Goldfish is laying in the corner of the tank?
I'm guessing that the tank you put the fish in is new as well. Goldfish tend to produce a fair amount of wastes, part of which is ammonia. This is toxic to fish are fairly low levels (0.5 parts per million is where they begin to feels stressed). Depending on the level in your tank, the fish may tend to become lethargic, lose it's appetite, or gasp as the surface for air. Eventually, this will be converted to nitrate when the tank builds up a supply of benefical bacteria, but until that happens, you'll need to do frequent partial water changes. This could be part of the problem, but doesn't explain the fast swimming. Another thing I'd check out is the flow from the filter. If your goldfish is small, or if it's a fancy type (one with a double tail and round body), these tend to be poor swimmers. They're bred for looks, not speed. If the flow rate from the filter is too fast, it may be in the corner trying to stay out of the current, but when it comes out (to eat or just change position), it has to work extra hard to swim against the current. If your filter has a way to adjust the flow (either by a knob at the top of the tube that goes into the water or by turning the entire tube to one side), turn the rate down and see if the behavior changes.
If my goldfish is constantly picking at the bottom of the tank, is he hungry?
That is natural behaviour for carp species (including goldfish) which are bottom feeding fish. They dig around in the substrate looking for small invertebrates to eat. They don't forget that have already eaten. Studies have shown that goldfish can retain a memory for 6 months. The 3 second memory is a myth. They are hard wired to be searching for food most of the time, you do not need to give them any more.
Why is my goldfish laying on the bottom of the tank?
The aquarium is too small for goldfish, a minimum of 30 gallon is required for two goldfish h.they are very high bioload fish.Your aquarium must be high in both ammonia and nitrites.The sign your fish are showing are classical signs of high ammonia and nitrites, the gill linings of fish get burnt due to high level of pollutants,. The fish is nit able to breathe properly.Immediately get ammonia lockers from Market, check which brands are available.Also either get a bigger tank or exchange them for a single betta, the only fish that can live in a tank of that size
Why are my goldfish floating in the tank or lying on the bottom of the tank?
Because they are probably dead, fish are sensitive to the water conditions, if you're using tap water in the tank you need to add tap safe, this takes out the nastiest elements in water or use RO water, reverse osmosis water, this is pure water. Also this is dependant on the type of fish your keeping. fish need to be kept at a certain temperature, fresh water, tropical, marine fish thrive in different temperatures. Know the type of fish you have. You'll need to get a water heater to keep them happy.
Why is my goldfish laying on his side at the bottom of his tank?
This could be lots of things.First, the fact that nitrates are 0 not normal, just as you suspect. Could your testing kit be expired or of questionable quality? I sounds fishy to me. Perhaps you can take a sample of the water to the fish store for a second opinion.The algae is odd. Does it easily wipe off? Is it more brown then orange? It could be a diatom buildup from changing the filter, in which case it would stop forming on its own in time and is harmless.Do you feed the fish sparingly, in more frequent smaller meals, while submerging the food and ensuring most of it gets eaten?Is the fish seeming to breath normally? If so, it could be a swim bladder problem. Read more about it here Causes and Cures for Goldfish Swim Bladder DisordeRegardless it never hurts to do a partial water change for now and each day while you sort this out. The idea of asking at a dedicated forum is also a good idea.In the end, I hate to say it, but sometimes a fish loses it’s swimming ability simply because it is on its way out.
Goldfish laying at the Bottom of tank? Gasping For Air?
I think you're right when you say the tank was shocked. As you changed all the water & going on the symtoms IMO whether the store said the water was fine or not, i personally think it's suffering from Ammonia Poisoining. You haven't said if there's a filter? It sounds as if the tanks been thrown into cycling and the water needs to be tested 'a lot'. The liquid API test is reliable. It needs a lot of water changing to keep the Ammonia as near to 0.ppm as possible. It will then spike with Nitites which also needs loads of water changes to try 7 keep that as near to o.ppm as possible . I'm feeling pretty sure on what you've said the red markings are Ammonia burns & the cllody eyes could be slime,also brought on by toxic water, plus the gasping & sudden darting around then listless on the bottom again If the tank was at your place for a while just' perhaps' you could keep on top of this ? If he was a newly brought fish I would advise to take him back while the Tank cycles but as your Gran has had him for this length of time I can't say that. To be quite honest if water testing every day (even twice per day) isant carried out by you (not the store) and water changes made i'm not at all sure he will make it through especially by the symtoms you're describing right.now To clarify, i feel he;s in Toxic water .
My fish keeps sitting in the bottom corners of the tank and not moving much. why?
What kind of fish is it? What size tank, and have you checked the parameters? Some fish (like guppies) can have babies several times after being exposed to males. edit: Thats a Koi (the barbels on the mouth give that away), they need to be in a pond of at least 1000 gallons. It is probably suffering from ammonia buildup in the tank. I would find someone with a pond and give it to them, or return it to the store. Oh and Koi are coldwater pond fish not tropical. If your fish doesn't have barbels by the mouth then it is a goldfish. Which is still a coldwater fish and you will need at least a 30g but preferable larger tank for just that fish. Also a 4 year old goldfish/koi should be much larger than 3-4" I have a fish that isn't even 1 year and is pushing 6 inches. Please either give the fish away or upgrade as soon as possible. Here are a few good sites to learn alot about goldfish/koi care. http://www.aquariacentral.com (coldwater section) http://www.thegab.org (a goldfish website) good luck!
Why do my fantail goldfish keep dying?
A month ago I bought one fantail goldfish from a pet shop, measured the correct amount of water ratio: dechlorinating solution, had a live plant and rocks in the bottom of the tank as well as a filter to clean the water. For the 1st 3 days the fish was actively swimming around the tank, eating the prescribed amount the pet shop lady told me and was healthy. Then on the 4th day, it started sitting in the bottom corner of the tank or lying in the plant horizontally all day and night. I knew something was wrong but everytime I went up to the tank the fish would start swimming around again. One night when I came home from work, I found the fish dead horizontally in the tree. About 2 weeks later I decided to try again with a fantail. I bought new rocks, a new plant and left the filter off for the 1st 3 days to let the bacterial balance build up. I turned on the filter yesterday for about 3 hours but the fish seemed to be sitting in the bottom corner of the tank like my other deceased one did, so I turned the filter off (the tank water looks and smells clean still). However, the fishes top fin has been down and I read someone that may be due to an illness he's contracted. He didn't eat any food tonight, and I fear he's going to be dead by tomorrow. I don't know what I'm doing wrong!! I've followed all instructions given and yet my fish still end up dying! Advice would be much appreciated.
Goldfish lying vertical in fish tank?
From what you describe I am not to clear it is swim bladder. Typically swim bladder problems appear and become progressively worse over time if the root cause is not addressed. Most times the cause is overfeeding or poor diet. This sounds like it suddenly appeared without warning. Prior to finding the fantail 'at the top of the pond' did you observe any bouncy issues? For an extreme case to appear suddenly is not something I've seen or experienced. That the fantail recovered then sank to the bottom but has survived for 3-4 weeks leads me to believe it might be something else. What it might be I can't say for sure, maybe the onset of dropsy. And the fact that he was floating before and sinking now is puzzling. I would test the water in the 20 gal. to ensure the ammonia level is not high. And if you want to try some 'natural' medication I would use Melafix and Pimafix in combination but this would be stricly trial and error since it might help but might not. However, I can't see how it would do any harm given the circumstances.
Is it o.k. to have a sucker fish (plecostomus) in the tank with goldfish? I had one for 4 years in my tank, and it recently died. I went to Petsmart and the lady told me that it was not good to put the sucker fish in with goldfish.
I agree with her it should be avoided.Many times pelco are kept in aquariums as they “supposed” to eat algae and clean tank, this is a myth.They eat algae only when they are young, as they grow up they need food, like other fish.Due to their nature of staying at bottom and not very agile swimmers, they are not able to compete for food and go hungry. This forces them to suck on slime coat of fish.Goldfish have large bodies and a good amount of slime coat, often at night when they are asleep, pleco sucks on their slime coat and can actually harm them.It is not easy to feed pleco in a community tank.