Goldfish problem?

Question

My two year old goldfish is staying at the top of the water. He acts normal otherwise but whenever you look at him he looks like he's eating something from the top of the water but theirs nothing their. They have plenty of oxygen with two extra bubble sticks just to make sure. Why is he staying at the top of the water? He doesn't have any noticeable diseases.

its 125 gallon with 3 goldfish, 2 angel fish, several mollies, 3 plecostamus', and 2 cat fish.

Answer 1

Why do you have tropical fish and goldfish together? They aren't from the same type of water at all.
Do you have a filter in the tank? Fish at the top of the water are only there for oxygen. Test the water for harmful chemicals.

Answer 2

Hide somewhere and take a peek at them, when there is no one around do they still hang on the top?

You see, goldfishes are very greedy and as long as they can see (food provider) people walking beside their tank, they tend to swim near the surface waiting for you to feed them. The good thing about fishes that behaves like that is that they are stable and have got use to people near their tank. If thats the case then there is nothing you need to worry about.

The other factor casuing the goldfish to hang on the surface and gulping air is that the dissolve oxygen (DO) in the water is too low. That could be because the water is too warm, warm water can retain lesser DO thereby causing the fishes to gulp for air. If thats the case, turn the heater lower ( if there is one in your tank) or else (no heater) try to identify the source of heat (eg. sunny window or near fireplace) and remove/reduce it or move your tank to somewhere else.

Hopes this help

Answer 3

hello, maybe u should try doing a 25% water change. sometimes when the water clarity is bad fish do tend to stay at the top of the tank. on the other hand, i have a large fancy fantail that gets his water changes weekly and a snack after wards(LOL) that likes to hang out up top sometimes. i would try the water change keep up with them and see if he goes further to the bottom. it might be a normal thing for him or your water. its hard to say. start with the water changes. good luck!..jewels

Answer 4

Check the water perimeters. If you don't have a test kit take a sample to the fish store and they will do it for free.

Do a 25% water change and don't forget to add water that has NO chlorine.

You could try treating for disease just in case but if you don't see anything then I wouldn't.

Answer 5

I once took a fish back to the pet store because all he did was sit at the top and blow bubbles, kinda of like he was trying to eat nother. I asked the people at the pet store and they said that nothing was wrong with him he just wanted to mate.

Answer 6

Goldfish have a connection between their swimbladder and their mouth. He may be trying to adjust the amount of air in his bladder. Goldfish often have swimbladder difficulties. You might want to try sinking pellet food so he won't swallow so much air when eating.

Answer 7

Might be time to change the water and clean the tank. They're dirty fish and they really need clean water. It might look clean but change it anyway. Try smelling it.

Answer 8

I know I'm not much help but I would give the pet store a call they would probably know better than some of us.

Answer 9

If he is on a regular diet- feeding schedule, have you done your weekly water changes?

how big is your tank? how many fish do you have in there?
what filtration are you on???

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Answer 10

its normal for a fish to do that. no worrys... worry only if your fish doesnt swim straight or if it doesnt move...

hope for the best! =)