Why keep staying at the top of the tank?

Hi Gold fish experts,

I have a yuan bao who keeps staying at the top of the tank.

Notice that the dorsal fins and bottom fins turn black at the edge and some red patches on the body.

Can anyone advise me what actually happen?

Did 50% water change and declorinated the water and added epsom salt. Fish still stays at the top.

[dingo35]

Any excessive slime on the body? Most probably due to water. TRy adding a heater.

[Kheong]

Sounds like high ammonia or nitrite. Red streak on body/fins, and fish gasping near surface for more air as the gill function is somewhat compromised. Please help do a check on your parameters. Thanks.

Hi Bros,

Thank you very much for your advice.

I have changed 50% water every 2 days since last Saturday and declorinated the new water. High nitrite or ammonia content not likely. A 200 watts heater set at 30 degree C was added right from the start.

Epsom salt was added instead of normal salt. Could the red patches caused by the epsom salt?

Notice this morning that the yuan bao is breathing faster than normal. High probability that the gills are compromised and it is gasping for air at the top. Any idea how this has happened? Any medication that you can recommend to cure the compromised gills?

Also notice that there are several 1 to 2 mm white worm on the side of the tank. What are these and are they harmful to the gills? How to get rid of them?

Thank you all once again for the kind assistance and advice.

Best regards.

[ntkntk]

Bro, how big is your tank? Small white worms is a sign of bad water quality. Check if there is food/dead fish stuck somewhere in tank/filter system.

Hi Bro,

My tank is 3 ft x 2 ft x1.5ft.

There is no dead fish nor food left behind.

I changed 50% water once every 2 days.

Regards