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by Moriah on June 7th, 2006

Moriah

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My sister's fishbowl was knocked over and her goldfish was lying in some dust for an unknown time. I found him and put him back in his bowl, but he is covered in dust and not moving very much. What should I do?

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Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

  • by Athrael on April 3rd, 2007

    Athrael

    Leave him be for the time being, even a trip to the vet could be another shock to the system, the shock that can push him over.

    Fish are, relatively speaking, delicate creatures being moved from one water to another that is even slightly different in temperature can shock them to death.

    I would wager that dust is attached to the oils that fish leech to protect their scales from various diseases and parasites. In time the oils will flush off the dust.

    As for not moving much, that can be a bad sign - sort of like a person having inhaled smoke for a longish period of time, permanent damage could have been done to the gills.

    There is also the possibility that internal damage is present from the fall. In their watery world water offers a cushion from hits and there are no "falls" in the water, sinking yes, but not the fast acceleration of near free-fall that ends with a sudden stop when the body hits the ground.

    An option is to fill the bathtub with COOL (not hot, not warm, not freezing, cool as close to room temperature as you can get it) water, place fish, bowl and all in the tub - fill the tub up up no more than the height of the bowl - let the bowl sit in there for about an hour - this will allow the water in the bowl to reach the same temperature as the water in the tub.

    After an hour Gently tip the bowl on its side and coax/ allow the fish to go for a larger swim in the larger body of water. Having more water, water that has fallen from the tap thus generating/trapping air may kick start the fish into swimming around - activity will naturally flush debris off the scales (in this case dust).

    Once the fish is away from the bowl now would be an excellent time to clean the bowl, any fish toys in there and the gravel/sand/beads/marbles what ever you have on the bottom of the bowl. Cleaning is a few drops of dish soap to a sink full of water, In a strainer or colander move the gravel/pebbles, marbles, water ever around and and around in the soapy water then rinse for about 10 minutes under a flow of water. Bowl and toys wash and rinse completely.

    Do not do this for salt water fish for fresh water comes out of the tap.

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  • by lizizhere on April 3rd, 2007

    lizizhere

    you may can call your local pet store they may have something you can use or be able to advise you as well as the vet. But if he don't get any better, you may wanna prepare your sister for the funeral in the toilet & send him to fish heaven. Good luck

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  • by edwrad91919 on April 3rd, 2007

    edwrad91919

    take him too the vets

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  • by gung-ho on June 8th, 2006

    gung-ho

    The dust is probably stuck on his mucus. If there is a way to create a flow of water (with a filter or powerhead) this will help him clear the dust off. Otherwise you could hold him gently in a wet towel inside the bowl and GENTLY rub him with a wet Q tip, but if you've never handled fish before I wouldn't recommend this (never handle fish with dry hands or jewelery on)

    He is probably suffocating which won't be helped by the fact that he's in a bowl. He would be much healthier in a big aquarium with a large surface area.

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