u/Acrobatic_Version_41

i’ve gotten all my goldfish (except for one) from the same LFS. they always end up developing dropsy or some kind of swim bladder issue. i’m really tired of spending money and getting attached and putting in so much work if they’re all going to have the same issues in the long run. i keep my water parameters perfect, feed them a good diet and they always end of having problems.

i’ve kind of come to the conclusion that it’s the LFS because the one fish i didn’t get from that place i got when i was on vacation in florida, saw him in a fish store and brought him home on a 7 hour car ride and 3 years later he’s had no issues. he’s outlived every other fish that was in the tank before him, and outlived every fish i put in after him, besides the other cuties in the photo.

i just want to find a reliable breeder. i’m not really looking for very overbred round bodied or “show quality” goldfish either, i’m looking for ones that will be healthy in the long run. or if anyone in georgia knows of any good LFS in the area ?

I posted about my boy kaufmo a few times now, but it seems his swim bladder issues have gotten very bad. at first, anytime i’d feed him (strictly frozen food now) he’d float upside down at the top of the tank and then sink to the bottom and get stuck. he’s been given epsom salt baths and peas which really helped him, but only for a short duration. it seemed like anytime i fed him anything that wasn’t a pea he’d float upside-down at first and then the next morning he’d be sunken. (repashy, bloodworms, other frozen food like brine shrimp, greens, rarely sinking pellets)
giving him peas after he began floating was very beneficial for him and seemed to completely resolve the issue until he was fed again

about 3 days ago he’s been sunken at the bottom and nothing is helping him. i’m really desperate, he’s my favorite fish and i had a fish that had the same issues and was stuck sunken for the rest of his life before he eventually passed. i just don’t want him to go down the same path, and i feel so bad watching him stuck at the bottom like an anchor. when he started to sink again was actually during a fast so tht makes me even more confused because he hadn’t consumed anything prior to when he began to sink again unless he was nibbling on plants.

i know he’s probably prone to it, he’s a poorly bred ryukin with a short body that came from a LFS that always seems to have troubled fish. (same fish store that the other fish i had also had negative buoyancy issues leading to his passing) he still tries to be active, i wouldn’t say lethargic as he eats peas out of my hand and tries to wiggle to me when i go up to the tank. it’s just making me upset and i feel useless not being able to help him.

size:75g
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:10-15
stocked with 2 other fancies

would increasing the water temperature help him if it has something to do with constipation? the water is currently pretty cold, at about 66, not sure if rising it to 70’s will be any help or just make it worse as i’ve heard many differing opinions about keeping fancies in heated tanks. i’ve began fasting him and will continue to do so for atleast 3-5 days with a daily 30 min epsom salt bath and then feed peas after the fasting to see if there’s any improvement. i gave him two epsom salt baths today an only saw one small thick poop after i took him out. he’s still stuck at the bottom. he’s not on his side though, he’s just bottom sitting and continuously tries to swim to the top, spits bubbles out everywhere and aggressively shuts his mouth but sinks right back down.

any advice will help!! i’m really desperate to make this guy a happy swimmer again :(

did someone shoot this deer in the face? there was another skull also missing half its face and i’m just curious if it was from a bullet or something else