For the second time i have just rescued my goldfish. it keeps swimming down the filter tube where the air bubbles come up (we have a biorb fish bowl), is it trying to kill itself?? it has also bent its 'wing' back now, will it be in pain??
2007-01-12 05:17:27 · 24 answers · asked by michelle l 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
No, he isn't trying to commit suicide. Fish are not self aware and are therefore not able to realize that if they die, they will cease to exist, let alone figure out HOW to do themselves in.
Anyway, your problem is caused by the fact that you're keeping a goldfish in a fishbowl. Goldfish do not belong in bowls. No fish do, but goldfish are one of the worst fish you could put in a bowl. Aside from being big, heavy bodied fish that can easily grow to 7", they are poop machines. They produce copious amounts of ammonia and they need a lot of water and proper filtration to dilute / degrade it. One fancy goldfish - the smallest type of goldish - needs at least 15 gallons of water. Other types like commons, comets and koi need to live in ponds.
Please consider getting a larger tank for your goldy, like 15 or 20 gallons, and I guarantee you'll notice a huge difference in colour, activity and overall health.
2007-01-12 05:36:43 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's been watching Finding Nemo too much!
Some fish are just attracted to the bubbles, go to have a look, and get stuck. Try putting a thin piece of gauze over the filter tube, this will let everything past except the fish! You'll need to replace it every now and again as the algae gets clogged in it though. Also, if its a goldfish, they don't need a filter, and can live in a bowl without one.
His fin (wing) is probably fine, I've had a few goldfish with broken fins and they seem to be alright, but if it's bent right back it may snap off eventually, so don't be alrmed if it does! Good luck!
2007-01-12 06:59:47 · answer #2 · answered by the_happy_green_fish 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Change your biorb to a proper tank with airstone and filter, biorbs are inadequate for goldfish. I'd also go for silk rather than plastic plants so he doesn't tear his fins, plus a nice resin cave he can hide in when he wants some peace and quiet!
Keep an eye on his fin, if it turns bloody and opaque the injury has left him with fin rot, you can get a treatment for this from your fish store.
Mine love playing with the bubbles from the airstone, even blasting themselves across the tank from the current, then going back for more....
2007-01-13 02:08:33 · answer #3 · answered by oranda lady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They love playing in the bubbles. Cover the top of the filter tube with a piece of netting. Lets the air through, keeps the fish out. Happy for everyone!
2007-01-12 05:33:39 · answer #4 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well they do like bubbles! Can you get any sort of mesh cap thing for the biorbs? I think he was probably swimming down there trying to lodge a pebble in the filter fan so that the tank will turn green and he will get put in a bag, which will subsequently allow him to escape to the sea!
2007-01-12 22:09:09 · answer #5 · answered by icklnickla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He might like the way the bubbles feel on him. My goldfish (in a pond) love to play in the waterfall. You might try getting an air stone or something so there are other bubbles he can play with instead of trying to swim into the tube. Or you might have to find another kind of filter.
2007-01-12 05:29:24 · answer #6 · answered by kittikatti69 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That bowl is useless, it has no suface area for oxygen exchange, the fish is suffacating or has gill flukes and is trying to remove them by getting in the bubbles. Try next time to purchase a tank that is for fish not because it looks cool.
2007-01-16 03:28:18 · answer #7 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the filter tube where air is comming up also is generating a slow current flow.
the fish thinks that there must be a stream where the water current is comming from and is trying to go to this other place!!
2007-01-15 00:18:56 · answer #8 · answered by jazz0011 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put some kind of mesh over the tube to stop the little bugger from going down there. There not clever enough to commit suicide
2007-01-12 05:23:18 · answer #9 · answered by multibite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fish are not the brightest of pets so dont understand they are not supposed to go there..your fish sounds a little nervous and using the filter to hide..try buying a little aquarium toy where he can hide in or some plants..but make sure the plants are clean of parasites as they can make the fish ill and very unhappy
2007-01-14 09:01:58 · answer #10 · answered by yummy_mummy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋