more likely healthier if fed only with vegetable. Bloodworms are so high protein that their digest system were not designed to deal with these

About treatment... I'm really have no idea what to do but leave them be and no more high protein food :)

Also please post your water test result. pH, NH3, NO3,...

Hi -the aquatics chap did the test in the shop so i have no results , he just said water quality was fine - the bloodworms are something new , I only gave this in last two wks as petshop said better to feed that than pellets ..but I wont buy anymore..thkyou...I have put some bran in the pond as advised today - the fish are on a good quality pellet and plenty of weed and planting in pond - on the whole am I likely to be able tohelp the fish and am I right to keep it going? As said , its got to be feeding and looks in good condition apart from being upside down..again..all info greatly appreciated..thku all who have replied...just reread previous reply - would you advise I omit pellets and just feed peas , broccoli ? Pond has 7 FISH , 3 GOLDFISH 4 SHUBS

Shubunkins and goldies are omnivores, they will happily eat most things. Those in ponds should have wheatgerm based food during cooler temps, and none at all when it's cold as their digestive systems don't cope with processing food while they are 'dormant' due to the cold.

Peas are a fishy laxative so are often recommended for helping clear them out as dodgy digestion can cause gas in the guts and affect their buoyancy. Bloodworm is good for goldies but as part of a varied diet, not the only food to be offered. Goldies and shubs are carp, carp are quite happy to take bloodworm etc. in 'the wild' The pellets and pond weed should be fine, plus they'll eat any bugs etc. they find, by all means give them some bloodworm too but as I say it's better (IMO) as part of a varied diet and not as the only thing.

Salting the pond will act as a tonic and alleviate any physical stress for a while so may help the fish feel a little better and let its immune system get to work.

The filter is fine to keep running all winter, some people turn them off as the fish are not being fed and therefore not generating much waste (although they still excrete ammonia through their gills as they breathe).

The warty fins - is it lumps and bumps on the leading edge of the pectoral fins? If so it could well be breeding tubercles Males get lumpy bits on the leading edge of their fins, and spots on their gills when they are in the mood for love.

If it's been upside down for this long it would imply it's not something to do with food or infection but more likely something physical such as internal deformity. But certainly don't write him off just yet, let's see how he goes as the weather warms up and with the salt

Some pics would be great, they don't need to be David Bailey standard

Seuy2 -THKU Taken on board all your info and so Im sticking with it - as you say ' where's theres life there's hope'
Will try for pics, at mo my fone doesnt seem to want to download pics but i will get a friend to sort for me .. watch this space - one noticable thing is with the fishes bottom in the air I've not seen an sign of it passing waste , so will keep a check on this but it is moving around pond ..as for the other guys ..you may well be right that they are in the mood for love - they did breed in the first year of being in pond but the fry were either eaten by them or invading frog .... thks again , Im just plsd I dont have to end its days

How's he getting on now? Any improvement?

Hi Suey2 ... No change unfortunately..but its impressive how it gets around the pond .. couple of times it has gone lower in pond , seems to wedge itself into weed so it stays down there but mostly on surface...Ive noticed a couple of red lines around its back end today..dont know if thats anything to be concerned about? Its bottom looks as tho 'sealed' only way I can describe it as fone not allowingmee to download pics to show.. friend is popping round soon so I will see if can get pics sorted..i have sprinkled bran in pond but cant say if this fish is eating , but its surviving so must be getting food... really dont know where to go from here tbh...any thoughts? Is it possible this fish could be having 'egg' problems? It did swell up last year and looked as tho would burst but never passed any eggs..hence no babies last year?