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My fish have white fuzz, aren't eating, and are lying down. What's up?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Fish | Gold Fish | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 1 month old | 0 lbs

Please help I love my Fish more than anything and one of them is lying on the ground with white stuff peeling off It and One of them is swimming around and it has the same white stuff all over it and it’s fins are like pushed down and all of my 11 fish in that tank aren’t eating, I’ve set up another tank with new water and there in there now, please help me I can’t loose them.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Todd Cecil

Veterinarian

Published on December 14th, 2019

Thanks for reaching out about Fish. Test and correct water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. If all fish are affected, water quality problems the most likely. Alteration can lead to increased mucous production from the skin (white stuff), but fungal dermatitis or parasites are also possible. A veterinary visit is recommended if the water quality if appropriate, to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on December 5th, 2018

    Maintain pristine water quality. This is the foundation of treatment. It will require partial water changes every few days and a complete cleaning of the substrate (if any) and any tank furniture. I see you have frogs, which can make treatment trickier. In tanks without amphibians or scaleless fish, plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water for 14 days. You can remove the frog(s) and treat them separately if you want to use salt. The Pimafix, or Melafix also, can be used in conjunction with salt.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on June 10th, 2018

    It could be a bacterial bloom brought on by the water change or it could be micro bubbles caused by the agitation during the water change. Use only aged or conditioned water for water changes. This will keep ammonia levels down. Ammonia, in addition to being toxic to fish, will "feed" bacteria and cause a bloom.

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