We had two goldfish and one of them died a few hours ago; now the other one is swimming quickly and erratically around on one side of the aquarium tapping against the glass. It looks excited... or something. It used to swim around slower and in a wider area. Could something be wrong with it?
2007-03-14 14:46:44 · 19 answers · asked by Lisa 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
That can be a sign of several different problems, or in fat no problem at all, just a fish being wierd. The fact that another fish died in the tank recently would lead me to think either parasites or ammonia / nitrate poisoning. Check the water if possible for those two things and change it if needed. If you can't check it change 50% of the water anyway just in case. Without other signs that's the best course of action.
MM
2007-03-14 14:55:29 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yep somethings wrong. Anytime you have a fish die there is something wrong. Otherwise you are going to have to post a little more info. It could be many things. Need to know tank size. If you have those fish in a bowl, that's definatly the problem. If you have a suitable aquarium, then how often and how much water do you usually change? If you are not changing water at least every other week, that could be it. Filter needs to be cleaned and refurbished monthly. Food needs to be replaced monthly, it goes bad. If your fish is twirling that's a good indication that you have something toxic leeching, like colored rock, holy rock, volcanic rock, driftwood, painted ceramic ornaments, even fake plants. If you have an undergravel filter and haven't cleaned it out in a year that could do it.
Nevertheless what you do for any problems is stop feeding and start changing water. I wouldn't wait another day to do a 50% or more water change. DO NOT PUT MEDS IN YOUR TANK!!! I cannot warn people enough. Many people on this board will tell you run to petco and get some meds, DON'T! The only med you will ever need is salt and heat. PERIOD. You go tossing random meds in your tank and you really will have a problem. If you must medicate use a good medicated food, with anti-biotic in it. Clean stable water conditions are the key to keeping GF. That means Ph always the same, no ammonia, no nitrites and under 20ppm nitrates and the temp the same. Mid to upper 70's are best for GF, as they are not the "coldwater" lovers everyone says they are. Majic Man knows what he's talking about, so does that person who's I.D. is a fireman, and the alien guy. The fireman and the alien have not yet responded if they do listen to them as well.
Here's great places for GF info.
www.goldfishconnection.com
www.koivet.com
www.fishdoc.com
2007-03-14 22:25:58 · answer #2 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your goldfish could be "itching" from the possibility that it is trying to rid itself from a parasite infection on it's skin.
Try changing the water with room temp. water from like a bottled water dispenser.
This water's pH is usually 7.0 and does not have any chlorine, or other stuff in it.
Try to aerate also.
If this doesn't seem to settle your fish down, if it's still alive, then you can count on it being a parasite problem, and treat it as such.
Hope this helps,
Dave
2007-03-14 23:24:04 · answer #3 · answered by what'sthis4 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My first guess would be ammonia poisoning. Do a 50% water change. Then get a master test kit and test the water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. If you ammonia and/or nitrites register anything higher than 0-1, your water is toxic. You will need to do frequent water changes until the water tests in the correct parameters.
2007-03-14 23:16:48 · answer #4 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is something in the water that could be agitating your fish. Try moving it to another container, and testing the water, or changing the water. I honestly doubt that the fish is upset over loosing a tank-mate. Goldfish only have a memory span of 3 seconds.
2007-03-14 21:55:01 · answer #5 · answered by Kikyo 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This fish may have gotten parasites. I think they try to rub against something to remove the parasites. It sounds like your fish is trying to rub against the glass to remove the parasites. Things like ick and fin rot are usually caused by parasites in the water. I think you are supposed to do regular water treatments to kill the parasites. You also need to have a good filter. I think a clean filter will reduce the chance of an infection for a fish.
2007-03-18 19:02:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do a immediate 30 percent water change. The fish is nitrite poisned. It is most likely going to die, because of the stage it is currently in. Sorry
2007-03-14 21:57:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you have had 2 goldfish and they have shared the same tank/bowl there is likely a disease in the water. It may have cuased blindness and disorinetation. It would be a very good idea to take your fish to a veternarian and remove it from the water and place it elsewhere.
2007-03-14 21:56:17 · answer #8 · answered by m b 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Test the water and do an immediate change, that is a sign of nitrite poisoning
2007-03-14 21:49:46 · answer #9 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes fish are just stressed because a tank mate died and also, if you used a net to get the dead fish out of the tank, it probably got nervous because they thought that they might be taken away. If you turn off the light in the tank it usually calms them down and relaxes them a little.
2007-03-14 21:52:08 · answer #10 · answered by erico595 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋