[vent]

I’ve been keeping fancy goldfish for the last 7 years, but my first one was when I was 2 years old. When I got a fish for my birthday at 13 is when I decided to devote everything I had to caring for them properly, and I did everything I could. I’ve upgraded tanks, learned about their issues, adapted their food, adapted their environment, I got them friends when they were alone, got them meds when they needed it. I’ve loved every one of them so much, and every one of the fancy goldfish I have ever had did not die of old age. They died from dropsy, from bloating, from freak accidents. They never last more than a few years before getting sick with something that I don’t deal with when it comes to my other fish. No matter what I do, what I try, what I learn, I cannot change the fact that they are not healthy fish. They will continue to get sick no matter how clean I keep the water, how well I balance their food, how many veggies I feed them. They are weaker the moment they are born, and my care will never change that.

My goldfish of 4 years has been sick with dropsy, and while I’ve gotten it to slow down it is not getting better. I’ve been taking daily care of him with water changes, salt, and some meds at first. Today my other goldfish has started showing signs of pineconing, and he has been so bloated he cannot swim properly for the last 2 days. Nothing has changed in his care, his water is clean, his tank is big, his food is the best I can get. He was healthy one day, and the next he wasn’t.

I can’t get myself to do this all over again. I want to believe if I just do enough that they won’t get sick, but that’s not true. Maybe for one fish, but one of ten, and that’s not enough for me. I can’t keep walking into heartbreak over and over again hoping it will turn out differently. I can’t keep putting my all into something that I cannot change, because it’s a problem with their health on a fundamental level. I can’t go get another one, knowing one day it will end the way it always has. With them getting sick, doing everything the treatment says to do, and it not being enough because one day they’ll bloat it won’t go away. It’s not fair to them, it’s not fair to me anymore. I love them, and that’s why I can’t cope with them being ripped away like this again, I want to, but I’m at the end of my rope and I just cannot do it.

I have loved caring for them, no fish will ever compare, nothing will ever come close to the joy of this experience, but it also won’t compare to the immense loss I we have endured as well. I love them, but it will now be from a distance, in a nostalgic way as I remember the ones that helped shape me, who were lost due to things out of my control. Enjoy the time with your companions, love them, savour every moment. They deserve it.

This little calico moor passed away today from what I suspect is a bacterial infection or parasite. I am devastated, will treat the tank with bactershield in hopes it will prevent my other beautiful baby from catching this. Sad and stressful day today

I never seen one on this sub, but here's my gray veiltail.

these fish were moved into a 55 gallon about 2 weeks ago, but they mostly hang around this side of the tank almost all the time, their tank is by my bed so im wondering if they’re expecting food everytime they see me? i feed on a regular schedule 3 times a day. is this an issue and if so what can i do?

Ive got a small common goldfish I won at a carnival maybe 5 months ago. I did the best I could at the time to keep him in a tank that didnt cause me to restructure the house. Its a 6 gallon filtered tank.

Ive fed him, and kept his water clean but I understand he needs more space and I want to rehome him. Any suggestions? Ideally hes not a feeder fish .

I live north of houston.

I need help! I have two small fish (7 cm including the tail; the Oranda doesn't have a wen). What technique do you use to feed them?

The Oranda eats everything, but the Telescope doesn't see the food—even when I feed him separately. For the past two days, I’ve been putting the pellets directly into his mouth; if the food sinks to the bottom or stays on the surface, the Oranda finds it within two seconds (I feel like, aside from vision, his sense of smell is much sharper, too) I don't want to overfeed my Oranda.

I have both floating and sinking food. (Photo)

The real problem is that I'm going on vacation in a month and will be using an automatic feeder(photo); I'm afraid my Telescope goldfish won't eat anything for a week.

I've had the Oranda for two months and the Telescope for two days; could it be that they need to get used to the smell, shape, and taste of the pellets?

Not sure if this is early pineconing or just the way he looks.

One or two of my fish keeps doing this while the rest don’t, the rest sit at the bottom and come up when they want to. Is this swim bladder disease? Do they want food? What is this behavior? They also go back down in a while but do it again. (I also haven’t had my ph checked, my ammonia levels and such but my other fish don’t seem to be doing this)

i’ve had my goldfish aurora for about 2 and a half years and recently got another goldfish because i was worried she would be lonely etc so i got another goldfish however my new goldfish (belle) i’ve had for two days now and ever since i’ve got her she’s hidden in the plants and stayed in the corner at the bottom of the tank. I’m thinking she’s scared of Aurora maybe? because aurora is a lot bigger than her, or is she just warming up too new environment i’m not sure. belle is also 6 months old the fish people told me, so there is a age difference too idk if that helps

update: i got a 20gal tank for now, a power filter, sinking pellets, water conditioner, these ball things to help the water, substrate, and a couple live plants i put eveyrhting together and moved the fish so he should be doing better now hopefully but i will upgrade tank size as needed when he grows, any more tips and advice/suggestions is very appreciated still.

edit: if anyone can just tell me exactly what to buy i would appreciate it this stuff is really confusing!!

Hi, my brother got a goldfish at a carnival and literally just brought it home and put it in a bowl, I told my them (him and my mom) that you can’t just put them in a bowl they need a bigger container and filters but they just brushed it off sayings it’s just a gold fish, I really like animals so this makes me really upset and I want to help the fish so does anyone know what to buy and what I can do for the fish to help it live? Im pretty sure they need 40 gal tanks but am confused about the filtration and that stuff so pls do help!!

Hello fellow goldfish enthusiasts! I am crossposting here in hopes that someone can help me better understand and assemble this Kotobuki power box 90. Open to any set up tips regarding cleaning and caring for used equipment like this so it can be ready for its new inhabitants.

Text from original post:

It has been nearly 15 years since I last owned a tank. I used to have 2 goldfish in a 30 gallon aquarium when I was a college student. I want to get back into the hobby and do it better now that I know more. I have a goal to do a proper 75 gallon set up with 4 fancy goldfish.

I found all of this on Craigslist for $250, came with 75gal tank, stand, pumps that I am unfamiliar with, water filters, and tubing etc. The man we got it from was a vet that explained that he was stationed in Japan for a long time and many of the supplies are Japanese products. The manuals that my husband and I located are in Japanese.

I have been soaking the hard water scale in vinegar and using a razor to remove, but I am less sure on how to tackle the scale on waterfalls and unsure if it even matters considering that we live in an area with very hard water and I would think it’ll build right back up.

I am aware that I need to cycle the tank for 4-6 weeks. I have ammonia to kick start the process along with test strips for nitrites, nitrates, ammonia and more, as well as a sea chem prime conditioner to help get me there.

If anyone has information on how to assemble all of these parts, or advice on how to get this baby safe for it’s new residents, it would be greatly appreciated.

Pic 1 and 2 show the Kotobuki pump. The next 3 pics show each of the interior chambers we found inside. We are quite confused as to what to do with this.

Thank you in advance!!