Vet Q&A-Fish

My oscars fish is lying at the bottom of the tank and rarely eating anything What should i do

These are quite concerning but generic signs. The approach must be logic but quite radical at the same time. Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. Clinical examination should always include a water quality check, even if you have done so already. Water testing should be performed with a quality test kit, measuring NH4, NO2 and NO3. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for these signs. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, your fish should get examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hey! Lately I have seen my Betta Fish lay on its side at the bottom of its fish tank. I’ve had this fish for almost 3 years and I’ve given it about 4-5 crumbs of fish food a day. My fish is lying on its side at the bottom of the tank and it sits there for a few hours and than moves to a different spot and lies on its side again, I do not know what I’m doing wrong, at first I assumed it was dead. My fish also has foggy eyes and has trouble swimming up to the surface. Please help.

He is "old" for a Betta. Check the water chemistry and temperature. You can use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78 F and 80 F. The cloudy eyes may be due to infection. Maintaining pristine water quality will help, but you may need a broad spectrum antibiotic as well. Look in the aquarium section of the local Petco for medication. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. Even with treatment, there may be permanent damage to the eyes if the condition has been chronic. The "laying down" is sometimes seen even in healthy fish. They may choose to lay on gravel or the broad leaf of a plant. It may also indicate infection or injury though. If hebisbhavibg difficulty reaching the surface, decrease the water level to make it easier. Bettas need to surface occasionally to get some air.

My fish tank LED light broke. Is using an LED flashlight safe for the fish?

Hello, and thanks for contacting Boop by Petco. Yes, the light itself is safe as long as 1) you secure the flashlight in such a way that you can be 100% certain it cannot fall into the tank, and 2) the flashlight doesn't create excessive heat.

Is it ok to feed a fish based dog food long term because of the possible toxin and mercury levels? Please explain thanks!

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! As long as it is a good quality diet, these levels are usually kept to a minimum to the point that it is ok to eat it longterm. I recommend brands such as Royal Canin, Purina and Science Diet. Good luck and have a good night!

my dog was just diagnosed with arthritis and the vet recommended fish oil vitamins. I gave him one about an hour ago and just saw that it also contains 1,000 iu of vitamin D. I read that too much vitamin D is very harmful for dogs will he be ok??? he weighs about 110 pounds.

The amount that he ingested is not considered toxic. Calculated, he ingested approximately 0.025mg of vitamin D and toxic doses for this size of a dog would potentially start at 5mg. He will be absolutely fine! I would recommend fish oil products such as welactin or Krillex krill oil treats.

I have two male fish guppies. One of them seems to have like a wired black spot on its belly (in the middle of its body). Is this normal? Could it be a disease? Any cure to this? I’m worried. Also it has a little bit of white on its tail :(

This looks like a natural pigment spot, he is colored that way. This is not a disease. I cannot really see the white on his tail, but unless the white spot increases in size or your fish gets more white spots, this may be normal coloring.

Hi..I wanted to know if rice is safe for cats or not..? What other human food can I feed a stray cat..? I have been feeding whiskas mixed with rice to this stray cat and home made cooked fish and chicken after cleaning them with water to remove the spices present in it..thank you.

Hello, rice it is safe to be given to cats and also what you have been feeding is fine. Common food that cats can’t have : onion, garlic, tomatoes, spices, hope this helps ! Fish and meat are all fine, but remove fish bones and meat bones first. Hope this helps !

What is the average cost to take a goldfish to the vet for bubble disease?

A veterinarian specializing in aquatics may charge $50 to $100 for an exam. Fees can vary widely depending on geographic location and clinic. "Bubble" disease, or swim bladder disease, may be caused by poor water quality, constipation or infection (bacterial or parasites). You may be able to manage it at home. Check water chemistry using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. pH should be as close to 7 as possible and water temp can range from 65 F to 72 F. Goldfish are cold water fish. If necessary, perform a partial water change to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Fast your goldfish for 2-3 days. Resume feeding bits of cooked and shelled peas until swimming and defecation are normal. If needed, a broad spectrum antibiotic can be used to treat any infection. Find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

My 10 gal freshwater tank has been infected with ich. I am treating the tank, but still my fish are dying. If I were to just clean it out and start over with fresh water, new substrate, and a clean tank, would that get rid of the ich? Can I clean it with a chemical when it is empty to totally kill the ich? How do I get rid of the Ich!?!

First, perform a partial water change, vacuum gravel thoroughly and wipe down any tank furniture. This is critical because clean water is the cornerstone for treatment and recovery. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Next, you can use any one of the commercial ich medications, such as Ich Guard (Tetra), Super Ick Cure (API) or Rid Ich Plus (Kordon). These can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully. This method will typically work with most fish. Another option would be to use plain aquarium salt ( NOT table or Epsom salt). Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. At the same time, gradually increase the water temp to about 86 F. Hold it there for 14 days. The warm temps will speed up the life cycle of the parasite and the salt will kill it. Afterwards, gradually reduce water temp and perform another partial water change. You can break down the tank, but you would need to cycle the tank all over again. This can take weeks. To prevent infection, purchase only healthy fish. ideally, they should be quarantines in a separate tank for at least 2 weeks before being added to the main tank. Keep the tank clean, monitor chemistry and perform regular water changes.