Problem with one of my Fantail Goldfish

[Cinnamon]

2 days ago Rem my male Fantail goldfish wound up in the skimmer. I do not know how long he had been in there. I had done a head count at 4 pm. We went out around 8 and couldn't find him. We got him out of the skimmer and he has been acting very funny. He is not swimming right. At time he looks normal. Then he will nose down to the bottom and turn upside down and lay on his side. There are a couple of times I thought he was a goner. He has wedged himself in a couple of places I have had to get him out of. He is so big now he couldn't get out of the skimmer. He couldn't turn around. Is something bad wrong with it? I sure hope not but it is starting to worry me. I know I have heard that sometimes Fantail just turn upside down and lay on the bottom. Anyone have any ideas? My pond temps are running around 50 F. I think the lowest it has been is 48F one morning.

[Jackie Ramo]

Cin, I'm sorry that Rem is having problems. One wonders why he got into the skimmer in the first place... looking for food. Fancy goldfish have numerous problems with swim bladder but I am not the best one for goldfish, Terri is better informed.

I'd not jump into panic mode yet, he could just be shook up from the skimmer episode and need a rest.

[Cinnamon]

Jackie I fashioned a block so he couldn't get sucked into the skimmer. I made a wooden frame and put 2 layers of bird netting on it. It saved him twice that I saw last night. I check on him often. Once I found him in a fold. I almost had to get in the pond to rescue him. He will swim fine then he starts his loops. Last night I watched him. He was by the skimmer and he was floating on this side right close to the top. I always take the leaf net and move him to make sure he is okay.

I know on the other board they talked about this problem. I remember one ladie's fix. She super glued a small rock to their stomachs. She said the rock would fall off in about a week and the fish would be fine. I may try this. They aren't searching much for food. All except Cinn! She is always hunting food! :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Cin, if he is still having difficulties I'd put him in a tub with an airstone with salt at 0.3%. Sometimes the salt helps the osmosis and straightens them up. While we are waiting for Terri it will do no harm and will also serve to keep him quiet so he doesn't spend his energy fighting the current to stay out of the skimmer.

Cover the tub, even the sick ones will jump when you least expect it!!

[Terri]

Sorry to hear about Rem :( His behaviour is worrisome.

Temp is an issue, can you bring him indoors and warm him up? He won't get better in cold water. He's obviously suffered trauma but to what and how serious remains to be seen... barrel rolls and floating on one's side are not a good thing... possible he broke his back...?

Cin can you get a few good pictures of Rem?

[Cinnamon]

I had thought about bringing him in but I thought the temp change would be too much. I could use pond water in an aquarium. Should I gradually warm him. I am at a loss. Right now he is hiding in the plants. I tend to make him move but decided to let him rest for a bit. Although he has been in the plants about 1 1/2 hrs now. How big a tank should he be in? He is probably 4-5" counting tail and all. I will rustle him out of the plants and try to get a pic of him. I am worried for sure.

[Rembrandt]

Watching anxiously in the deep end.....
Rembrandt
aka "Remmy"

[Terri]

He needs to come inside. Disturbing him, making him move aboutm is only going to stress him in the pond.

Yes do use pond water, and let itself warm gradually to room temp - 5" fantail will be comfy in 20gal container or more. If you use a glass tank cover the sides to lessen stress and make sure the top(of any container) is securely covered with netting. If you have a small air pump and small air stone add it, you just want a little bit of circulation. Let's see how he copes with warming up before adding anything (medication-wise) to the water... right now Rem could use some peace and quiet and maybe a 'friend' that is smaller than he is for company.

About netting Rem to come in, best if you gently net him, keeping him suspended in the net in the water(don't lift him out of the water with the net) and spoon him into a good sized container to transfer him indoors. This way he's in something which you can photograph him and easily release him into what ever temporary home he's going to. Will be less stressful this way, and if his back is broken the less handling the better.

You should know that once you bring Rem in he won't be going back outside anytime soon, too cold to do so, this is why I mention a friend above for company. Fingers crossed Rem recovers.

Let us know how the transfer goes...

[Rembrandt]

Thanks Terri
Heading home now to help set up the quarentine recovery room.
Fingers crossed here.

Rembrandt
...also known as Remmy.

[Cinnamon]

Rembrandt... typing from Cinn's console...
Quarentine tank is set up and the "patients" are both in the qt tank.
Remmy (the fish) is still pretty much the same. "Cinn" (take your pick) is just checking everything out.
It is unique that Cinn (the fish) will swim up to Remmy and bump him which makes him upright himself. It is as if she knows something isn't quite right?
Those fish never cease to amaze me. Cinn (Pam) added some salt to the qt tank and now we can only wait. Water temp is very slowly rising and a full gambit of pond readings will be taken by Cinn (Pam) tomorrow morning.

Thanks all
Remmy (not the fish)
lol

[Jackie Ramo]

Glad that they got moved safely inside. Be sure that Rem fish has a quiet place to rest, too much turbulance is not good for a fish especially one in this condition. If you can move the plant he rested in inside as well it may give him some comfort. Salt at 0.1% probably will not harm the plant.

Monitor the temps to make sure they don't rise too quickly although fish do go up in temp easier than down.

[Cinnamon]

Water temp when I moved them in was 52F. I just went out and checked and it was 54F. Shop temp is 60 so I may try to run the heater for 20 mins or so. it holds heat well. Here are the pics. I don't think Rem's back is broke for he swims normal when he swims. Here are the pics I snapped last night. He has no soft spots on his belly. I handled him very very gently. I gave him a good look over. I didn't see anything that jumped out at me. He is bigger than I thought! I checked on him off and on all night long. Cin will go periodically and bump him to make him swim. Then she will leave him alone. I think I am going to try the super glue and small rock on his tummy. Trying to decide now.

[Jackie Ramo]

Cinn I watched the video you sent me... he isn't swimming properly at all, he isn't using at least one fin and I don't think he is using his tail. When I compare him to Cinn swimming beside him he looks awkward and jerky while she is gaceful and uses her tail a lot when swimming.

Can't find a way to post the movie here or on my website. I've emailed it to Terri.

[Cinnamon]

Jackie I am so proud to say it is 5 am and I just went out and checked on him. I was so worried all night afraid he wasn't going to make it. It was so sweet watching Cinn yesterday. All day long she would let him rest then go nudge him to have him swim with her. She stayed pretty much by his side. It was an amazing site. We drove to Beaumont last night to Petsmart and bought an aquarium heater. The temp in the QT tank is now 63F. He is not floating any more. I posted 54 yesterday when it was 56F. By the time Heiko got home it had climbed to 60 without the heater in it. I ran the heater in the shop most of the day. I will check on him in a couple hours again. But it sure looks like he is going to make it! :grin: :smile:

It is now 6 am and he is still not floating! He is swimming a little funny but not near like he was! So now it has been 3.5 hrs he has not floated bottom side up! I sure hope he continues to progress. I will post the progress. Does it sound like I slept any last night? :lol: You know how it is when you have sick kids :wink:

[Terri]

I couldn't open the video...

Good news Cin :grin: very happy for you that he's made a turn around!

[Busy B]

Glad it's a good ending :wink:

I had a couple fantails in the pond but as soon as the temp dropped they slowed down alot! Much to cold for them outside. Comets and shub's don't seem to be bothered with 50 temps but the fantails can't take it.

Also had one that ended up in my DIY skimmer. Top part of him, dryed out and he lost most of his scales and back portion of his fins...Little trooper he is, came thru with a bit of salt and warm temps. Scales have grown back nicely and the tail is getting longer.

[Jackie Ramo]

Pam, looks like you have company for the winter. Glad to see he is improving.

Terri the video is quicktime

[Cinnamon]

I just checked on him again. He is still swimming at the bottom and upright. He is not laying on his side or anything. I will take a video of him later and send to you Jackie. I am so releaved!

Busy wow that is great that yours made it. I plan on bringing them in my shop in the winter from here on out! I got to thinking and why they made it so well last year is that we didn't have prolonged cold weather like we are having this year. We would have a cold snap and 2 days later it would be in the 70s once again.

Heiko was even happy when he went out this morning before work. I may try to feed them a little broccoli later. They temps are about where I can feed them food now. I know Cin is hungry :lol: She is always hungry!

[Busy B]

He'll be back to normal in no time with the warmer temps...

Mine would die if I left them outside..no way they could handle the cold.

Inside I have a heater.

My oldest left me all of her gfish when she moved..they keep me entertained while I'm on the computer :grin:

[Cinnamon]

I am proud to announce Rem (the fish haha ) ate some food. You may think I am crazy but Cin ( the fish ) is a great nurse! Not only would she make his swim but now she pushed him up to get him to eat! I am still in shock over her behavior. And "some" people say fish are not smart? I beg to tell you differently. I just wanted to share that with you!

:smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

Do you mean Rem the man, doesn't like your cooking :wink: Glad the fish is doing better

Looked at the second video and he is still not swimming as well as he should. Cinn wasn't swimming in this one and the glare and bubbles made it hard but one pectoral fin doesn't seem to work and he swims in a tight circle. May improve with more warm.

[Jackie Ramo]

Hows the fish doing now, has he straighted out complete? What is the water temp?