Chey's Fish Blog

Just a goldfish keeper who wants to make a blog about everything goldfish and fish keeping.   Instagram: @cheycfish  YouTube: Chey's Fish Research   

[cheysfishblog]

Taking Fish to a Vet?

I wonder, how many people besides myself take their fish or any aquatic animals to the vet. If so, tell me your experiences. Did you find it more affordable than providing for more common pets? Is it more accessible? 

[cheysfishblog]

Let’s be real about goldfish food....

Even though, I have only been in the goldfish hobby for almost 3 years, I can say that this is the most frustrating part about it, the lack of quality food.

The word quality gets thrown around A LOT in the goldfish community. I have noticed that most of the time, it’s overused and incorrectly applied.

Just because something is quality, that doesn’t mean it’s healthy or feasible.

When it comes to “quality” food, it doesn’t matter what brand or what type is being fed to goldfish, but it applies to how fast you can fatten up a fish. To make the fish appear big, flamboyant and colorful. This is also known as “grooming”. Unfortunately, there are consequences towards grooming if all that is being focused on is the size and color of the fish, regardless of where its bred or purchased.

Consequences including:

- Organ failure, most notably kidney failure

- Shorten life expectancy

- Swim Bladder Disorder

- Obesity

Grooming is usually proceeded at a very fast pace, due to whoever is distributing, selling or breeding goldfish, is trying to do it as fast as they can to make the most income. Different food brands and goldfish keepers are in constant competition, to see which food grows the fish the fattest, fastest, and biggest. At the end of the day, its all about money.

When in reality, grooming is all about patience.

Grooming is naturally a slow occurring process, to not only produce a fish with bright colors, correct shape, and beautiful fins, but to also produce a HEALTHY fish.

The biggest contributor to grooming is the food.

I can`t begin to tell you how infuriating it is reading different bags of fish food, seeing the so call “quality” ingredients, the lack of nutritional information, the poor development of the food and, the misinformation on nutritional needs for goldfish

After looking over 50+ brands of goldfish food, and doing research on nutrition needs and requirements for coldwater fish, I can respectfully make these statements:

Foods that contain only wheat and wheat products IS NOT quality nor appropriate for goldfish

Foods that show a very high protein percentage, IS NOT quality nor necessary for goldfish growth

Foods that contain added synthetic vitamins and/or coloring IS NOT quality nor needed for goldfish

Foods that contain only by products and “meals” IS NOT quality nor adequate for goldfish health

For some reason, floating foods contain less protein and are cheaper than sinking foods.

You’ll be surprised on how the popular goldfish foods are actually the poorest when it comes to nutritional needs.

The reason why most goldfish food contains wheat and other grains, brewer’s yeast, soy and/or corn is because its cheap to make/sell, its overproduced, and has a high protein, carb or fat content, hence why goldfish grow so large very quickly. It’s more about mass production and less about health.

The synthetic vitamins are added due to the foods being overcooked and not meeting any nutritional standards.

There is little to no regulation in the production of fish food for fish (unless its for human consumption).

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Unfortunately, this only leaves two options when it comes to obtaining “quality” food, support a brand that pushes for nutritional standards (there are so few in between) or homemade fish food.

When it comes to food, there needs to be more consideration in monitoring, producing, analyzing, managing and providing quality needs over “quality” mass production.

[cheysfishblog]

Swim Bladder Disorder in Fancy Goldfish: Focusing on Negative Buoyancy Disorder - An Experiment - FINAL

I forgot for a second that I talked about this experiment on Tumblr but, I posted all of my results and talked about other findings in a video on my YouTube channel. Link to the video:  https://youtu.be/Xbo_Z11R1xs

[cheysfishblog]

Swim Bladder Disorder in Fancy Goldfish: Focusing on Negative Buoyancy Disorder - An Experiment Part 3

I’m going to be recording all of my data here and in a personal notebook.

( Part 1 talks about the introduction of the experiment)

(Part 2 shows days 1 - 16)

Day 17: (12/19/2021): Tank readings so far:

TDS Meter: 

461 ppm

980 uS/cm

22.5*C / 72.5*F

Test strip reading(s): 

Ammonia: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 20 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

GH: ~ 200 ppm 

KH: 80 ppm

pH: 7.2 

CL: 0 ppm

Days 18 - 25: I ran out of test strips and mainly have been doing visual observations 

Since my tap water has an unstable GH, I have learned to do smaller water changes, so as to not worry about shocking my fish. 

All fish have benefited from this change, not experiencing shock with doing smaller water changes.

Zulu is having “good days and bad days” with his buoyancy but he is swimming just fine??? ‘

My other two fish are experiencing a color change throughout the duration of this experiment???

Conductivity and TDS have been consistent 

Day 21, I have used a total of 3 AAP Wonder shells since the experiment has started.

Day 26 ( 12/27/2021): Decided to use my TDS meter

412 ppm

876 uS/cm

71.9*F/22.2*C

Days 27 and beyond will be mentioned in part 4...

[cheysfishblog]

Swim Bladder Disorder in Fancy Goldfish: Focusing on Negative Buoyancy Disorder - An Experiment Part 2

I’m going to be recording all of my data on here and in a personal notebook 

( Part 1 talks about the introduction of the experiment) 

Days 1 - 8: 

 Water parameters were adjusting, not really stable 

Scales, fins, eyes, slime coat on all fish appears darker and healthier 

Tank water is getting clearer 

water in the tank had a smell (an earthy, soil aroma) 

Days 9 - 16: (Day 16 would be 12/18/2021) 

water parameters are stable 

Zulu’s buoyancy issues are adjusting BUT not in sync 

tank water is clear 

water in the tank doesn’t smell anymore 

monitoring GH and TDS

Tank parameters so far: 

Nitrates: 20 ppm

Nitrites/Ammonia: 0 ppm

KH: 80 ppm 

pH: 7.2 

GH: ~200 ppm

(From TDS meter) 

383 ppm 

814 uS/cm

23.3 *C / 73.9 *F

Notes: 

ppm on the TDS meter:

For days 1 - 7, it was below 300 ppm

For day 8, hit the 300 mark 

For day 9 and beyond, TDS is increasing

ppm below 300 mainly came from nitrate levels ( and other compounds) 

GH is increasing ppm on TDS meter ( and other compounds) 

[cheysfishblog]

*UPDATE* Swim Bladder Disorder in Fancy Goldfish: Focusing on Negative Buoyancy Disorder - An Experiment Part 1

My first blog focused on Swim Bladder Disorder in Fancy Goldfish, where I talked about Positive and Negative buoyancy disorder. I’m constantly learning new things about buoyancy disorder in goldfish and would like to share something that I have been trying for my male Oranda, who has negative buoyancy issues. 

My male Oranda, Zulu, will be turning 3 on May 11, 2022, like my other previous fish, he is another fish that has swim bladder disorder. 

Unlike my other two fish, Zulu has negative buoyancy disorder. He is seen bottom sitting at the tank for most of the time, his swimming is very awkward and he’s seen moving his body or swimming on his side to get around. He’s been going through this ever since he’s turned 2 years old, so a year and change now.

 Also, unlike my other two fish, Zulu is special needs. He has a very weird appetite ( sometimes he wants to eat a lot, sometimes he eats a little), he’s a little slow when it comes to finding food too (poor baby XD),  he’s a runt/stunted fish ( PetSmart's fault for this happening), and gets sick very easily ( well he used too) 

I have upped my care ALOT for him for the betterment of his health, but the thing that has been a constant battle for him has been his buoyancy issues. At one point, I was going to give up and just leave him be, for I didn’t know what else to do, but then I decided to do a little more research. 

In another blog that I have written, Let’s talk about the Wonder shell, I have recently purchased some and started messing with my water parameters more to try to see if I could tackle one more thing that has been a struggle to maintain in my tank, my GH parameters. I live in a state that is full of clay. Clay leaves NO MINERALS in your tap water, hence GH is low, water is acidic, and everything is unstable.

I have read that if you increase your GH ( mineral and hardness) in your water, one of the things it does is lessen stress on the swim bladder.

I decided to give it a try and use the Wonder shells in my tank.

I have tested my tank water daily ( it is going on 12 days now, tomorrow would be day 13 ) and I didn't notice any changes in my tank or in my fish until day 9. For Zulu, changes came on day 10. 

 For all three of my fish, I noticed that their slime coats have gotten thicker and healthier. When my GH was low, their slime coats were thin and the scales looked more exposed ( my fish are not sick, just observing a physical change), but I noticed the buildup in the slime coat with the addition of minerals.

 The water in the tank is so clear it’s ridiculous. XD

Body injuries are healing faster and the overall body, scales, and fins look brighter and darker. 

 For Zulu, on day 10, he was swimming around like a normal fish. As if he wasn’t going through swim bladder issues at all. 

The addition of minerals was decreasing his stress, but then, on DAY 11, I did a water change. After the water change, he went back to the bottom sitting. The mineral change ( or the lack thereof) definitely has something to do with the stress level on his bladder. Before I started this experiment, I also noticed he was acting a little better when the pH/KH lowered, therefore becoming more neutral instead of alkaline. 

Here are my water parameters so far: 

Nitrates: </= 20 ppm 

Nitrites/ Ammonia: 0 ppm

GH: ~150 ppm ( for goldfish 150 is the minimum but the normal range is ~ 200 or more)

pH: 7.2 - 7.4

KH: 80 ppm

Chlorine: 0 mg / L

I also use a TDS meter:

325 ppm

691 uS/cm

22.4*C / 72.5*F

I am going to continue testing my water daily along with recording more or any changes that are happening. All my fish are benefiting from the wonder shells, but I want to note the consistency of it. 

[cheysfishblog]

Opinion about buying goldfish...

For all my goldfish keepers out there, which do you prefer, buying from a breeder or importer?

[cheysfishblog]

Stop Overmedicating your fish!!!

I have recently made a video on my YouTube channel on common medications that are used in fish. Its extremely important that we all learn how to use them, otherwise we shouldn’t use them at all.

That’s all.....

[cheysfishblog]

Lets talk about the Wonder Shell.

An excellent product that most fish keepers completely frown upon, are completely confused about or have completely spread false information about.

I have been doing my continuous research on water chemistry for my 55 gallon aquarium, and I ran across these guys again on American Aquarium Products(AAP).

I have used these before exactly, when I first started this hobby, a fellow goldfish keeper sent me a couple of samples for free. I had NO IDEA of what to do with them at the time, so I just chucked them in my tank and replaced them, every time they completely dissolved. I wasn't testing my water at the time, but my first thought of them was thinking of them as a complete waste of time since I didn't physically see any changes.

I recently ordered a pack from AAP, after FINALLY understanding on how to use them.

I am going to put my interpretation on what the product is about. ( You can't use their information unless you ask) If you would like to find out more, I definitely recommend checking out their website.

Also, I fully respect this company, due to their commitment of spending over 3 decades ( and continuing) of dedicated research to improve and help fish keepers in the aquarium hobby.

This product comes in three sizes ( small, medium, and large) and can be used accordingly, depending on what is the water volume in your tank.

Not only do they sell regular shells, but they also sell medicated Wonder shells ( find out more from AAP).

AAP are the ORIGINAL creators and distributors of this product. If you see anyone else selling this product, they are either fakes or old "discharged and expired" shells that are no longer usable. They never gave anyone else the permission to sell this product.

AAP has the science to back up this product and work hard to keep this product up to quality. If you want the freshest product, a charged product, you get it from AAP.

This product can be used in freshwater, marine, brackish aquariums and ponds ( AAP sells specific sizes for ponds and marine aquariums)

This product DOES NOT fix poor water quality, but is used for continued water maintenance.

This product focuses on adding in minerals and electrolytes for GH in an aquarium. It DOES NOT affect pH and KH. Checking your water chemistry is important when using this product, especially if you are someone who has a planted aquarium, have fish that live in acidic water, or if your someone who keeps fish that could be sensitive to rising GH.

The whole point of the Wonder shell is for osmotic function and redox balance in an aquarium, while reducing oxidative stress.

Contrary to popular belief, this product was made and created for fish and for the overall aquarium, not for invertebrates.

Other uses of it:

removes chlorine

prevents toxic ammonia build - up

aids in prevention of disease in fish

[cheysfishblog]

When goldfish are labeled as pests in every news article

[cheysfishblog]

My transition from short - bodied goldfish to long - bodied goldfish.

My biggest reasons for this transition:

1) Vet bills

- if you have fish that grows a wen, is a short- bodied fish or have buoyancy issues. This will slowly become expensive and somewhat a headache.

2) A lot more care needs to be considered for short-bodied fish than long- bodied fish

- Long bodied fish are not only hardier but more tolerable to changes. Short bodied fish ( especially ones that grows a wen) have to be kept in crystal clean water or infections happen.

3) Shorten life spans due to over breeding, poor genetics and/or having a shorter body 

- My first blog was about swim bladder disorder with a goldfish I used to have named Mumu, unfortunately, she had to be euthanized because of swim bladder disorder. The cause of her swim bladder disorder: Compaction on her bladder from her anatomy. 

4) Constant research on the amount of care that needs to happen with short- bodied goldfish, makes me not want to waste the time in perusing to keep them.

5) My personal experience of dealing with 2 oranda goldfish with swim bladder disorder and one sicky male oranda, has made me not want to deal with certain varieties. 

I am still keeping fancies of course but they will be more of a longer body fish, while not completely going towards long -bodied fish.

[cheysfishblog]

How to Stock a Goldfish tank.

I have made a blog on how not to overcrowd a tank and on how to calculate tank dimensions, so here is the next question: How DO you stock a goldfish tank? 

There is an actual calculation to determine how many fish can fit in a tank.

Depending if your using U.S. units or Metric units, the length and the width of the tank is what is determined the calculate surface area.

 That area will then give you how many TOTAL inches (or centimeters) of fish can fit in a tank. This encompasses the total volume and dimensions of how much that tank can handle waste and growth. This DOES NOT follow NOR IS the inch per gallon rule. Not only does that rule make no sense, but it doesn't encompass the total growth of the fish. 

http://www.howmanyfish.com/ 

Here is the link to see on how to stock a tank. Along with an example on how to stock a tank with goldfish.

[cheysfishblog]

The problems/dilemmas of “Goldfish Groups” on Facebook.

Everyone during their social media experience has gone down the path of using Facebook, a place to discuss similar niches, promote businesses and stay in touch with family members.

BUT 

I bet you haven’t experienced the goldfish groups on Facebook, a place where its SUPPOSED to be about showing the joys and positivity of keeping the beautiful fish, the goldfish. 

Well, after being warned constantly from other goldfish keepers and attempting to navigate THREE goldfish groups, I have to say that the rumors are true, with it being nothing but a madhouse of a clusterfuck of problems within the groups. 

The 1st biggest problem is the lack of admin activity with enforcing stricter rules and letting the groups overrun with the same, continuous content. These admin are not present unless you do some type of complaining within the group, or backlash another member when something is seriously concerning. Instead of being more engaging with their audience and establishing boundaries, they basically let the group run themselves. 

The 2nd biggest problem is the insane amount of users who DO NOT do any research before deciding to ask for help about their goldfish. These people are new goldfish keepers who do not have the slightest knowledge of how to house a fish, nor maintain an aquatic environment. All of their information they get is from the Facebook groups and no where else. These people are the ones who buy their goldfish immediately from the pet store, try to house them in small/overcrowded tanks, and instantly want to medicate their fish as soon as they see the slightest hint of disease. They also don’t understand how the nitrogen cycle is effected from stocking a tank. The most noticeable thing they do is PUT EVERYTHING IN CAPITAL LETTERS WHEN BEGGING FOR HELP. 

The 3rd biggest problem is the amount of Nazi keepers who do know how to keep goldfish, but bash everyone else with the ideology of: “THIS WAY IS THE ONLY WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE” , or “YOUR DOING EVERYTHING WRONG”. These people have a hard time accepting change, not understanding that the guidelines constantly change, and that just because multiple care tactics are done, doesn't mean they are wrong. 

The 4th biggest problem is the amount of sick and injured fish seen within the groups. Its almost apparent that everyone's fish in the group is either sick, dying or both. These people don’t look at other factors of their husbandry and care tactics as the cause of their fish being sick and instead want to post and ask for help, before thinking the bigger picture. The admins really need to take charge with how frequent this type of content is posted within the groups. 99% of the time, this is the ONLY content that you see. 

The last biggest problem noticed within the groups is the overall misinformation spread about goldfish keeping. Serious, adamant goldfish keepers work hard to spread as accurate information as possible about goldfish keeping and inform of the need to always do constant research, this is never enforced among the groups. 

 Overall, these groups on Facebook are not enjoyable to be around and would need to be under serious evaluation before receiving my support. 

[cheysfishblog]

Natural Alternatives to Fish Medications for your Goldfish

1) Garlic

2) Aquarium salt

3) Epsom Salt

4) Almond Leaves and Oak Leaves

5) Aloe Vera

6) Oil - based medications

7) Vitamin supplementation ( for overall health of your goldfish )

[cheysfishblog]

What Is the Actual Care Sheet for Goldfish?

There is no right way to take care of goldfish. Every fancy goldfish keeper has a method to their madness. There are though, a few important key points that every goldfish keeper should keep in mind:

1) Some varieties of fancy goldfish do better in low and wide tanks than tall and short tanks.

2) Fancy goldfish do better in room temperature like conditions. Even though, having them outside does get them more conditioned to varying temperatures.

3) Fancy goldfish can be kept outside or inside

4) You can grow your goldfish just fine in natural or tank light, one light isn’t better than the other.

5) Unless you are breeding your goldfish, there should be more females than males in the tank. This is important so there wouldn’t be so much breeding aggression, less stress from female fish and less fighting among the males

6) Sometimes water changes and salt is the best medicine. Not everything needs to be treated with medications. Overtime, you can make your fish sicker and develop an immune compromised fish from over medicating.

7) Under-stocking or rightly stocking your tank is better than overstocking, especially for goldfish

8) The common pleco is NOT a good tank mate for goldfish, they growth bigger than goldfish and can actually kill them

9) You can use wave makers in a goldfish tank, please don’t let Facebook tell you otherwise

10) Vitamin supplementation is an interesting thing to get into for goldfish health

11) It`s okay to have a bare tank for goldfish, for some varieties, this is necessary

12) Goldfish really shouldn’t eat fruits and starchy vegetables, I don’t know why this is a thing??

13) Please don’t feed goldfish rice………. Why is this a thing??

14) Goldfish can actually produce gas if they are not kept full from continually grazing. That’s why small, frequent meals are more important then less, frequent large meals.

15) Anyone using an HOB filter for goldfish, don’t wait your money on filter cartridges, pimp up the filter instead. More money is saved and it last longer

16) For anyone using carbon media in a goldfish tank, it doesn’t expire and it doesn’t leach into the water. It just gets weaker at absorbing toxins.

17) Pay attention to the personality and behavior of your goldfish, some do better hanging around more females, being lonesome, etc.

18) Goldfish do have teeth

19) Goldfish yawn for two reasons: to clean their gills or its bad water quality

20) Goldfish don’t get itchy, if they are scratching( or flashing) : its either parasite related or environmental related that is causing them to be stressed. Or they got spooked by something.

[cheysfishblog]

Big Water Changes Are Bad For Your Goldfish Tank ( Here are the only exemptions to that rule)

I honestly do not agree with big water changes. They can do more harm then good, unbalance your water chemistry and shock your fish to the point of killing it along with a whole community tank.

Everyone has their own schedule, routine and maintenance tactics of what works for them and for what works for their goldfish. Paying attention to what not only what you can handle, but for what your goldfish are comfortable and healthy with, are all that matters.

There`s not to say that there are some exemptions….

There are always exemptions to rules, but being careful is the most important factor.

Fancy Goldfish keepers ( new and old) have to remember that most fancy goldfish are not hardy fish ( unless for a few varieties) so swings in water temperatures, and water parameters are not healthy nor viable for the fish.

To much changes in these parameters can cause fish to have:

Buoyancy issues

Immune health complications

External and/or Internal diseases

BUT

Sometimes there are problems that happen and present themselves in a goldfish tank

Here are the ONLY situation(s) when big water changes are necessary:

1) High Ammonia or Nitrite Levels

If you are someone who is setting up a tank for the first time, dealing with a cycle crash or disease, this is a variable that will cause the most issue in your tank

Sometimes, these levels are so high, they refused to go down or can`t go down, due to the fact that:

1) The bio load is to high

2) Sometimes when ammonia levels are high enough, it kills off whatever bacteria that was current in the tank

This is when a HUGE water change will be needed. You will essentially start over with your tank, but your goldfish will be heavy

2) Removing Medications

Besides carbon media, a good water change can go a long way with removing mediations

Some medications require that you do water changes

BUT BE CAREFUL!!! To big of a water change in this situation can cause cycle crashes!!!

3) High Nitrate Levels ( If the nitrates are very bad)

Fancy goldfish honestly can not handle high nitrate levels, the lower the level, the better

Increase air circulation/oxygenation and plants can also help with this issue.

[cheysfishblog]

How Poop Tells the Health Of Your Fancy Goldfish

Poop? Yes, poop! Poop is everything to goldfish. Goldfish poop a lot and sometimes you see goldfish eating poop.

Poop can even tell you how healthy your goldfish is. It can predict if there is something wrong with the water quality or if there is an underlying issue with the health of your fish. 

Poop coming from your fancy goldfish, isn’t a complicated process. With a very simplistic digestive system, the poop should be the exact color of whatever the fish has eaten. 

The reason for this is because food is not fully used in a goldfish’s intestines, so most of it is excreted out of the body. 

The poop comes in different sizes, shapes and forms to all mean different things for goldfish: 

The classic white, stringy poop : The goldfish either has a parasitic infection, stress from reacting from a water change, water parameter(s) changing or the fish needs to acclimate in its new environment

Runny poop -  their is either a water quality issue or a diet change needs to happen

Colored stringy poop - The fish’s gills and kidneys are not filtering water properly to let poop run through the intestines. There is some potential blockage

Very thick, colored poop -  the poop looks like a big, long block. this means you overfed your fish

“Worm” Poop - The fish looks pale, acts lethargic and the poop is not going away. This is parasitic worms inside your fish

Blood poop - the poop is the color of blood. Not a bad thing, but this is from the food that was eaten that gave it this color

Normal Poop - healthy poop looks like a small, firm, square - like shape. it feels kind of squishy and the fish has no problems squeezing it out

“Scab” poop - It almost looks like pieces of skin. This is from fish that reabsorb its eggs.

Not pooping =  the fish has a blockage because of a mass, tumor, inflated swim bladder or suffering from a bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection. Or you are dealing with a very compacted fish.  This is NOT CONSTIPATION!!