The Puffer Forum

Before I start let me say this is NOT my goldfish. I've been complaining about the husbandry for months to no avail.

The info I have:
He's been living in a bowl for 2.5 years now. :/ how he managed to live this long astounds me.
I'm sure the water has never been tested, and they say they change the water every two weeks.
The bowl wasn't cycled...
They use distilled water with no dechlorinater. ;__;


Basically they called me because he's developed a red spot on his head with a smaller white spot on it and want to know how to treat it.
I'm calling them back soon-ish and I'm not sure how to approach the situation. Can someone advise me on what it is/how to treat it, and how to politely go about telling them bowls are horrible for goldfish (I've tried so many times, but they don't seem to care because it's been alive so long already in that bowl).

I've got to be honest I've never know anyone to have cycled a tank to keep goldfish!

Especially when someone wins one at the Fair/Circus

You could start by saying the reason the fish is sick is because of the conditions it's living in. Ask them if the water has ever been tested and if they say no, which they probally will, tell them that's the first thing they need to check. Clean water means healty fish. A cycled tank means a healty fish.
I don't know what's wrong with the fish, sorry I can't help you with that.

It could be hole in the head disease, I believe this is cause by poor water quality. check out this website it may help
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/Hole-in-th ... sease.html

I've dealt with this before.
The redness is from the fish being at the top of the bowl for air. Once they get fresh, airated water, they'll go back down and swim around, and it will go away.

Send them to Koko's.

I give up on convincing people. I tell them the facts and then tell them they can either research more and verify what I'm telling them or they'll find out when the fish dies.

Success! I called him and explained pretty much that he just needs to get the fish a real tank, I suggested the newspaper and craigslist (though I usually check both sources every morning in search of cheap tanks ._.)
He said he'd get the fish a real tank as soon as he could. Probably just a little 10gallon. But still better than a bowl. Thanks for your help everyone.

I haven't seen the fish myself (just the pic. he texted me) so I can't say for sure, but this:

I've dealt with this before.
The redness is from the fish being at the top of the bowl for air. Once they get fresh, airated water, they'll go back down and swim around, and it will go away.

sounds pretty accurate.

Yes, I've seen that happen too. Had a ryunkin with swim bladder issues, the part of her belly that stuck out of the water was always sore/raw. Then it gets a bacterial infection and away you go..