HELP!! Can anyone help me with treatment for my son's goldfish??

Question

My son's goldfish has had swimbladder problems for some time, however it has been manageable. However, since Sunday (now Friday), he has been at the bottom of the bowl unable to move at all except for an occasional flutter of his fins. His tail riises up, but his head just stays lying on the gravel.I tried fasting him, however it has not worked and he hasn't eaten now since Sunday since he can't rise to the top to get his food. I presoaked some pellets and pushed them near his mouth with a straw, but he isn't interested in eating and just lies there. Does anyone have any quick fix remedies? I have heard of feeding him peas, but he won't eat. I have already put some salt in the water about 1 hour ago, but that hasn't seemed to help either. Any other suggestions???

Answer 1

There may be liquid or tablet medications to remedy your situation through the water.  Check your local petstore.

:]

Answer 2

Ive seen this before, this happened to my friend's fish and the only thing he could think of was to tie a piece of styrofoam or another floatation device around his fish so it could swim. Im not sure if its a permanent fix, but it should work until proper medical treatment is given.

Answer 3

Have you had your water tested yet or tested it yourself?

Sometimes ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates can be the cause for your fish to behave the way he does.

Pet shops usually do those tests free of charge.

Also, goldfish need a lot of oxygen.

You could try to pick him up with a net and gently move him about in his bowl, trying to give him some.

I personally prefer at least a little tank (my son has a 5.5 gallon (UK gallon that is) tank for 2 goldfish and they are still young, we told him that once they start getting bigger we move them into a bigger tank) and that tank has a full filtration and pump system.

I hope your fish is going to be okay and that I could help at least a little.

Keep me updated on how it goes.

Answer 4

there are tablets that help with swim bladder they usually work better then its an early sign of swim bladder so at such a late stage he might die before it starts to help.

http://petco.com/product/3347/Jungle-Fun...

good luck! i hope your fish gets better

Answer 5

Goldfish don't have a very long life in a fish bowl....a ten gallon tank will work well, with a filtration system and some lighting....I don't think this one will make it however...salt won't help it, nor will green peas; You could medicate it with some of the fish meds available, but I think that would be a waste money....this poor guy is suffering pretty much, I think and the best thing would be to put it out of its misery. There are many ways to do this, and none of them are good....It sounds that nature may take its course soon enough...leave the poor thing alone for a couple of days, and that should do it....if you want to get another one for your son, do yourself a favor and spring for a 10 gal tank set up, they're usually not too expensive and can be found at walmart...

Answer 6

Get a new goldfish when hes out and tell him he healed and went on a diet/got fat.

Or.. Get him two.. Its a fricken goldfish, not a puppy.

Answer 7

first off, goldfish need at least 20 gallons and a strong filter, not a bowl. So if the swim bladder does not killhim, a growth stunt will! He really needs AT LEAST a 10 gallon tank, 20 would be best. If you want something else to put in the bowl, a betta would do good, still. Here is why bowls are bad- http://www.animalfreedom.org/english/inf...

Feed him a shelled pea once a day every day and he will get better! I am not trying to be rude, and I know that you do not know bowls are killers, but e-mail me with any more questions!

Edit:Mikey man, y r u even on Fish section if your gonna bash people for caring about a living creature? Seriously. Grow up .