Diseases

Black smudge or black spot in goldfish is probably one of the most commonly seen goldfish health problems, and one that has many different potential causes.

Black spots or smudges are often indicative of disease or illness in the goldfish, and many goldfish will display blackening across part of the body or the fins and tails over a long period of time without the condition worsening greatly or appearing to have a massive impact upon the health of the goldfish.

However, black spots or smudges should not be considered normal and it is important to do what you can to tackle and treat the problem.

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Cotton mouth is not one of the most common afflictions of goldfish, but is one of the more serious ones and one that often gets wrongly diagnosed. It can lead to a wide variety of health problems in the goldfish, and should be dealt with as soon as it is spotted, as it is very contagious and can soon go on to affect all of the goldfish within your tank.

If you want to ensure that you will be able to diagnose and treat cotton mouth if your spot it, read on to learn more.

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“Flukes” in goldfish doesn’t refer to an actual disease, but rather a parasite, which comes in two different varieties depending on whether it affects the body or the gills of the fish. Flukes are one of the most common types of aquarium and pond parasites, and one of the largest too, which can be seen with a very low magnification but still, not with the naked eye.

While there are two different types of fluke parasite- gill flukes and body flukes- treating them and eradicating them is undertaken in the same way.

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The condition of “velvet” in goldfish might sound rather prettily named, but in reality it is anything but! Velvet, or to give it its correct name, “Oodinium,” can soon take over a whole tank of fish, and have a significant effect on the health and wellbeing of your goldfish within a short space of time.

Read on to learn more about velvet, how it is caused, and what to do about it.

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The rather alarmingly named condition “hole in the head” is a disease that can affect both goldfish and tropical fish, and is often the result of keeping your goldfish in poor-quality water over a prolonged period of time, either due to an overcrowded tank, insufficient cleaning, or water changes that are too infrequent.

Read on to learn more about hole in the head, plus what you can do to help your goldfish if they are afflicted with this condition.

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Have you got a goldfish with big eyes? Have you suddenly noticed your fish’s eyes look bigger than normal? You may be seeing a condition called “Pop Eye”.

Pop eye, also sometimes known as “exophthalmia” isn’t strictly a disease in and of itself, but rather, it is the result of another underlying issue or infection. It causes one or both of the eyes of the goldfish to protrude from the socket to some degree, ranging from a slight bulge to quite pronounced, depending on the severity of the condition.

The eye may also appear cloudy, but this is not always the case. If you notice your goldfish has big eyes, you should address the issue sooner rather than later, as it can lead to blindness.

Don’t forget though – some types of fancy goldfish are supposed to have big eyes. Goldfish like the Black Moor have telescope-style eyes, which is perfectly normal and not a sign that something is wrong.

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Lice and worms are common goldfish tank parasites, both of which can potentially lead to health problems in your fish and so, should be dealt with as soon as a potential issue arises.

What are goldfish lice and worms?

Fish tank lice and worms are parasites that rely upon goldfish to thrive and reproduce, and will often be most prevalent in overcrowded tanks and on fish that have recently been bought from a pet store.

It is of course important to ensure that you do not let your tank become overcrowded, and that you quarantine any new fish for 14 days to a month before you introduce them to your main tank.

Tapeworms, anchor worms and body lice are three of the most common parasitic problems that can affect goldfish, and these three invaders are sometimes found together.

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