Hi, I have a Pearlscale goldfish which has recently been having some issues. His symptoms all link to different diseases, so I’m unsure what he actually has and therefore don’t want to treat him for something he doesn’t have. Any help or advice would be very appreciated as this is my first time looking after this type of fish!

I’ve had him for 2 months now and at the start he was perfectly fine. Over the last month I noticed he had developed what looked like red bruises on both of his sides. I noticed that the Black Moor goldfish he lives with was swimming at him and pushing him into the ornaments. I then separated them (this was around 2 weeks ago) and since then his bruise has gone down. However, he now spends most of the day sitting in the corner of the tank under a plant, doesn’t swim around as often and still has marks on his sides. He’s also developed a white patch on his side today and I’m really worried about him!

All the diseases I have searched could be a possible cause (e.g bladder disease, white spot, fungus...) but as we’re in lockdown, I’m limited to what I can do. Any advice or help anyone can give me as to what it may be, causes or how to treat would be greatly appreciated as I am very worried and feel helpless! :(

I will attach a picture. Thank you so much in advance!

Lucy

It may be that the black moor is displaying mating behaviour with or bullying him. However, if he's still cowering in a separated section/tank, something is still awry. I would:
* let us know the tank results in the main and isolation tank for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates, using a liquid-based test kit - it's paramount that results are consistently 0, 0 and <20 (or <20 above tap water nitrate levels) respectively if there's to be any possibility of healing (irrespective of whether medication is used);
* course of action if required https://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles ... mmonia-nitrite-spike.htm;
* from what you describe and the photo, it's almost certainly not swimbladder disorder or whitespot, but possibly fungus or bacterial infection secondary to a bullying/mating injury; for that reason, I'd buy some eSHa 2000 and dose it *if the water quality results above are all fine* (if they're not, the water quality issue itself is more likely the crux of the problem and addressing it ought to resolve it);
* only once he's back to normal behaviour and healed, return him to the main tank.

Hi,

Thank you so much for your answer and advice! I have since tested the tank again and the Nitrate levels were quite high, so I have moved my pearlscale out to get the water conditions perfect before I move him back in. I’ve ordered water conditioner to treat the tank and get rid of the nitrate.

Any other advice you have about how I can get rid of the nitrates in the tank/ stop my Black Moor bullying my Pearlscale would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Lucy