Goldfish doesnt seem to want his pellets. Any advice?

Question

We just put our new goldfish into his ten gallon tank last night. We have had him for five days now and I havent really noticed him eating eagerly. He is swimming around and active and seems very happy, just doesnt swim right up to the top to eat when we feed him. He had an old pellet floating in his tank last night and we watched and it kept hitting the current from the filter and rocketing down into the water where it would float around. He would notice it and dart at it, then he would suck it in and spit it back out repeatedly. We figure he is just exploring and learning, or maybe playing. But he wont eat the pellets and watching him spit it out so many times made me wonder if maybe they arent too big for him to eat. Hes only about 1 1/2 inches long ( a ruykin). Has anyone else had any similar experiences. And any suggestions to help him eat. We are currently giving him a pellet or two and some flakes at each feeding so he has a choice.

Answer 1

I would recommend that you put your goldfish in a bowl. My sister had a goldfish, and we put him in a tank. The next day, he was sucked up to the filter, and died :( . So, I would recommend that you put him in a bowl. Also, since you are feeding your goldfish flakes, then, I would recommend that you just stick to the flakes for now. I hope that this answers your question! Thanks, and good luck,

~ Future Vet

Answer 2

This could be because he was just moved recently, or the pellets may be too large or hard for him to eat. Try using a soda bottle cap (rinsed well) and soaking them for about a minute in some tank water before you add them to the tank next time and see if this helps.

Venice girl gave you a good listing of some foods you can use to add some fiber and variety to his diet as well.

Answer 3

Since you just transfered him into the new tank last night take all the old fish food out and wait till tomorrow because he still need to get used to the new tank.

Hes in shock from the transfer and this is common for all fish and you just need to let the fish swim in the new tank for at least 1day then you can start feeding him and he will accept the food.

Answer 4

I actual have the comparable subject with my goldfish! I actual have crumbles that are additionally very annoying curiously for my fish to devour. get some goldfish flakes. i think of i could desire to get some too! desire this helps! (playstation the fish flakes would be much less complicated becuase the fish could have a extra sensible time chewing them!)

Answer 5

First, goldfish don't need to eat all that much food, so it's okay if a goldfish doesn't eat now and then. Second, you need to remove that old food that's just floating and laying about so it doesn't rot and foul the water. You really don't need to worry about it until it has been about 7-10 days without eating. It takes a lot of fish a good week or more to get used to their new surroundings. Each is different. But, goldfish need a wide variety of foods, so you might try to entice it with some of their favorite treat foods such as, protein-based treats such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, tubifex worms, insect larvae, krill plankton, chopped earthworms carefully selected from your yard where no pesticides or fertilizers are used and chopped cooked eggs. Also, almost anything from the produce section in your supermarket. Romaine lettuce (no iceberg please), cooked fresh or thawed frozen shelled peas, melons, cucumber, grapes, oranges, spinach, parsley, dandelion leaves, broccoli, zucchini, strawberries, bananas. Parboil your tougher foods such as broccoli and carrots. Don't use anything that has been salted or flavored. Otherwise, try absolutely anything at all. They are very adventurous in the food department. You can also make them a gel food by combining baby food, such as strained peas, peas and carrots, spinach, bananas, etc. and mixing it with unflavored gelatin.