Fish Q&A: Real Answers from Vet Experts

So my little dog ate half a bag of hot and spicy cheez its, and half a bag of gold fish while I was away.. she has never had anything spicy or really salty! What will this do to her? Should I be overly concerned??

You may see some stomach upset (vomiting or diarrhea) in the next few hours. As long as Miska is behaving normally, you can try withholding food for 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Transition slowly to the regular diet afterwards. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, persistent vomiting or diarrhea and abdominal pain. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

My fish are dying,Had other fish in there before these new one but now so far the new one are dying. what to do.

Check the water chemistry first. Use a home test kit or submit a sample of water for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee for. High ammonia or nitrite levels can be toxic to fish. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20ppm or less. Perform a partial water change, if indicated, to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Check the water temperature as well, confirming it is appropriate for your species of fish.

One of my goldfish’s eye seems to be swollen while the other one looks fine. I’m not sure if it popeye or if it was just n injury. What should I do to help bring done the swelling?

It could be "pop eye". This can be caused by infection or trauma (aggression or from tank furniture). Treatment will include medication and maintaining pristine water quality. Goldfish produce a larger than average bio load (wastes) which can quickly overwhelm a tank and filter. Ideally, one goldfish should have 20 gallons of water and 10 additional gallons should be added per extra fish. The filter should be rated for at least twice the volume of the tank. Check water chemistry using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65F and 72F. A broad spectrum antibiotic can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. These include erythromycin, tetracycline or kanamycin. Brands include Kanaplex, Maracyn , FishMox or FishCillin. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

I live in Hawaii and was told that I didn’t need a heater for my baby beta fish. I still find my fish to be very lethargic and unable to swim properly. What should I do.

Bettas are tropical fish and do best in water between 78 F and 80 F. A heater is typically required to maintain stable temperature. Rapid fluctuations in temp can be stressful. You should also check the water quality and chemistry. Poor water quality can cause the symptoms described. Filtration and regular partial water changes are necessary to keep a tank clean.

My female betta fish has a white ring around her eye. Is this a early stage of popeye?

Thanks for reaching out about Minn and including photos, although the lesion can not be identified through the pictures. Is the eye protruding more than the other? Popeye can be caused by multiple problems including an infection, mass behind the eye, increased intra-ocular pressure and more. Many of these are difficult to treat but none of the over-the-counter remedies work. Test and correct water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Review diet as pellets/flakes should be purchased every 3 months as vitamins (especially vitamin C) degrade quickly. If continues to progress, a veterinary visit with an experiences aquatic veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

I have a wolf fish that seems to be sick. He is upside down in the tank now for 24 hrs. He is still breathing but seems to bee struggling. I have increased the temp in the tank and added aquarium salt. I have added a bacterial and fungal treatment today into the tank. I have used some moss to prop him up correctly in hopes this will help him. What would u suggest? Please help.

Thanks for reaching out about Wolfy. Floating upside down is a serious concern, possibly involving the swim bladder or intestinal tract. Typically additives to the water are not absorbed systemically but the salt might help decrease osmotic imbalances in the body. A radiograph could help determine if fluid is filling the swim bladder, and then systemic antibiotics could be administered, probably vi injections. Good luck.

My fish tank got infested with pink algae and green algae and the fish are acting lethargic and dying.

Check the water chemistry using 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. Rinse the filter media in tank water, not tap water, and replace it. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. To limit algae growth, maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular water changes. If possible, turn up filter flow to keep water moving. If this stresses the fish though, do not do it. Do not overfeed and remove any uneaten food promptly. Limit lighting to 8 hours daily and closely monitor water temperature as well. All these can promote algae overgrowth.

My fish has fin rot and seems lethargic. He will just sit at the bottom of his tank or in his flower. He might also have a swim bladder issue. What can I do to fix him?

Check the water chemistry and quality first. Poor quality can predispose him to infection. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Your local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. If ammonia and/or nitrite levels are elevated, perform partial water changes until both read 0 ppm and nitrates are 20 ppm or less. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Providing pristine water quality is the foundation for treatment and healing. Check the water temperature since low temps can affect appetite and activity in fish. If the water is too warm, it can also affect activity since warm water does not hold as much oxygen as cooler waters. Fast the fish for 2-3 days then feed tiny bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will aid in defecation if there is constipation. Plain aquarium salt (not table salt or Epsom salt) can be used for most fish as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for no more than 14 days then reassess fin condition. If necessary, a broad spectrum antibiotic can be used concurrently or after salt treatment. Find one in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

I have three glo fishes in my tank. Two of them appear to be very bloated. Not only is one of them more bloated than the other, but it is also losing some of its color in the lower part of its body and it has a rough look as if its scales were starting to shed. Last week the fish appeared to be excluding itself from the others, but I noticed now that it has been starting to eat and play around more. I read it online that this may be a fatal bloating bacteria but I just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

The bloating could be infection. It may also be parasitic infection, constipation or swim bladder disease. You cannot discount them being gravid (pregnant). Glo fish are egg layers, so they could be females readying to spawn (release eggs). First check water chemistry and quality. Clean water is critical to having healthy fish or to having fish recover from illness or injury. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. An established tank will have 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. If your tank shows any level of ammonia or nitrites, perform a partial water change (no more than 30% total volume at a time) using conditioned water. Makebsurebit is temperature matched as well to prevent stress or shock. Glofish do best between 72 F and 80 F. Once water quality is squared away, fast the fish for 2-3 days, then feed tiny bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This will help with constipation and bloating. Feed peas until they are swimming normally and the bloating is resolved. If the peas don't help, try broad spectrum antibiotic, such as erythromycin or ampicillin. You can find either in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. An "all in one" product, such as Lifeguard (by Tetra) can also be used. This will treat multiple types of infection with one medication.

Fish Vet Q&A

So my little dog ate half a bag of hot and spicy cheez its, and half a bag of gold fish while I was away.. she has never had anything spicy or really salty! What will this do to her? Should I be overly concerned??

My fish are dying,Had other fish in there before these new one but now so far the new one are dying. what to do.

One of my goldfish’s eye seems to be swollen while the other one looks fine. I’m not sure if it popeye or if it was just n injury. What should I do to help bring done the swelling?

I live in Hawaii and was told that I didn’t need a heater for my baby beta fish. I still find my fish to be very lethargic and unable to swim properly. What should I do.

My female betta fish has a white ring around her eye. Is this a early stage of popeye?

My fish tank got infested with pink algae and green algae and the fish are acting lethargic and dying.

My fish has fin rot and seems lethargic. He will just sit at the bottom of his tank or in his flower. He might also have a swim bladder issue. What can I do to fix him?