Goldfish found in stream - Help please

[Apapa]

Hi
I am new to this site and considering how brilliant it is, I feel silly asking this question.
I live down stream of a watercress farm, with wonderful spring water, The stream is very silted up and weedy however today I found a goldfish stuck ontop of the weed. Clearly been dumped. I have never kept fish. It is about 6-7" long and has what i think is an ulcer on its fin and a lump on its side. It also has four baby leeches stuck to its fin. Other than that he his really pretty and looks in good health.

I have no idea what to do now - I have put it in a big plastic container with some of the weed, but should I have just left it to the Herons and egrets or.......what? Dont even know what to feed it and dont know if it is an outside or inside fish. Does anyone know what I can do to help him?

look forward to hearing from someone. regards Apapa.

[werdnal]

No expert, but I think most goldfish are hardy enough to live outside, although if it has been kept indoors, suddenly moving it will be a shock. Don't use tap water for it, only natural water - stream, river, water-butt etc.

If you don't have any facility to keep it, take it along to a local aquatic supplier. They will be able to identify the particular species and may take it off your hands and keep it in quarantine until they know its well enough to rehome.

You have done right to remove it from the wild. A number of goldfish have been dumped in a pond on one of our local SSSI sites, and they cause havoc with the local pondlife. It may not have been dumped by humans though, it could have been taken by a heron from a local garden pond and dropped.

Welcome to the site by the way!

[domiles1]

First of all, the 'lump' and 'ulcer' need to be properly identified as they might be diseases common among domestic/pet coldwater fish that are hard to cure. The fish should certainly be quarantined to avoid infecting others.
Natural water or tap water that has been allowed to stand for a day or two and a reasonable size container for a temporary home. The added aquatic plant life is a good idea. Use only proper fish tank gravel, washed - no sand!
An aquatic dealer may be able to identify any illness and advise on treatment but I have personally had very varied success with attempting to cure. Dealers and pet shop owners that I know would not bother to take the fish from you and treat it - too time consuming for no profit. If the fish s seriously ill and suffering, there are various recommended but horrible-sounding ways to put it out of its misery.
If the fish is deemed fit and ok to mix with others, I would find a friend/neighbour with a pond or large fish tank where it can start a new life with new friends!

[Cowgirl]

Or dig a pond for it & you too can become totally obsessed like the rest of us

[Apapa]

Goldfish update.

Thank you all so much for your posts, very helpful. I took 'chips' as he is now called, to the vet as I was going anyway with my dog - I convinced the vet it was a two for one offer! Anyway, he told me there was little I could do about the lumps and bumps and offered to remove the leeches if need be. By chance these fell off after a couple of days. An aquatic centre told me to use dishwasher salt to clear up anything nasty which I have done. Chips is now with a friend who has a 7 yr old son and very excited about his first pet, which is thriving in fresh river water and change of weed every few days in an enormous container until they dig their pond. I was sorry to see him go and am on the look out for any more. Thanks all.

[posie]

Originally Posted by Apapa

Goldfish update.

Thank you all so much for your posts, very helpful. I took 'chips' as he is now called, to the vet as I was going anyway with my dog - I convinced the vet it was a two for one offer! Anyway, he told me there was little I could do about the lumps and bumps and offered to remove the leeches if need be. By chance these fell off after a couple of days. An aquatic centre told me to use dishwasher salt to clear up anything nasty which I have done. Chips is now with a friend who has a 7 yr old son and very excited about his first pet, which is thriving in fresh river water and change of weed every few days in an enormous container until they dig their pond. I was sorry to see him go and am on the look out for any more. Thanks all.

What a super end to your story...Well Done You..you see, as Cowgirl anticipated, you've now got the 'bug', waiting for another poor needy creature to come your way. Fantastic !...Hope you stick around on WAB and let us know of your future successes....Posie..:congratula tions: