Help save my goldie

[WaterPond]

I found my faovrite little lionhead yesterday, he was stuck to the side of my pond pump. He was struggling to be set free. The pump sucked a few scales of the side of him, and also made a large lump on him. I think it pulled some bones out from his ribcage. His pectoral fin was badly damaged to the point where he couldent move it. His gil plate was also damaged a bit.

I brought him inside and put him in a 10gallon with an air driven filter. I have treated him with pimafix and melafix and came hom from school today to find his entire side covered with a white fuzz... which should not happen because isnt the medication supposed to stop fungus' and such from growing...

anyhow, i did a 95% water change and added desafin this time. Right after i added the desafin, the fungus all fell off, including his fin (which was no longer useful to him anyhow)

He seems to be doing ok, and i was just wondering if there were any tips which could help him heal with minimal pain and discomfort. I love this little guy and he means alot to me. I would hate to loose him, and i just want to know of ways to prevent fungus/infections from returning.

[Katalyst]

Geeze I'm so sorry to hear about your lionhead Jason. Is there anyway you can get a photo of him? Is there an actual hole in his side that exposes his muscles/flesh? You can swab the hole with hydrogen peroxide as long as it does not get into the eyes or gills. I'd suggest salting the tank over a 72 hour period to a concentration of 0.3% this will reduce the osmotic pressure on the sore, stimulate the slime coat and help fight infection. Make sure to use: aquarium salt, pickling salt, solar salt, rock salt, pool salt. Do not use table salt, most use anti caking agents which are deadly to goldfish. To add the correct salt dosage you will to add 1 TEAspoon per gallon 3 times over a period of 72 hours.

Using a 10 gallon tank as an example:

Add 10 teaspoons of dissolved salt water-0.1%
12 hours later add another 10 teaspoons of dissolved salt water-0.2%
12 hours later add the final 10 teaspoons of dissolved salt water-0.3%

I use clean bucket add the salt amount needed and then boil some water add the boiling water to the bucket let it sit about a half hour or so. You can add some tank water to cool it down. Make sure you remove enough water from the tank so you can add all 3 treatments of salt. Make sure you dissolve the salt as it can burn fish scales if it is added directly to the tank. The salt will also help with the tail issue as well.

I am not familiar with desafin and am trying to find out info on it at the moment. Before adding the salt treatment it would be best to make sure desafin is safe to use with salt. I'm not a huge fan of chemicals for one reason, medication eats up oxygen, but sometimes it is necessary. Can you add a heater to his tank? I'd bring the temp slowly over the next day or so to 78 to help out the immune system a bit.

If you have some krill on hand I'd try to feed him some as it very nutritious and will help the little guy out even if he only has a little bit.

I can pop some medi gold food in the mail to you, just pm your address. I know a lot of people aren't fans of medicated food but this food has worked miracles for me in the past with fish rescues and everyone I know who keeps goldies will swear by it as well.

Hope this helps, feel free to pm me anytime.

[WaterPond]

aacck, i just used the last of my aquarium salt! I have marine salt though, i doubt that will work because it has calcium and such...

I do in fact have krill. It's my clownfish's favorite food. Somehow i dont think the lionhead will eat it though. He seems... not interested in alot of things.

The muscles are exposed in a few spots... i will get a picture. It is not looking as bad as it used to, but it doesnt look great. The area around where his fin used to be is looking horrible.

...getting picture... Its a bit of a disturbing picture. Not for those who have a weak stomach... i myself find it hard to look at. I just feel so bad for him.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l117/WaterPond/goldie.jpg

i hope that pic is ok. BTW... its not the water thats cloudy.. its the glass. I really wish i cleaned that tank before adding it to the rack.

So... i will try feeding krill, i will do lots of water changes, i will call my parents who are in town right now to see if they can pick my up some aquarium salt... and i will call the doctor (kat) as soon as this case develops further. I might take you up on the medicated food offer, i just have to see what my parents say about giving out my address:rolleyes:

I really really really really truly and greatly appreciate the help. Anything i can ever do for you kat, just ask.

[Katalyst]

No problems Jason, and actually your lionhead doesn't look as bad as I expected him to look. Tommorrow the sore should start to have a bluish hue to it, this is a good thing. The edges may turn white and threadlike tommorrow, also okay. It is a sign of healing. Personally I'd salt the tank, add a heater and if possible add maracyn 2 to the tank. The salt will take the pressure off the wound, the meds will fight the bacteria and help increase appetite, but you can hold off on the meds unless he gets worse. Seeing where the wound is I'd be nervous about using peroxide but that's your call.

I'm no doctor but I have had my share of resuces/injuries.

Keep that water pristine and any changes you do add the salt back in and keep us posted.

Fingers crossed for you Jason.

[WaterPond]

I just feel like a horrible fishkeeper. I have neglected my pond so much this summer. Who knows how long he could have been there! It could have been close to a week, as my mom was feeding them every night and i didnt even go and check on them.

I hope he makes a good recovery. Im scared for him.

[Katalyst]

I just feel like a horrible fishkeeper. I have neglected my pond so much this summer. Who knows how long he could have been there! It could have been close to a week, as my mom was feeding them every night and i didnt even go and check on them.

I hope he makes a good recovery. Im scared for him.

I know at times like this its hard to not blame yourself but give yourself a break Jason, especially with school just starting. You are a wonderful fishkeeper, if you weren't you wouldn't be here asking how to help him. Hang in there kiddo, we're all pulling for you!

[Melody]

I'm sorry to hear that he's under the weather. Its odd that he would get stuck to the filter, that usually only happens with weakened fish, so be on the lookout for something else brewing. Any chance of 'coons in the area?

I hope he feels better soon!

[grumpystiltskin]

Awesome info kat:thumbup:

Good luck with your fish jason

[CACAdmin]

Best of luck with him WaterPond. I sure hope he does ok.

[WaterPond]

Coons, yeah, But i was podering if a heron got him. About two weeks ago a friendly heron was at the pondside. I stole my bubble eyes away from me, along with a red capped oranda, a four year old feeder goldie, a god knows how old commet... and a few others, post is too murky to tell.

Last time a heron came it took my absolute foavorite fish... a 11" shubunkin, which was close to 7 years old :(

[Melody]

What a rough Summer. Its too bad that nature can't differentiate between food and pets.

Its good news though - injury is better than thinking that he may be brewing a serious internal infection that weakened him. There's more chance of recovery. I would definitly try to pick up some aquarium salt - it will help him heal faster.

[WaterPond]

I did get the salt... i was going to start dosing today. I went downstairs to do a waterchange... and i found him dead... crap :(

[Katalyst]

Sorry to hear that Jason. I know this won't help but you did do everything you could for him and he spent his remaining time in good clean water being looked after rather then outside. Hopefully in the near future I'll have some goldie fry and I'll send you some little new little monsters to look after. Or you could just go on a bender and get some new goldies locally. :;): You are a great fishkeeper and this happens to the best of em. I have a friend who owns a pond company and sells show koi for a very hefty pricetag, this exact scenario has happened to him as well. Part of fishkeeping is constantly learning something new and trying new things.

Feel better kiddo, I just found a few new oddities myself and will put you on the top of the fry list. :)

[thegrandpoohbah]

Sorry to hear that you lost him. We've all been there, unfortunately it's just part of the hobby.

[ChrissyFishy]

Sorry you lost him.:no:

[Melody]

Aawww man! Well you certainly tried anyway, sorry to hear that it didn't go well.

[traco1]

Jason, sorry to hear he passed away.

[CACAdmin]

Sorry to hear the sad news. It's upsetting, I know but you did your best.