Frequently Asked Questions: Goldfishes’ Health Issues

With a few articles written on Goldfish and common fishes’ health care, I suppose one can’t have enough questions and answers. Here are some of the frequently asked questions on Goldfishes’ Health.

Q. I keep goldfish in a tank, is a chiller needed to control the water temperature, since it can get very warm in the day?

A. Goldfish can be kept in temperatures between 24°C and 28°C. If the room temperature rises beyond this point, it would be a good idea to install a chiller.

Q. My goldfish have white patches on their bodies. Are they white spots?

A. White spots, or ich, are the result of a protozoan infection, which is parasitic in nature. It appears as tiny white spots on the body of the infected fish. In severe cases, it can appear as if the fish has been peppered with salt.

If your goldfishes’ condition matches the above description, they’ve got an ich infection. If not, a check if the white patches look smooth, corrugated or ulcerated, and whether the patch has bloody streaks or the scales have dropped.

If it is smooth with no ulceration, it may just be normal pigmentation. If the patches appear cottony, ulcerated and bloody, it may be an open wound with secondary fungal or bacterial infection. In this case, treat the problem immediately with anti-fungal or anti-bacterial medication which can get from any aquarium shop. More about treating Ich here.

Q. Why is it that my goldfish seem so timid and frightened when I switch on the tank’s light?

A. Fish get frightened if you suddenly turn on the aquarium light, especially if the tank is located in a room without much light. What you can do is to turn on the light in the room first, and wait couple of minutes more before turning on the tank lights.

Q. My goldfish has a skin growth on its upper eyelid. It seems to have difficulty seeing as it keeps swimming into the glass. Is it because it is old? It is still very active. What shall I do?

A. Some varieties of goldfish, such as the lionhead, have natural growths on their heads that get bigger as they age. In some cases, the growth can become a hindrance to its vision. However, if your goldfish is active and feeding well, there’s no need to worry about it.

Q. One of my goldfish turned white in recent weeks. What’s gone wrong?

A. It could be a natural loss of pigmentation that has made your goldfish turn white. Some goldfish, as they grow, have this tendency. The white patch should look smooth and the scales should look normal without any raised edge. The white patch may start as a small spot and then slowly grow larger. Your goldfish should still maintain its normal activity and appetite. If this is the case, there is nothing to worry about.

What you should be worried about is if the whitish patch is a sign of an infection, be it parasitic or bacterial in nature. In such cases, the patch is rough with irregular edges. Some of the scales in that area could be raised or lost.

With bacterial infection, there may be ulceration, and the affected area will have bloody streaks. The white patch may grow rapidly, or there may be many similar white patches developing. Bacterial infection could be a primary cause, or a secondary cause to a prior parasitic infection

Your goldfish may also become listless and possibly experience a loss of appetite as well. You may have to start treatment soon or the fish will die.

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