My goldfish are sitting at the bottom of the Tank he's still alive?

Question

I need desperate help!!!!! Both of my fantail goldfish are about 3 inches long and in a 20-gallon tank. One of the fish's tail keeps wanting to go up if he lays still, and the other ones is also sitting at the bottom except his tail doesn't want to go up like the other's.

I've read about mashed, soft peas. We tried feeding them that but they won't eat the peas or their "Top Fin Goldfish Flakes."

We have some plastic plants, a mini-colosseum with air bubbles that shhot out of it, and blue aquarium rocks. The plants have a brown stuff that weren't there when we first bought them. We've had our goldfish for 1 year now, and they have been fairly well. There used to have two other goldfish that lived in the tank but died shortly after we got them (they got here sick).

The fish look healthy but they just sit at the bottom of the tank as if "bored." We don't know how to test the water temperature and we don't have a water heater.

PLEASE HELP QUICKLY!!!

My bad. I worded the subject wrong. Here is the new question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070801111845AA9lN6n&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHwLL9vHeg4QwaPAqIsrFeVmb0WTOwWG0fOjTLW0kzVM8TbEsA99wi6Rz1whLFfwlgFqA--&paid=asked&msgr_status=

Answer 1

It does sound like the one with the tail that wants to go up does have a problem with the swim bladder, but constipation (which the pea is for) isn't always the cause. Since both fish seem to be affected, the problem may be coming from the water quality. Have they had a water change recently? You might try testing the water (if you have a kit) to make sure the ammonia and nitrite = 0 and nitrate is less than 40ppm. If you don't have a test kit, try a 25-50% water change and vacuum the gravel when cleaning to remove and gunk that may have built up. Just add the new water slowly, and try to get it close to the temperature thay're in now. And don't forget to add dechlorinator!

You may not have had to do water changes as often in the past when the fish were smaller, but as they're growing bigger fish = more wastes. I'd shoot for around 25% water change per week.

The brown stuff on the plants is algae, which is another indication there's too much nitrate in the tank - this acts like an algae fertilizer. You can take the plants out and clean them under hot running water - just scrub them with an old toothbrush, but don't use any soap to clean them.

Goldfish shouldn't have a heater, so it's a good thing you don't have one!

Answer 2

Test your water!!! Test test test put on here the results. It kindof sounds like ammonia poisioning but i cant tell if it is or not.. You really need to test and tell us here. we will be waiting! :]

Answer 3

no if he was dead he would be floating up on top of the tank with his arms close