Wilson Goldfish Missing Scales

Pleblet · New member Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Wales

[b][color=black][/color]Hello, Please can i have some advice? I have noticed that my Goldfish Wilson is suddenly missing two scales.. I am gentle with him when i take him from his bowl to clean him, and he is eating and swimming like a healthy little fish but im worried about the missing scales.. appreciate some advice.
Many Thanks
M.[/b]

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

You keep him in a bowl?

If so, that's probably a big part of the problem. Bowls are absolutely the worst thing to keep a goldfish in. They need a tank that's at least 15 - 20 gallons with a filtration system. How long have you had him? How often are you cleaning the bowl? How big is the bowl? How big is Wilson?

-Chelle

Pleblet · New member Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Wales

Hi,
Ive had him for about a year, i clean his bowl out regularly and its approx 13in x 8in - Wilson is about 3inches in length. The scales only seemd to be missing from yesterday.

Also, I just saw him spit out all of his food that he ate - why do they do that?
Thanks
M

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

You really need to look into getting at least a 15 - 20 gallon tank for him ASAP (that's assuming he's a fancy goldfish. If he's a comet or common, you're looking at closer to 40 - 50 gallons). Goldfish should live for around 15 - 20 years, but honestly, I'll be really suprised if Wilson makes it another year or two in that bowl. Most likely, the problems you are having are due to the fact that the bowl is entirely unsuitable for goldfish. After a year he should be a heck of a lot larger than 3" (when fish "grow to the size of their tank" it's called stunting and it is very unhealthy).

How often are you cleaning the bowl (as in you clean it every x number of days)?

What is the reading for ammonia before you clean the bowl?

-Chelle