Acute Glaucoma
Glaucoma Disease » Acute Glaucoma » Dying Fish – HELP !!!

Dying Fish – HELP !!!

Question:

Help –  My fish are REAL sick !!  I noticed something was wrong last Thursday.  One of my 8 goldfish was just sitting on the bottom under some leaves.  Also another one has developed what looks like glaucoma in one of it’s eyes.  I tried to move the one under the leaves and he suddenly came to life and started swimming around like I woke him up, or something.  Anyway, by Sunday (yesterday) I found three more just laying on their sides on the bottom.  They are still alive and breathing but very weak.  Their slime coats seem OK, and they appear very healthy and normal in every way, except for laying on their sides. Here’s the story on the pond –  It’s been established for 6-7 years. There’s never been a problem.  It has a waterfall and no filter.  It is located in Raleigh, NC USA.  The winter has been mild with no ice, and temperatures in the mid 20F to mid 30F at night, rising to around 40F in the day.  The only thing that I’ve done differently this year is to turn off the waterfall pump and put in an air stone to keep the water warmer. This has seemed to work well as the fish have been more active in the colder weather.  I’ve run the air stone continuously since mid November with no problems.  There have been no changes to the surrounding environment that I can detect.  There have been no additions to the pond since last spring.  I have noticed an unusual amount of dark green algae growing on all surfaces.  I placed a net over the surface to keep out most of the fallen leaves.  This has helped, though there are a small number of oak leaves in the bottom.  I know that oak leaves are a "no-no", but this is the "normal" environment for the placement of the pond.  It happens every year and I clean out the few that fall in regularly.   All the standard stuff has been checked – PH-normal – Amonia-none – Chlorine-none …   They were fed well in the fall but haven’t eaten since the cold started.  4 or 5 of them seemed normal this morning with 3 on the bottom laying on their sides.  I have removed the airstone and restarted the waterfall pump. NOTE – THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN ALGAE LIKE THIS IN THE WINTER. Something is poisoning the environment.  Does anyone think that this algae could be the culprit ?  If so, how do I rid myself of it ?   The pond receives about 4-5 hours of direct sun per day at this time of year. HALP !!! Mark Z in NC…

Response:

Also another one has developed what looks like glaucoma in one of it’s eyes.  I tried to move the one under the leaves and he

My book lists a few things it could be: *fungus, even if it isn’t visible on most of the skin.  The eye on the one fish may have been damaged allowing fungus to take hold.  The book says fungal infections are most common in winter.  Treatment is to give the fish 20 minute baths in 15 grams of salt per liter of water.  If you give such a bath for three days with no results you can go to fungal medications from the store.   *dropsey, the acute form, usually follows a direct downhill path.  The chronic form, may come and go.  The fish may have any or all of the following symptoms: Loss of equilibrium Distended scales Lethargy hemoraging fungus covered lesions Swollen body pus from anal opening Unfortunately the prognosis for dropsey is not good, but there are several treatments which have shown success.  Check your pet store. Again, the culprit could be the long winter, and the weakened state of the fish from not eating. A medicine packet I have lists Eye Cloud as a bacterial infection which can be treated with Furan-2.    though there are a small number of oak leaves in the bottom.   Some people recommend adding oak leaves for organic lowering of pH.   I’ve done it with NO problems.   All the standard stuff has been checked – PH-normal – Amonia-none – Chlorine-none …   They were fed well in the fall but haven’t eaten since the cold started.  4 or 5 of them seemed normal this morning with 3 on the bottom laying on their sides.  I have removed the

airstone and restarted the waterfall pump. NOTE – THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN ALGAE LIKE THIS IN THE WINTER. Something is poisoning the environment.  Does anyone think that this algae could be the culprit ?  If so, how do I rid myself of it ? The pond receives about 4-5 hours of direct sun per day at this time

I wonder… have your neighbors been fertilizing or using any kinds of chemicals that may have drifted into the pond?  Fertilizers may have fed the algae and hurt the fish.  Even organic fertilizers can cause algae growth.  Does your area spray for mosquitos?  I wouldn’t suspect the algae as a culprit since there’s no ice cover and it probably isn’t eating up all the oxygen.  That’s just a guess.  Fish are more suceptible to stuff when they haven’t been eating for the winter.  It could be that some bacteria floated into the pond on the wind, or was brought by a cat, bird or racoon who came to drink.   Good luck figuring it out! — Signed,    Kellie My Karma Ran Over My Dogma.  It was a catastrophe! Now my dogma’s dead and my karma’s out of alignment. Get in "Knee Deep"!     The Internet Pond Society      http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/newsletter.html

Response:

Help –  My fish are REAL sick !!  I noticed something was wrong last Thursday.  One of my 8 goldfish was just sitting on the bottom under some leaves.  Also another one has developed what looks like glaucoma in one of it’s eyes.  I tried to move the one under the leaves and he suddenly came to life and started swimming around like I woke him up, or something.  Anyway, by Sunday (yesterday) I found three more just laying on their sides on the bottom.  They are still alive and breathing but very weak.  Their slime coats seem OK, and they appear very healthy and normal in every way, except for laying on their sides. Here’s the story on the pond –  It’s been established for 6-7 years. There’s never been a problem.  It has a waterfall and no filter.  It is located in Raleigh, NC USA.  The winter has been mild with no ice, and temperatures in the mid 20F to mid 30F at night, rising to around 40F in the day.  The only thing that I’ve done differently this year is to turn off the waterfall pump and put in an air stone to keep the water warmer. This has seemed to work well as the fish have been more active in the colder weather.  I’ve run the air stone continuously since mid November with no problems.  There have been no changes to the surrounding environment that I can detect.  There have been no additions to the pond since last spring.  I have noticed an unusual amount of dark green algae growing on all surfaces.  I placed a net over the surface to keep out most of the fallen leaves.  This has helped, though there are a small number of oak leaves in the bottom.  I know that oak leaves are a "no-no", but this is the "normal" environment for the placement of the pond.  It happens every year and I clean out the few that fall in regularly.   All the standard stuff has been checked – PH-normal – Amonia-none – Chlorine-none …   They were fed well in the fall but haven’t eaten since the cold started.  4 or 5 of them seemed normal this morning with 3 on the bottom laying on their sides.  I have removed the airstone and restarted the waterfall pump. NOTE – THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN ALGAE LIKE THIS IN THE WINTER. Something is poisoning the environment.  Does anyone think that this algae could be the culprit ?  If so, how do I rid myself of it ?   The pond receives about 4-5 hours of direct sun per day at this time of year. HALP !!! Mark Z in NC…

Response:

Also another one has developed what looks like glaucoma in one of it’s eyes.  I tried to move the one under the leaves and he

My book lists a few things it could be: *fungus, even if it isn’t visible on most of the skin.  The eye on the one fish may have been damaged allowing fungus to take hold.  The book says fungal infections are most common in winter.  Treatment is to give the fish 20 minute baths in 15 grams of salt per liter of water.  If you give such a bath for three days with no results you can go to fungal medications from the store.   *dropsey, the acute form, usually follows a direct downhill path.  The chronic form, may come and go.  The fish may have any or all of the following symptoms: Loss of equilibrium Distended scales Lethargy hemoraging fungus covered lesions Swollen body pus from anal opening Unfortunately the prognosis for dropsey is not good, but there are several treatments which have shown success.  Check your pet store. Again, the culprit could be the long winter, and the weakened state of the fish from not eating. A medicine packet I have lists Eye Cloud as a bacterial infection which can be treated with Furan-2.    though there are a small number of oak leaves in the bottom.   Some people recommend adding oak leaves for organic lowering of pH.   I’ve done it with NO problems.   All the standard stuff has been checked – PH-normal – Amonia-none – Chlorine-none …   They were fed well in the fall but haven’t eaten since the cold started.  4 or 5 of them seemed normal this morning with 3 on the bottom laying on their sides.  I have removed the

airstone and restarted the waterfall pump. NOTE – THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN ALGAE LIKE THIS IN THE WINTER. Something is poisoning the environment.  Does anyone think that this algae could be the culprit ?  If so, how do I rid myself of it ? The pond receives about 4-5 hours of direct sun per day at this time

I wonder… have your neighbors been fertilizing or using any kinds of chemicals that may have drifted into the pond?  Fertilizers may have fed the algae and hurt the fish.  Even organic fertilizers can cause algae growth.  Does your area spray for mosquitos?  I wouldn’t suspect the algae as a culprit since there’s no ice cover and it probably isn’t eating up all the oxygen.  That’s just a guess.  Fish are more suceptible to stuff when they haven’t been eating for the winter.  It could be that some bacteria floated into the pond on the wind, or was brought by a cat, bird or racoon who came to drink.   Good luck figuring it out! — Signed,    Kellie My Karma Ran Over My Dogma.  It was a catastrophe! Now my dogma’s dead and my karma’s out of alignment. Get in "Knee Deep"!     The Internet Pond Society      http://w3.one.net/~rzutt/newsletter.html

Response:

Related Posts

Write a comment