i bought two of the goldfish last night at the pet store that had the fluttery fins and tails (not the just plain ol eighty cent ones...if that will make a difference)
they acted fine last night in the fish bowl i put them in, but when i got up this morning, they were at the top of the water 'drinking air' so to say. that was around 730. its now 1130 and they are still doing this.
what is wrong and how do i correct it?
2006-10-04 04:24:25 · 13 answers · asked by jessie 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
well I am not sure what you mean by "drinking air". But they be trying to get oxygen. Goldfish are not labyrinth so they cannot actually get oxygen from the air. They get it from the water. Also their bowl may be too small. General rule of thumb for goldfish is two gallons of water for every inch of fish. They are messy fish. If they are in need of oxygen; breaking the surface of the water will put oxygen in the water. They may be hungry. Or they may be sick. Good luck.
2006-10-04 04:32:46 · answer #1 · answered by Charis 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They need more oxygen Buy an air pump and air stone. There will also be a problem with the water getting polluted because the container is too new. Change 10% of the water every day for a week, then 20% of the water once a week. Tanks and bowls grow beneficial bacteria to help keep the fish waste from becoming toxic. Only feed them every other day for the first week while this cycle develops in your bowl, the less fish poop, the less toxins in your water.
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2006-10-04 13:19:58 · answer #2 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bowl is too small for them and they are running out of oxygen in the water, so they're trying to get some from the air. This is very unhealthy.
First of all, change their water right away. Make sure it is the same temperature and that it's dechlorinated.
Secondly, you MUST give them a bigger tank. Goldfish should have 10 or more gallons each, per fish, to be healthy. They really need a tank with a filter because of how messy they are and how fast they foul up their water. Water with no filter just allows their waste to build up and make the water toxic. When the fish has to breathe toxic water, it quickly becomes sick and dies.
Please read this care sheet for a good idea of how goldfish should be taken care of:
http://thegab.org/Articles/GoldfishBasics.html
These fish can live many years and grow up to 10 inches long if cared for properly, so please give your fish a chance by reading up on what exactly they need.
2006-10-04 11:37:09 · answer #3 · answered by greyanemone 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NO NO NO! Those fish can't survive in a fish bowl. Their lungs are small and there is not enough oxygen in a fish bowl to keep them happy or alive!
You need to get them a proper fish tank and spank the person that sold them to you!
2006-10-04 12:48:49 · answer #4 · answered by lellylurve 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just that the oxygen in ur tank is depleted and they are hungry.
Aerate it- pass air - use a small air pump on a regular basis and FEED them
if u dont have a pump- change water right away- and put them in a larger tank
2006-10-04 11:40:46 · answer #5 · answered by kapilbansalagra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theres not enough air in the water. Although most people think goldfish can live in bowls, they cannnot. You need to get a tank for them immediately......if not, they will die. Also, make sure its a big enough tank cause goldfish are dirty and will kill themselves with their own urine (ammonia in the water)
2006-10-04 11:57:34 · answer #6 · answered by little lady 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to put an aerator in the bowl. Actually, if they are decent size fish, you need to put them in a tank, like 10 gallons and put the air in there. They are not getting enough air and will die.
2006-10-04 11:32:57 · answer #7 · answered by jagerchick80 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if they are swimming around fine, and they are just going to the surface every little bit and sucking in some air, it's perfectly normal. many fish in the goldfish family do this, such as the bigger relatives like carp and koi. unless they are having trouble swimming and are just floating on the surface you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
2006-10-04 11:35:12 · answer #8 · answered by GhostBear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give the fish to someone who won't kill them by keeping them in a bowl then learn how to properly take care an animal before buying another one.
2006-10-04 13:20:41 · answer #9 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you live inside town your fish are in water that is chlorinated by the city. the best thing for your fish is to buy some spring water and dechlorinater. put the dechlorinater in the water and change your water often
2006-10-04 11:37:05 · answer #10 · answered by lucky 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋