Any Goldfish Experts Out There?

• Terry Nunn

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,321
  12 April 2013     11:30224989
  #1      
  We have had fish in a garden pond for probably 10 years or more. It was originally populated with six.
  
  After about four years that dwindled to just two. Then 5 years ago I spotted a single hatchling, after another two years another one appeared. In November last year we counted a further 18! They have all survived the winter and are happily swimming around.
  
  However, mama fish, who spends a lot of time among the weeds now appears to have weeds attached to her back. The problem is that they are well and truly stuck.
  
  

  

  
  
  
  Any ideas?
  
  Terry
  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
• Guest 710

  • Registered: 28 Feb 2011
  • Posts: 6,950
  12 April 2013     12:08224991
  #2      
  This is certainly a difficult problem to solve just by using Google, I know, I have tried.
  
  These are wild animals though and as such will have solved many of their own problems as they go.
  So...
  Is this adversely affecting the fish? If not, why not leave it be.
  On the other hand, is there any grit in the pond? Perhaps if there was a tray of fine shingle at the bottom the fish might commonly use something like this to rid itself of stuff adhering to it's skin.
  
  I know that the pet shop near me has a lad who is fish-mad and would have advice, is there no such enthusiast around you?
  Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  12 April 2013     13:13224997
  #3      
  one of our newer members steve thompson runs the pet shop opposite the burnt out church, might be an idea to have a word with him?
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  12 April 2013     20:34225052
  #4      
  Terry my husband Les and I keep fish, we have a pond full of Koi etc. This looks more like a fungus than weed. Get some Malachite and treat the pond water and that should get rid of the problem.
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter
• Terry Nunn

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,321
  13 April 2013     10:36225104
  #5      
  Thanks Jeane, funnily enough I've often spotted that in the pet shop window and wondered what is was for!
  
  Methinks a visit to Pets Arcadia is in order.
  
  Terry
  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  13 April 2013     13:42225130
  #6      
  You are welcome - it's good stuff and should hopefully sort the problem out, All the best and keep us posted.
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter
• Terry Nunn

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,321
  8 May 2013     14:33228601
  #7      
  An update. We did enquire at the pet shop. The young lady hadn't heard of malachite (although I had previously seen it in the window) but she went "round the back" to ask. What was forthcoming was Medifin. After a couple of weekly doses it seems to have done the trick although there was a recurrence.
  
  Here's mama fish with some of her offspring. I am now building an extension to the pond!
  
  

  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  Terry
  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  8 May 2013     17:23228621
  #8      
  Glad it appears to have done the trick - mamma fish has been busy
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter