Shubunkin goldfish - split tail

[Pt.a...@gmail.com]

My longest-finned outdoor shubunkin has a split tail. I had another
shubunkin with a split tail too (the one that jumped after I did some
work on the pond). The fish are otherwise healthy and eating well, and
there is no other fin damage. I don't have this problem with the
regular goldfish - just the really long-tailed shubunkins.

The water quality is fine - no ammonia or nitrite and nitrate
fertilized to 5-10 ppm to keep the water hyacinth green. As far as I
know there's nothing sharp for the fish to catch their tails on, and
the only other fish in with them are white clouds. Any suggestions
would be appreciated.

--Altum

[Mr Gardener]

Sounds like a job for Mr. Mela and Mr. Pima, the all around fin fixers.

MG

[Frank]

Altum wrote,
>My longest-finned outdoor shubunkin has a split tail...

To much salt will split tails, as could a sudden change in pH. About
the only thing I found Melafix good for is speeding up the healing of
fins and tails - might give that a try. ................... Frank

[Mr Gardener]

I'm not sure if I mentioned it here yet, but what's a little redundancy
among friends - I just purchased Melafix and PimaFix pond concentration from
Drs Foster and Smith in 16 0z bottles for 11.99 per bottle. The dosing is
5ml per 50 gallons, instead of the aquarium strength solutions which are 5ml
per 10 galllons. They are also available in 8 oz for $8.99. For anyone who
expects to use this stuff more than once, this is a great way to go. With
the aquarium strength it was possible to use up an entire bottle of each for
a single treatment course of a 55 gallon tank.

MG

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[Frank]

Mr Gardener wrote,
>but what's a little redundancy among friends...

> I just purchased Melafix and PimaFix pond

>concentration ......

Grin ... one things for sure, it seems to work a lot better for some
than for others. I have a friend that has raised show guppys for the
past 40 years. He uses both the Melafix and pimafix, and swears by
them. He does a lot of shows and uses them in the shipping bags and
show tanks. I haven't tried the PimaFix - - - yet! ...............
Frank

[Mr Gardener]

> Grin ... one things for sure, it seems to work a lot better for some
> than for others.

I was just flipping through the Drs Foster and Smith catalog and I see the
pond concentration of Melafix is down to 9.99 for a 16 oz bottle. They're
keeping the Pima at 11.99 -

MG

[Nikki B]

The first time I got it, I had posted that I bought the one for ponds
because of the price. I have used it and it has worked fine.
I have an empty bottle of water conditioner, for small tanks so it just
does one drop at a time, I filled it up with melafix when I was
treating my betta because the amount of pond melafix you use in tanks
is so different, I would just use a few drops in their 2g tanks, which
worked much better then trying to dose so small.
Nik

[Pt.a...@gmail.com]

Thanks. I'm not salting the pond at all because of the plants. I'll
start checking the pH to see whether there's enough buffer to hold the
pH up at night. I'm not sure whether I want all the foam from melafix
- there are spillaways with a lot of splash and it's sure to foam up.
Doesn't foam lower oxygen exchange?

--Altum

[Mr Gardener]

Altum Wrote:> I'm not sure whether I want all the foam from melafix

The foam only lasts a few minutes when I add it to my 55 right at the filter
outlet - does it last longer in ponds? I don't see why it would.

MG

[Nikki B]

When i was using it with a air stone in the water i got a lot of foam,
there was a build up of bubbles in one corner, so now when i use it i
dont put it in by the air stone and i make sure its mixed around the
tank well.
Nik

[Mr Gardener]

Maybe all that stuff they have in ponds, waterfalls and fountains and
whatever causes too much turbulence, like your airstones did. My 55 has two
filters going, one of them has three outputs and it is very turbulent, (I
keep it aimed into one end of the tank, giving my fish a quieter space at
the other end with a gentle filter), but as I said before, the foam is gone
after a few minutes, just like what it says right thar on the label.

MG

[Mr Gardener]

I should probably clarify that. My fish that like quiet waters, like the
angels, hang in the quiet end - my hatchets and corys and tetras and even
sometimes the pencifish like to surf the rapids at the busy end from time to
time. It's not like all my fish are huddled at one end of the tank.

MG

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> Subject: RE: Shubunkin goldfish - split tail
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[Frank]

Altum wrote,

>Doesn't foam lower oxygen exchange?

I guess anything that would cover the waters surface would lower oxygen
exchange. One thing good about spillways and splashing - if you get a
build-up of DOCs, they will foam up and let you know it's past time for
a water change.................
Frank

[Pt.a...@gmail.com]

I don't know. The only time I used it, it was in a 2 gallon betta tank
with an airstone. I used a pipette to be sure I dosed the right
amount. The area between the surface of the water and the clear
plastic tank lid was filled with big, soapy bubbles. I panicked and
changed a bunch of water to get rid of the Melafix and foam. I can't
change much water in the pond so if it foams, I'm stuck with it. :-(

My main concern was really why it's happening in the first place -
split fins have never been a problem for me in tanks. Frank's given me
something to look at (pH).

--Altum

[Mr Gardener]

Altum wrote:
> I don't know. The only time I used it (Melafix), it was in a 2 gallon

betta tank
> with an airstone. I used a pipette to be sure I dosed the right
> amount. The area between the surface of the water and the clear
> plastic tank lid was filled with big, soapy bubbles. I panicked and
> changed a bunch of water to get rid of the Melafix and foam. I can't
> change much water in the pond so if it foams, I'm stuck with it. :-(

It says on the label that it will foam for a few minutes when first added
and that the foam will go away on its own. And yes, the label is correct, in
my experience. It will foam when you add it to your pond, so you will have
to trust the label that it will go away on its own, or don't use the stuff.

MG

[Pt.a...@gmail.com]

Cool. Thanks. So I pancked for nothing on the betta tank. *grin* I
need to go get fish food sometime this week so I'll pick up some pond
mela too. It's a great idea to use - I just have to get over my silly
paranoia about the stuff.

Wish me luck!

--Altum

[Mr Gardener]

Dear Pterophyllum Altum, no one on the face of the planet has researched
Melafix more than you. You have probably gleaned more information on this
stuff than API, the manufacturers and patent holders. Among those that
joined you in your search of the literature, many questions and doubts were
raised regarding some of the miracle cures Melafix claims, but the one thing
that just about everyone has agreed on is that it has been effective in
repairing damaged fins and rays and at the very worst, it has done no harm.

Mister Gardener - - - Good Luck