When your goldfish starts to move about sluggishly or looking unwell you need to examine the number one cause your goldfish ailments. In most cases, the ailments can be traced right back to their owners.

One of the most common goldfish ailments is constipation. Yes, even a goldfish can become constipated, causing all kind of trouble. If you notice their production of feces has decreased, or quit being in the same long normal looking sections, they are likely constipated. To correct constipation you can try a little Epson salts added to the tank, or even using some chopped earthworms with a little added castor oil on them.

Another of the common goldfish ailments is dropsy. Dropsy will show itself through a bulging, bloated stomach and bulging eyes. This disease is life threatening, and usually only when discovered very early can it be stopped. It is caused by bacteria, cancer, and parasites. All of these conditions are brought on by improperly maintained water.

This brings us to a crucial point. Almost all fish ailments can be traced to three major causes, all of which you are responsible for.

The first cause is poor water quality. If you do not change the water, clean the tank, and maintain the right chemical balance, your fish will die. It is that simple. This is your primary job in caring for your fish.

The second large cause of goldfish ailments is overfeeding. This is the most common cause of constipation. It also leads to poor water quality since the fish produce more waste.

The third major culprit you bring into the tank is infected fish or plants. You must make sure any new fish, plants, or decorations are safe before adding them to your aquarium or goldfish pond. If you introduce a disease, you could suddenly go from a pond full of healthy goldfish to starting over. Make sure you buy from high quality dealers, and consider keeping your new goldfish separated for a couple days to observe their condition before mixing with your healthy fish.

One treatment which seems to help many goldfish ailments is to give them running, or trickling water. This makes sure there is a high turnover of the waste products in the water, and a high amount of oxygen. The best procedure is to remove the ill goldfish from the others, place them in an aquarium, large washtub, or other water reservoir, and then give them a lightly trickling supply of water. You will discover in many cases the fish become more lively, healthy appearing, and fully recovered in just a few days.

Since most causes of goldfish ailments can be tracked back to you, it is imperative you start paying attention to your responsibilities with your goldfish. Make sure to take care of the water on a regularly scheduled basis. Balance the feeding to give them enough food, but never overfeed. Sterilize new items going into your goldfish ponds and aquariums to make sure all the fish stay healthy. With these simple guidelines you will maintain healthier fish.