My poor lil goldfish looks depressed and is swimming on its side, anything i can do? Thanks
2007-01-08 02:34:51 · 13 answers · asked by Keira 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
it could be its swimming bladder infected.what i did with mine when they've had this is put it in a bowl with water just covering it with aquarium salt in it.amount on packet then you add more water every day until the fish is ok. good luck and i hope your fish will be ok
2007-01-08 02:48:03 · answer #1 · answered by wendywoo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have to figure out why it is sick, and fix the problem.
You didn't specify what type of tank your fish is in. Does he have an adequately sized tank (a goldfish needs 15 gallons of water, per fish)? With a proper filter?
Because he's swimming on his side, I'm going to assume that you're keeping him in a bowl or a small tank. Despite popular belief, goldfish can NOT be kept this way. They are big fish (many can easily grow the total length of one of those little bowls) and they are poop machines. Kept in a bowl, they will become stunted and die of ammonia poisoning because when they poop (which is basically nothing but toxic ammonia) it just sits in the water and rots.
A goldfish needs a real tank. If you could get a used 15 gallon tank with filter, I'm sure you could find one for 20 or 30 dollars, used.
He may be too far gone right now. You can try feeding him pieces of shelled pea to see if that makes him feel better.
If you DO have a proper sized tank and filter, do you clean it enough? 30% water change and gravel vacuum is necessary on a weekly basis.
Otherwise, it could be the quality of the fish, especially if you got it at walmart. Some fish just are not healthy at the petstore.
2007-01-08 02:41:40 · answer #2 · answered by Zoe 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could be a swim bladder problem. You can get a treament for this from the pet shop.
Also make sure your fish has a good oxygen supply. Try a good filter with an air diffuser on it. Also make sure you do a partial water change every fortnight at least, and that you clean your filter foam in aquarium water.
All that might sound a load of random instructions, but water quality is the main cause of upset for fishies!
2007-01-08 05:27:25 · answer #3 · answered by icklnickla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chill his water, add a couple of ice cubes and some table salt, not too much though. I have used this technique in the past. Gold fish don't need very warm water, usually the colder the better. Never use fresh tap water always stand water overnight.
With any luck the chilling and salt will rid the infection.
2007-01-08 02:47:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He might not be getting enough air, check your bubbler, make sure its putting out enough air.
also, if you've got him in a bowl, take him out and put him in a tank. he needs at minimum 10 gallons until he's 5 years old, then likely, double that after he's 5. if kept properly, a goldfish can live 15 to 20 YEARS....
add 1/4 teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon to the water, and make sure he has enough air. he might be constipated too, has he been pooping? give him 2 or 3 husked pieces of corn or husked peas to help with digestion. besides, they LOVE veggies.
good luck, hope he gets better!
2007-01-08 03:18:20 · answer #5 · answered by Silver Thunderbird 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Either the water isn't in good condition, the fish may just be sick, or he has an infection. Do a partial water change, and try some EPSON salt dips. If there is anything on the exterior of the fish that wasn't there before, it's most likely bacterial, www.aqua-reliable.co.nr, that may help, good luck, sorry if i didn't help.
2007-01-08 05:01:38 · answer #6 · answered by Flames Fan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i desire your tank is 40 or more effective gallons. Goldfish are often non violent fish and in consumer-friendly words get nippy with one yet another if there's a territory project. Goldfish also require a style of food or they get constipated. it really is extremely the in consumer-friendly words reason i might want to imagine of. they're attacking one yet another because there is no longer adequate room.
2016-12-28 09:38:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What did you do to him?
I hope you never put him in fresh tap water!
With all that chlorine it's like you swimming in bleach
Euthanasia is common practice it's in every fish book
You should add more detail where is it kept ,how long you have had it ,what was the last change you made to it's environment if any
2007-01-08 02:39:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Swimming on its side?
Sorry to say, but it probably has ick or some other bacterial infection.
It will probably pass away in the next 3 days. Usually at that stage, its too late.
2007-01-08 02:39:26 · answer #9 · answered by I Love My Kitties 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
has your gold fish gotwhite spots on its skin ?
If yes then you need to be really carefull because they get white stress spots if the tank is knocked this can cause strange behavoiur
Is there only 1 fish in tank i heard goldfish need to be in pairs
2007-01-08 02:46:16 · answer #10 · answered by rhynoz 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋