Pet Forum / Aquaria / Goldfish / March 2004

Hi,

I bought three 3-3.5 inch orandas about a month ago, and since then they've
been developing white spots on their hoods. They are in a 29 gallon tank
with an undergravel filter along with one other 2 inch black moor. I am
quite new to goldfish keeping so I am not sure what this disease could be.

On one of them, the white spots started to spread, and one morning I looked,
and part of the "skin" on the fish's hood was gone! It looked sort of like
an orangy mass of cauliflower that had been exposed.  I took that fish back
to the shop, and hopefully it will be cured.  The problem is, my two other
fish are starting to get the white spots as well.  I have asked people and
they tell me different things, from fungus to ammonia burns. Right now I
have the tank on Melafix for the last 4 days, and I change the water twice a
week, using Start right for the new water. The two fish have a healthy
appetite, no clamped fins or other usual signs of stress. The black moor
shows no signs of these white spots. The white spots are limited to the hood
of the orandas, but I am noticing a bit of reddish color now.  I took a
water sample to the local fish store, and they told me it was "fine", and
told me most of their fish have what they call ammonia burns and that it
will go away eventually.  Is this true, or do my fish have fungus?

Thanks for any advice