Can goldfish have a stroke?

[Patfish]

Looked out the window and saw one on its side floating. But it was breathing. I looked at it and there is an area on the right side by the top fin that has scales missing. I touched him and he swam away in circles bumping into things. Then when he stops he floats to the top or he swims to the top and his mouth breaks the surface and he lays there on his side.
Other fish look fine.
Air pump has been on for months.
Plants are starting to grow.

 

[Patfish]

 

[Patfish]

Swimming backwards

 

[Mmathis]

Probably an injury. Can you isolate it for a while — if for no other reason than to keep it out of further danger?

 

[Patfish]

There is another fish helping keep the injured fish swimming. A black goldfish doesnt want this one to float on his side so he swims along side to keep him uprite. Maybe a work through the pain type of therapy. I have been watching closely and it doesnt look aggressive at all just like helping.

 

[Patfish]

Here is a video of the other fish helping

 

[Patfish]

Its 8pm and the black fish hasnt stopped being the other fishes coach. Every time I think he is swimming pretty well then i see his shadow pushing him along.

 

[Patfish]

I did a 10% water change also and turned on my pump to remove the water then had it circulate the water while i added from the hose.

 

[CometKeith]

I'm sorry about your fish. Usually floating on its side is not a good sign. I hope it gets better!

 

[ShawnInfirmity]

@Patfish Missing scales and loss of swimming ability sounds like an injury to me as well, but just to be sure I would test your water parameters and make sure there's no other possible cause. Depending on the severity of the injury you will want to make sure your water is kept really clean (quality wise) anyway to help reduce the chance for secondary infections, etc.

 

[Dave 54]

Do goldfish have strokes @Patfish in answer to that I would say yes they can, I've seen a koi die from a heart attack at one of our shows
However Looking at the photo of your fish i would say that you have issues with water quality in your pond
The fish looks stressed out of to the eyeballs at the moment so please may I have all your water Parameters so we can start getting to the bottom of this that's Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ph and Kh.
Its around this time of year that we often see problems with our fish , nines out of ten it turns out to be water quality issues after a long hard winter and normally a water change and filter clean will help do the job.
But it could also be health related in that the fish has an issue with parasites or may even have some sort of bacterial issues .
Do you have a microscope ( they are must have piece of kit @Patfish ) They are a must to help you in the diagnoses of of health problems by use of a scrape with a credit card from front to back of your fish to get a sample of Mucus .
Then by spreading the mucus onto the microscope slide and viewing it through your scope you will discover if you have parasites or not

Please read the following Articles they should help you allot :-

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/articles/fish-stress.41/

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/art...or-in-the-poor-fish-health-for-the-novice.39/


Dave 54

 

[Mmathis]

@Patfish Are you certain that this isn’t spawning behavior?

 

[Patfish]

Do goldfish have strokes @Patfish in answer to that I would say yes they can, I've seen a koi die from a heart attack at one of our shows
However Looking at the photo of your fish i would say that you have issues with water quality in your pond
The fish looks stressed out of to the eyeballs at the moment so please may I have all your water Parameters so we can start getting to the bottom of this that's Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ph and Kh.
Its around this time of year that we often see problems with our fish , nines out of ten it turns out to be water quality issues after a long hard winter and normally a water change and filter clean will help do the job.
But it could also be health related in that the fish has an issue with parasites or may even have some sort of bacterial issues .
Do you have a microscope ( they are must have piece of kit @Patfish ) They are a must to help you in the diagnoses of of health problems by use of a scrape with a credit card from front to back of your fish to get a sample of Mucus .
Then by spreading the mucus onto the microscope slide and viewing it through your scope you will discover if you have parasites or not

Please read the following Articles they should help you allot :-

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/articles/fish-stress.41/

https://www.gardenpondforum.com/art...or-in-the-poor-fish-health-for-the-novice.39/


Dave 54

Thank you
I did do a partial water change and it helped. I didnt have the filter hooked up yet either. Now the filter and waterfall are running along with frash water i think it will improve.

 

[Patfish]

@Patfish Are you certain that this isn’t spawning behavior?

I am pretty sure they are both male fish. I have two female fish and one disappeared. The one female that is left is pretty obvious.
The injured fish has the white spots on its gills like boys get