The 5 Most Common Goldfish Diseases and Treatments
Goldfish are quite hardy, but all the selective breeding that goes into creating fancy goldfish does come with a few downsides. One of them is the fact that fancy goldfish are more prone to certain health issues.
Prevention Vs. Cure
While it’s essential to know the treatments for these diseases, prevention is always a better strategy. A clean tank, proper filtration, regular water changes, and a balanced diet can prevent most common goldfish diseases. Stress is a significant factor that can make fish susceptible to illnesses.
By avoiding diseases in the first place, you save yourself the heartache and hassle of treating sick fish. You also ensure a happier, healthier life for your aquatic pets. A little preventative care can go a long way in keeping your goldfish disease-free!
Vitally important to prevention of disease: Keep the substrate super clean (best: don’t use substate) and do a 50 to 90 percent water change weekly.
Below: Oranda Goldfish
Disease: Ich (White Spot Disease)
Symptoms
Tiny white spots on fins and body, fish rubbing against objects.
Treatment – Increase water temperature slightly for a short period, use specialized Ich treatments available at pet stores.
Disease: Dropsey
Symptoms
Bloating, scales sticking out (making fish look like a pinecone).
Treatment
This is often a sign of internal bacterial infection. Antibiotics might help, but prognosis is often poor.
Fin Rot
Symptoms
Fraying, disintegrating, or discolored fins, sometimes white edges.
Treatment
Improve water quality, apply antibacterial fish treatments.
Fungus
Symptoms
Cotton-like growths on skin, loss of appetite.
Treatment
Anti-fungal medications, improve water quality.
Swim Bladder Disease
Image By Humanfeather / Michelle Jo – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10174720
Symptoms
Fish has difficulty swimming, might float upside down or on its side.
Treatment
Feed a high-fiber diet, like peas, and consider fasting the fish for a day or two.
Other pages on this site:
⇒ How to keep freshwater shrimp
⇒ 10 fast growing plants to help control algae in the planted aquarium
⇒ Taking photos of your aquarium using your smartphone
⇒ Aquarium Hobbyist Books & Gifts
⇒ My Top 3 Steps To Have Healthy Fish and A Healthy Aquarium
Author Bio: Don Glasgow - creator of this site
* I've been keeping fish for 24 years, including Discus, Angelfish, Betta Fish, Tiger Barbs, Bristlenose Plecos, Zebra Danios and many, many more.
* I've have been keeping planted aquariums for 23 of those 24 years. Plants I've kept include Java Fern, Sword Plants, Rosette Sword and many more.
Healthy Fish and A Healthy Aquarium
Goldfish as a food fish
Ammonia in your aquarium fish tank
I suspect that if you’re reading this; you have an ammonia problem in your aquarium already (bad luck). That said, I’ll help you as much as I can for your sake and the sake of your fish (good luck)."