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Fish/Outdoor Pond Goldfish Injury

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Expert: Ron Coleman - 7/11/2009


Question
Just discovered one of my large goldfish on its side, but alive.... on close inspection looks like it has a scrape or even a chunk out of its side...not large....but....

I have pond netting, because a heron has tried to eat the fish. I can't see that there's any way it could have poked this one, but maybe that's a possibility.

How do I treat the fish? Anything I can do for it? Help ASAP!

Answer
Hi Sandi,
  It all depends on how deep the chunk is and whether any vital organs were hit.  In general, it is up to the fish to recover.  All that you can do is to control secondary infections by fungus.  There are various anti-fungal medications out there that you can get at most fish stores.  I would try one of those, but you will need to put the fish in a "hospital tank" to do that, otherwise you will need tons of medicine to treat a whole pond.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>

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Ron Coleman

Expertise

I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish). Please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.

Experience

I am an Associate Professor at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I was editor of Cichlid News magazine for several years. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.

Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes

Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)

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