Can you help me figure out what is wrong with my comet goldfish?!?

Question

I just got this fish yesterday I put it in a bowl with 2 other comet goldfish thay are way smaller than the one I got yesterday anyway it is not moving much it circles around the bowl really fast then settles back on the gravel on the bottem of the bowl it usely does that thing when it cicles around the tank when I look ta it from the top of the bowl I am really concernd this is exactley what I did when I into my hous I I put it in a nother cup so it would be easier to scoop it out in my hand beacuse it is hard to take a fish out of a bag then I dumped it with my hand in the fish bowl I thought there was something wrong with the water at first so I changed the water the old way thats when you take the fish out of the bowl and into a cup then you clean the bowl put new water in put the water clarifier inthen wait a few seconds then dump the fishback in the new water with my hand I dont have filter that is why I had to clean the filter out with my hands do you guyes think there is any

way I can make a filter you know a nive and sterdy one and how do you cycle a tank I heard that is a good thing to do can you explain to me how you cycle a tank?

Answer 1

Okay, here are the rules for keeping goldfish. They are not the simple, easy fish to keep that people have stereotyped them to be. There are a lot of rules to taking care of goldfish. Sorry this is so long, but we're starting from the beginning here.
Goldfish have a fast metabolism, which means that they create a lot of poop. A lot of poop translates to high nitrogen and ammonia levels in the water. As such, goldfish CANNOT be kept in a bowl. Goldfish need 10 gallons of water PER fish for fish up to 3 inches. They need 15 gallons of water PER fish for fish up to 4 inches. They need 20 gallons of water PER fish for fish up to 6 inches, and it can get to be as much as 60 gallons of water PER fish for fish around 12 inches in length. So, you must get these fish out of that bowl and into a 30 gallon container. I'm sure you can't afford to run out and get an aquarium, so those plastic storage bins work great as a make-shift aquarium. They are marked in gallon increments, so look for one that is a minimum of 30 gallons. Look for a container that is about 36" x 18" x 12" in one way or another. Water must be cycled before you add goldfish to the water. Cycling is a process that "ages" the water and takes out the chlorine, ammonia, nitrogen and gets the water balanced with beneficial bacteria. You don't have time to properly cycle the water now, so for now, you can do a mini-quick cycle. Use as much spring water as you can. Go to the store and buy those gallon jugs of spring water. I know it's expensive, but even getting half the water will help since you have an emergency situation here and don't have time to cycle the water naturally. Then go to a pet store that sells aquarium supplies and get some dechlorinator, a ph stablizer for goldfish, it should be for a 7.0 ph level, get some Stress-Coat and ask them for some live bacteria. It is live, so it has to be kept in a fridge, so it won't be on the shelves. Get these things added to the water according to the directions. You also will need to get some test strips for, at least, ammonia, but they sell strips that test the whole range of water parameters. Try to get the water to the needed requirements, but for now, you may not have time to get the ammonia, nitrates and nitrites in their proper range, but learn how to do this for future water changes. Goldfish need a lot of air in the water. Pumps come in sizes as to how many gallons per hour they pump. The rule for goldfish is that you buy a pump that can pump 10X the gallons per hour that your tank is. So, if you have a 30 gallon tank, you need a pump that pumps a minimum of 300 gallons of water per hour. So, you need to buy a pump as well and get that going in your tank. Then you can add the fish. You never completely change all the water in an aquarium. For goldfish, you take out about 30% of the water once a week and replace it with cycled water. You also need to get a siphon so that you can suck out all the uneaten food and poop that collects in the gravel. You do this once a week as well. I have included a link below that tells you how to cycle water. Because goldfish produce such high waste, they only need to be fed once a day and just enough that they can eat the equivalent of about two mouthsful. Whether you feed flakes or pellets, you need to soak the food before feeding so that the goldfish don't get air in their stomachs. Remove any uneaten food after 5 minutes. Goldfish also need a variety of foods such as dried bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, dark green lettuces (not iceberg) and spinach, frozen peas or boiled peas, chopped eggs, cucumber, fruits such as oranges, grapes, kiwi fruit, etc. Again, take out anything that they don't show interest in or don't eat all of it. Read the rest of the different sections on the site I gave you to familiarize yourself with how to take care of goldfish.

Answer 2

I would think your best bet is to buy a cheap corner filter, one that works by sticking the air stone inside it. But, if you have a small bowl then this wouldn't work. You do have an air stone, right? If not, you most definitely should have one, with three fish.

Also, 3 comet goldfish in a small bowl is way too many. You will need to change water practically every day to keep it clean, without a filter. Goldfish are the highest-waste-producing fish, and for each goldfish you should technically have 10-20 gallons per fish. Also, three goldfish require mush more oxygen than one small bowl wihout aeration can provide, so I bet you will soon see them gasping for air. However, I personally have one goldfish in a 5 gallon tank and she is fine, but I have an air stone and a filter and I change the water regularily, and I know she will never grow in such a small space. Goldfish can reach up to a foot (12 inches) long, if given enough room. The comets you buy in stores are actually just baby fish.

When you bring a new fish home in a bag, you should float the bag in your tank for at least an hour so that water temperatures equalize and the fish gets used to your tank temperature. Then, you should open the bag while it's floating in the water and let your new fish out. You can shock the fish if you dump it right in, and that maybe what happened.

You shouldn't use your hand to handle your fish, because it disrupts their slime coat and leaves them open to infection.

If you are serious about building a filter or learning how to cycle a tank, there are websites to help you, but first please make sure you have the money and the space to buy a bigger tank and filter and air stone and air pump. These aren't very cheap but except for filter material, it's practically a one-time investment that will provide you with entertainment for many years.

Good luck!

Answer 3

This is not good for your goldfish at all. Goldfish should never be kept in a bowl let alone 3! You need to buy at least a 30 gallon aquarium quickly and get a strong filter because goldfish produce alot of waste. Cycling is just leting the water in an aquarium sit for a couple weeks before adding any fish. This lets the beneficial bacteria grow and aids in keeping good water chemestry. Contrary to what is being said you should never keep a betta in a bowl either. Bettas are from a tropical climate SO they should be kept in warmer water with a filter and other essentials just like any other tropical fish its quite simple.Just because bettas will survive in a cup doesn't meen they like it. Your golfish should be fine if you move them to a larger tank and filter them.

Answer 4

if youre ujust useing small bowl like size of 10 inches then you should change it to get a bigger fish bowl or a fish cheaper tank from the grooming or pets smart shops cause if you do keep them together in small bowl they cant able swim well or moving around and even cant brealth air . if that happens the bubbles that comes out the tops will kill them so you can go get youre self a cheap fish tank least a $ 9.00 or 20>00 at the pet shop . plus you must change the water least 2-3 week so that the fishes can have healthy and clean fresh water to swim and brealth . if the water looks dirty and feel too grossing you need to clean out the tank and take out the water too not every day .if there are something to flowing around the water.

Answer 5

A Comet goldfish will require fifty 5 gallons+ at adulthood ( in case you pick it to be very healthful and captivating) they are going to choose lots of filtration because the goldfish will leave lots of waste and ammonia. also, a small tank will stunt the comets boom because they advance to 10in+ and also you pick you're goldfish to advance as a lot because it may. The goldfish will also die of ammonia poisoning if the filtration gadget isn't sturdy. i counsel a canister filter out because you are able to cycle you're tank with one and they are very effectual. you are able to position any goldfish with a comet. you are able to also position a koi with it because they're chilly water carp and prefer an identical temperatures. One flaw with putting it with fancy goldfish is that the comets are a lot faster and aggressive. it really is undesirable for you're fancy goldfish because, you're fancies will be deprived of nutrition and their fins and tail will be nibbled on. Comets are counseled to be placed with koi fish because they're both semi-aggressive and they are very captivating even as placed mutually. also they're both very quickly species so that they received't problem competing with one yet another for nutrition.

Answer 6

you never take a fish from a bag & put it into a bowl or tank u float the fish 15-20min. to equalize the temp.to avoid shock to the fish after floating tate the bottom corner of the bag ( leave bag in the water)and gently remove it leaving fish&water in container shock can stress a fish causing disease or death. cycling is simply ageing water allowing gases chlorine etc to escape chlorimine does not disapate so get a good chlorine remover from your pet shop this cuts cycling time from days to mins. but in a large tank it is still best to let it sit overnite.

Answer 7

BAD BAD BAD!!! eek.... goldfish should never be kept in a bowl. It is much much much to small for them. Comet goldfish can grow to be 2 feet long. I advise you to either take the fish back to the store or buy them as large of an aquarium as you can afford asap. Im thinking 10 gallons at least at the moment.

You should take them back if you dont have the money and buy a Betta fish. They do well in bowls. I dont want you fish to die. please take them back, give them to a local pond owner, or buy a new, big aquarium.

Answer 8

Didn't you already ask this question? My answer stays the same. I gave you an article that explains cycling so look through that. And get those fish out of that bowl ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why goldfish don't belong in bowls: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art3503.asp

Answer 9

U buy a filter for the tank , plus some stuff u add to help the fish.
the goldfish may just be shy, put slips of houseplants in the tank they love that.

Answer 10

Here's what you need to know:

tank cycling: http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm

goldfish care: http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Goldfish.htm