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Author Topic: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..  (Read 2353 times)
Carol
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My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« on: April 27, 2010, 10:45:41 AM »
Yesterday they were swimming to the top a lot, so I changed 25% of the water... now today they are not grazing like normal, they are just floating in the middle of the tank at about middle depth.. any suggestions? are they okay?

Thanks
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Nicole
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2010, 10:58:40 AM »
As always, check your water (ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, chlorine, pH, etc).  How are the values?
How do they look?  Same as always?  Covered with white specks?  Kind of "puffy"?  Streaks on their fins?
If nothing else, try giving them some shelled, mashed peas and see if that does anything.
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Nossie
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2010, 11:51:24 AM »
There's most certainly something wrong with your water, get it tested immediately! Either you buy a test kit for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates or take it to your pet shop to get it tested.

I'd recommend the first option, as a water test kit will be incredibly useful whenever your fish are acting different than usual! Most of the time the fish isn't sick, but unless the problem with the water won't be repaired, it might have terrible consequences in form of parasites, bacterial- or viral infections.

And I would also like you to answer some questions: How big is your tank? Do you have a good filter and an air stone? How many fish do you have, and which sizes?
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Carol
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2010, 12:39:00 PM »
okay I just went out and bought a pH kit and a ammonia kit... I didn't see a nitrate one at the store... ammonia is 0, pH is between 6.0-6.5... that's all I know!

I also added a few drops of something to help the tap water... some product for their scales etc and to help eliminate chlorine?


Also, for my tank info... I just measured it, it's 2 feet by 1 foot by 1 foot.. so I think that's 20 gallons.  I've got 3 goldfish, and one black bottom feeder cat-fish looking plectosaurussomethingorother!

My fish don't seem to be just floating listlessly anymore.. maybe they were just taking a nap and I was paranoid?  But I still don't know why they gasp for air from time to time.
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Carol
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2010, 02:12:02 PM »
oh and the fish's sizes... umm there are two about two inches long and one almost three inches long. the pleco is about 2 inches long. I have a filter... not an air stone, not sure what that is.
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Bohrah
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2010, 02:38:14 PM »
What type of filter is it? Is it a power filter (one that plugs into an electrical outlet) or a type that is attached to an air pump and how many gph (gallon per hour) is it rated for? Did you add the water conditioner to the tap water when you changed the water yesterday or just now? Chlorine can damage the fish gills and impair their ability to absorb oxygen from the water, so if that 's the case they could be gasping at the surface.   

Also if the filter is too weak and the water doesn't circulate enough, then the amount of dissolved oxygen available in the water will  be low and the fish could go to the surface and gasp.


An airstone is powered by an air pump and creates tiny little bubbles . Its purpose is to help increase oxygenation in the aquarium water.
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Nossie
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2010, 03:52:38 PM »
You added a water conditioner in other words? (The thing that eliminates chlorine)
That might just have been the problem! It's very important to use a water conditioner to remove harmful substances from tap water. Tap water isn't aquarium water without it since chlorine and chloramines are toxic to fish! Wink Much like Bohrah said.

I'd like to add one thing though! This pleco of yours might cause trouble with your goldfish, so keep an eye on him! Plecos and other sucker mouth catfish tend to jump up on sleeping goldfish and eat their protective slime coat, making them vulnerable to infections. So if you'd ever see the goldfish with reddenings or wounds on their skin, you should separate them from the pleco right away!
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Hanna
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2010, 05:14:54 PM »
There are so called Master Test Kits arround for about $ 50 (Australian Dollars) the contain tests for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate pH normal range and pH high range. They last for about 80 tests. It is very important for Nitrites to be 0 ppm as well as they are highly toxic and will lead to death... which we do NOT want to happen

Doing the waterchange I use to add API StressZyme and API StressCoat according to the direction how to use.
The first one contains live bacteria they help to maintain the biological filter, keep the water clean and support the cycle. The second one removes chlorine and other chemicals from the tap water and helps to maintain a healthy slime coat on the fish and a better healing of wounds and growth of tissue.

If they are at the surface of the tank, they suffer lack of oxygen due to a not completed nitrogen cycle, lack of aeration (no airstone) poor filtration, lack of natural plants.

Like Bohrah mentioned: please install an airstone. We do have a bubble wall along the entire length at the back of our tank. And our fishies LOVE it, like a spa.
And please make sure ALL your water parameters are right, at the same time like Nossie mentioned, watch your goldies and the pleco.
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Carol
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2010, 05:29:02 PM »
Thanks so much guys, they seem to be fine now!!  I wish I hadn't blown money on test kits but I guess I have them now for later purposes lol I'll keep my eye out for an airstone!
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Hanna
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Re: My goldfish aren't swimming much anymore..
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2010, 05:56:23 PM »
We are here to help, Carol

But you need to have those test kits. They are necessary to monitor the water quality.

Yes, get a nice airstone or an airhose. we replaced the airstone with an airhose, not for a certain reason though, but it might be an easier maintenance as the stones ar very fragile and can brake.

I attach a couple of fotos they show the back wall of the tank and our fishies in the bubbles.
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