I've had a goldfish for about a week now, and it seems like it won't eat. Everytime I put the flakes in the water, the fish gets scared and hides behind the plants in the bowl. I don't think it's sick, because it's not discolored and doesn't have any unusual spots or anything. Could it possibly be that the flakes are just too big for the fish to eat?
2007-02-11 15:19:04 · 12 answers · asked by XA_girl 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
What you discribe is typical stress reaction from the fish. Do a 50% water change on the bowl and be sure to get up any uneaten food. Give him a full day and see if he will eat then. Be sure to always remove any left over food from the bowl about 5-10 minutes after you feed him. That's really important to keep his water clean and keeping his water clean is really important to keeping him healthy.
MM
2007-02-11 15:39:41 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GOLDFISH BOWL!!!! Whoever sold you this get up is in the wrong. It is the the same as living inside your high school locker. The water is already fouled and the fish is in extreme stress over the situation its in. Please for the sake of the fish take it back to the pet store and get your money back. The pet store should have known better. Only a beta can live in a bowl BUT you have to change water at least weekly. The only way that GF will survive is if you change 100% of its water every 30 minutes day and night, then it will live only a little while. If its not sick yet it will be real soon.
2007-02-12 03:24:32 · answer #2 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grown goldfish.. in all likelihood no. Goldfish fry.. sure for sure. A goldfish will devour some thing that it ought to slot in its mouth. purchase a completely grown goldfish like those you spot in the fish save gained't devour yet another same goldfish. I actual have a three inch black moor with a 1/2 inch fantail residing fortunately in my 2 hundred gallon aquarium and that i dont see any of them eating one yet another.. which hardly ever occurs in goldfish reason goldfish are non violent and gentle animals. besides the actual undeniable reality that usually they'd bully ill goldfishes yet no longer devour them although.
2016-11-27 02:49:40 · answer #3 · answered by meikle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A healthy goldfish won't turn down food, no matter how big it is!
Goldfish shouldn't be kept in bowls. A week is long enough for him to have adjusted to his new home if it were suitable for him. A goldfish produces a lot of ammonia for its body size and is slowly filling its water with it. Leftover food sitting in the water also produces it. Ammonia is toxic. His gills will start to burn first, then his scales eyes and lungs, then his internal organs will begin to shut down and he will die.
The only way you can keep him alive in that bowl is by changing 1/3-1/2 of his water daily. Use room temperature water and be sure to treat it to remove chlorine and other chemicals. He would be healthier and less stressed if you put him in a filtered tank. If he lives to reach full size, he will need plenty of room as well. Fancy goldfish can be 6"-8" long and very big and round; they need 15 gallons or so to live by themselves, more as you add more goldfish. Comets and common goldfish can grow as big as 2 feet long given enough time and space and they deserve to be kept outdoors in ponds.
If you want to keep things in bowls and not spend too much time taking care of them, grow a pothos ivy in the bowl. Fish are living creatures and if you want to keep them alive, you need to be ready to work a little to take care of them.
2007-02-11 16:41:38 · answer #4 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't want to over feed gold fish. Put a very small pinch of food then in 5 minutes remove the excess. I've had gold fish for five years in a half wine barrell out side. In cold weather feed once a day warm weather feed two of three times a day. Gold fish don't have a stomach. tom
2007-02-11 15:37:47 · answer #5 · answered by Tom D. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe he is dying. Goldfish get sick easily. On the otherhand, maybe he eats when you're not looking. Maybe he is lonely. Try getting him a buddy! You could try smaller flakes or pellets as well! Do you keep the bowl nice and clean?
2007-02-11 15:22:13 · answer #6 · answered by SHELTIELUVER 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have only one goldfish, the most likely problem is overfeeding. The fish will only feed for about five minutes a day, once a day...
2007-02-12 13:05:34 · answer #7 · answered by xxx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what happen to my fish for a week then started eating then it stopped eating again then it died after a few weeks and it was freaking out when it died.Just don't buy fish any more they just died in a couple months.Just a waste of money.
2007-02-11 15:24:53 · answer #8 · answered by Jesse T 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
maybe your fish is getting used to its new digs. Cut down the amount of food you are giving. When it gets hungry it will eat.
2007-02-11 15:22:32 · answer #9 · answered by mother of Bridezilla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yah break down the flakes and give less in a week than usual.
and buy him a buddy.
2007-02-11 15:22:41 · answer #10 · answered by fuzzystuff511 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋