is my goldfish SICK or pregnant???

Question

the reasons i think it might be sick:
-keeps coming to the top and sucking for air
-seems to have trouble swimming
the reasons i think it might be pregnant:
-chased by other fish
-big tummy lately (looks like pouch)

ok i got answers of how the oxygen may be low-so change it.


but i did today before i noticed all these things. let me restate my question once more.

reasons i think it is sick:
-gasping at top of tank frequently (WATER CHANGED EARLIER)
-having trouble swimming

reasons i think it is pregnant:
-chased by other fish
-big tummy (like pouch)

Answer 1

Most likely your fish is sick and not pregnant. Goldfish are egg layers and not live bearers so they don't get "pregnant".

Your goldfish is behaving like a fish with swim bladder disorder. Your goldfish also sounds like it's struggling to breath. Goldfish "breath" by taking oxygen from the water through its gills. If you will test your water for ammonia and nitrite, I will guarantee you that your ammonia and nitrates are both higher than 0ppm.

You need to remove 25% of the water in your tank and replace it with conditioned tap water or bottled distilled water. You need to be doing this every week especially when keeping goldfish as they produce massive amounts of waste.

Now, about the "pouch".... your goldfish has probably been overfed and is constipated. Goldfish should only be fed once or a day and only what they will eat in about 2 minutes. You'll need to "starve" this fish for 2 days, then feed it frozen peas that have been thawed and smashed. This is basically a fish laxative.

I'll almost bet your tank is overstocked. A single goldfish needs 10-15 gallons of water of its own. Any amount of water less than this will create a toxic environment that will weaken the fish's immune system and cause disease. Weakened and diseased fish are always bullied by other fish. This will explain why your other fish appear to be "chasing" the goldfish.


Get your water chemistry in line and make sure you have a big enough tank for your fish.

Also, you need to be sure your fish are compatible. Let us know what size your tank is and what kind of fish (and how many) you have.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Sucking air usual indicates a low oxygen content in the water. Is the water clean? When is the last time you changed the water? If a fish may be ill, it would be a good idea to isolate it from the others. Do you have a isolation tank? Also goldfish spawn as adults, laying hundreds of eggs as the female is chased often by more than one male unless you have set up a breeding tank. The only individual I know who did this indoors used 120 gal tanks. Fancy goldfish are often awkward and slow and in a mixed tank of faster fish even comet goldfish they can be harried and their fins chewed. You didn't say what other kind of fish are in the tank or how big the tank is? If this doesn't help you try giving more details in your next question.

Answer 3

Your goldfish isn't pregnant. They lay eggs. When there isn't enough dissolved oxygen, they come to the top for air. I think you need an air pump. If you can't afford one, don't worry. Goldfish can survive quite nicely breathing air. You can too. Don't forget to change the nasty, dirty water frequently, but let the new water sit for 24 hours uncovered so the chlorine can evaporate before you put the fish in. I don't know about the big tummy. Maybe you're overfeeding it. Goldfish will eat themselves to death, but they can go without food for a few days just fine.

Answer 4

Goldfish don't get pregnant, they lay eggs. It sounds like your fish might be sick. Gasping at the surface is usually a sign of either not enough oxygen in the water or poor water quality. Trouble swimming could be lots of things. Is the fish struggling to stay upright? Swimming on its side? Sinking and struggling to stay close to the surface? It could be a bacterial infection, constipation, parasites, pretty much anything. Check your water quality and do a water change.

Answer 5

I have a large aquarium with 8 goldfish in it one of the large fish have been chased by a small fish and rubbing itself up against the big fish now we ve noticed that when light is on it floats to the top but when lights off it goes down also has a slight bulge on its side. Anyone help please just need answers thanks

Answer 6

Here's a clue,egg-laying fish don't get pregnant. Your fish has swim bladder disease or bloat,either way it's sick. Get the water clean and it may get well.

Answer 7

i've got faith if no longer something has replaced, the fish is pregnant, if the fish had an infection or another issue, there may be different signs and indicators or indicators different than the enlarged abdomen.

Answer 8

my old goldfish kept coming to the top and sucking for air and had trouble swimming and it died.
so sorry. =[[[[[[[