My goldfish has a blood spot in between its eyes , what does that mean, is it a disease? Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish | Female | 2 years and 4 months old | 1lb

It could be an infection (bacterial or fungal) or it could be due to trauma from other fish or tank furniture. Confirm proper water quality and chemistry. You can try some plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt or epsom salt) as a general tonic. It may reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess the condition. Perform partial water changes to decrease salinity afterwards. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F and 72 F.

Separate him to a hospital tank in case whatever he has is infectious. This will also make treatment easier. Check parameters again, especially pH. If it is below 6.8 or if ammonia or nitrites are elevated, you will need to perform partial water changes. A broad spectrum antibiotic can be found in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. This should resolve the cloudy eye.

Gas in or behind the eye, and other conditions, such as gas supersaturation (gas bubble disease - excess of gas especially nitrogen), and infectious agents (viruses, bacterial and fungi) may be possible causes. The successful treatment depend on the resolution of the underlying cause, as empirical treatment with antibiotics has rarely been successful. This is why a quite radical approach must be followed. Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. Clinical examination should always include a water quality check, even if you have done so already. Water testing should be performed with a quality test kit, measuring NH4, NO2 and NO3. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for these signs. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, your fish should get examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!