Health & Diseases

The recommended treatment is a combination of gradually raising the water temperature to 80-82°F (26-28°C) to accelerate the parasite’s life cycle and using a medicated aquarium salt treatment or a formalin/malachite green-based medication. It is critical to continue treatment for several days after the last visible white spot has disappeared to ensure all free-swimming parasites are eradicated. The article stresses that improving water quality through vacuuming the substrate and performing partial water changes is an essential part of the successful treatment process.

This article explains that a goldfish floating upside down, tail up, or struggling to swim normally is typically suffering from a swim bladder disorder (SBD), not a contagious disease. The primary cause is often digestive, usually from overeating, gulping air at the surface while eating floating food, or constipation from a poor diet. Treatment focuses on digestive relief: fasting the fish for 2-3 days, then feeding a cooked, deshelled pea. For long-term health, the article recommends switching to a sinking pellet or gel food diet and ensuring water quality is pristine to reduce overall stress on the fish.