My goldfish was sick – had been laying on the bottom of the tank without moving for days (3 days?). Upon changing the water I looked at him closely, and found that he was all puffed out on one side, it was really scary looking.
I was going to euthanize him.
Looked online. Webpages said goldfish often get constipated, especially when eating protein heavy flakes and nothing else. They said to add epsom salts to the water.
Weirdest remedy for a fish. But since I thought he was dead anyway, I spent the 60 cents – or whatever it was – for epsom salts. Added just a few grains.
Within a few hours he was moving. Today, 24 hours into treatment, he’s swimming around and happy, swelling almost gone.
I am putting my goldfish in salt water. And it is making him happy.
Weirdest, cheapest, most effective fish treatment I’ve ever, ever used.
I am so glad you checked the net before giving up on your fish! I have read that bettas like a little aquarium salt. One of these days i am going to try it. I wonder if goldfish do too.
actually as strange as it sounds…the salt treatment does not suprise me too much. when i was at one of the fish store we frequent, i was speaking with the worker about freshwater cichlids and if it would be possible to convert our small tank to a freshwater tank. in the discussion, i asked about water quality and using 100% pure RO water…and i was told no. he said that freshwater has quite a bit of salinity and the fish do better with a bit of salt (you can buy “freshwater salt” or “lake salt”).
and a treatment for saltwater fish with parasites is a freshwater dip…take fishy out of saltwater, dip in freshwater for 3-5 seconds (temp should match tank)…fish starts to panic cuz that whole lack of salinity thing, but the parasites can’t stand it and pop off as they die…place fish back into saltwater …we have not had to do this so far, thank god poor fishy
much glad your fish is feeling better and there was no swirling burial
Ah well.
I though the goldfish was all better, so I went back to the regular bowl changing schedule – stopped the daily change.
About 10 days later (not 10 days without a water change, just no longer daily changes) he died.
Maybe unrelated; there was a large red sore near one of his fins.
In any case. He is buried near the stream outside. With a little fish symbol made from rocks, which you can see if someone pointed it tou to you.
Anyway. We all enjoyed his reprieve, but it didn’t last.
Thanks for all the happy words before. Just thought you should know what happened next.
🙁