My goldfish has tiny white balls on it. What is it? Is it contagious?

It could be early ich (white spot) infection or another infection (bacterial or fungal). To be safe, separate him into a quarantine tank and monitor for any change. You can treat for ich as you did it in the past if indicated. Bacterial and fungal infections have different treatments, so I would be hesitant to recommend a specific medication without more information or a definitive diagnosis. You can use plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt or Epsom salt). As a general tonic to reduce stress, increase gill function, treat minor infection of many types and to aid in recovery. This can be added to the quarantine tank at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess the condition.

It sounds like they have "ich". Here is a good video about ich that should answer most of your questions. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVwyOifCRHI ) I suggest you talk to an aquarist in your area to get some medication. ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/aqua-life-aquarium-rocklin-2?osq=aquarium+store ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

The tiny spots could be a parasite infection. Ich presents as small dots similar to grains of salt. It will quickly overrun a tank and can kill fish if left untreated. You will need to treat the entire tank as opposed to just affected fish. A broad spectrum parasite medication that covers ich can be purchased at the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Thanks for reaching out about Peaches and including photos. One concern would be a parasitic infestation, such as Ich. Contacting Petsmart to see what their recommendations are, would be a first start. A veterinary visit should be scheduled, a skin scrape to identify the parasite and recommend a treatment. If it is Ich, this requires a prolonged treatment over several weeks. Good luck.

If it is fuzzy, it is likely fungal. You can try with a commercial antifungal medication such as API Fungal Cure, methylene blue or Pimafix/Melafix. These can be purchased online or in the aquarium section of most pet stores. Read package directions carefully and remove the carbon insert from the filter before treatment if indicated. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) can be used in conjunction with one of the above treatments to aid healing. Dissolve up to one tablespoon per gallon of water into the tank. Fungal infections can take up to two weeks to resolve with treatment. Maintain proper water parameters (0 ppm ammonia/nitrites, 40ppm or less nitrates and temp of 65 F to 72 F). If possible, remove the affected fish yo a hospital tank during treatment.

Im sorry for the loss of your fish. It could be, but without an exam it is difficult to say definitively. Some fungal or bacterial infections are contagious. Monitor the other fish for similar symptoms. Maintain pristine water quality and consider an "all-in-one" treatment if necessary. You can find these treatments in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Thanks for reaching out about your fish. Red spot disease is a fungal infection and usually appear fluffy. Adding anti-fungal medication to the tank is not recommended as these can often cause more problems. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess. If you only have goldfish, no live plants, no invertebrates, you can try adding aquariums salt (not table salt) to the tank at 1 Tablespoon per 5 gallons, once daily for 3 consecutive days to slowly raise the salt concentration. Monitor appetite. If fish seem stressed, perform a partial water change. Good luck.