Twitching??

[emi-chan]

Just noticed in the past few days that my goldfish's fins are twitching every so often. Anything I should be worried about?? It's like how a cat fetches when they're asleep... Sortof

[Diana]

I am not sure if this is another way they act when they itch, but have you noticed them flashing?

[emi-chan]

Flashing?

[starsplitter7]

Flashing is often when they rub against decor because of skin irritations like ick.

[emi-chan]

nope, no flashing and no visible changes to her scales or anything...

[starsplitter7]

I am no good at guessing illness or even the lack of illness, but has there been a big temp change up or down? I know that can cause strange reactions in my fish. Are there other fish showing similar signs? The fish could have issues that aren't visible or hard to see like velvet.

[emi-chan]

i have to admit that the water quality was down and the temperature was fluctuating more than normal due to a period of severe cold but it seems that she has stopped twitching now. neither of the 2 loaches seemed bothered by anything. maybe it was just a little spell of twitchyness like people get twitchy nerves!

[emi-chan]

right ok, she's flashing and twitching now...
she seems to have some sort of parasite or slim coat issue.
i want to treat her with salt like i did the other. what's the dosage again???

[Diana]

Golds can handle a high dose of salt, Loaches cannot.
For Goldfish:
1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. Raise the level about 1/3 dose each day for 3 days.
Day 1: 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.
Day 2: 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.
Day 3: 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

Metric:
1 teaspoon is about the same volume as 5 ml or 5 cc
1 gallon (American or Imperial) is close enough to 4 liters not to matter in this example.
So...
Each day for 3 days add 5 ml salt per 20 liters.
When you do water changes add salt to the new water at that rate so the level stays the same in the tank: 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons, or 15 ml per 20 liters.

Other things that can cause flashing or twitching, itchiness:
Wrong pH: Golds are pretty adaptable, but optimum pH is on the alkaline side of neutral, from about the upper 6s (pretty close to neutral) to mid 7s.
They appreciate somewhat harder water than many tropical fish, GH and KH from about 5 German degrees on up. Around 10 degrees is pretty good.
Ammonia is an irritant to gills and other soft tissue.

The best way to deal with irritants in the water is water changes, as long as the new water is free of those irritants.

[emi-chan]

so i worked it out that according to the packet i should have 6 tablespoons for the entire tank (120litres) so am i right in increasing the salt slowly each day to get to this quantity, like putting 1 tablespoon a day?
salt is confusing...

p.s. the loaches are going into a new 'hotel tank' next week while the golds are being treated (bought the tank today and got it all set up)