Why is my new goldfish at the bottom of the tank and not eating?

Goldfish sit at the bottom of a tank when they are not well, often because toxins have built up in the water. Goldfish are usually active, and lethargy is a sign of illness. Maintaining good water quality is essential for proper aquarium care. In the enclosed, finite space of a fish tank, toxic elements, such as ammonia and nitrates, can build up in the water causing disease and killing fish. The only way to detect and control toxins is to perform regular chemical tests on the water and to perform gradual water changes to remove impurities and maintain the proper water parameters.

Thanks for reaching out and including a photo. If water quality is perfect, stress could be a concern. The fish might be determining hierarchy and these two are low on the totem pole. Providing more hiding spaced could help. Look over their bodies for signs of external parasites. If noted, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

Thanks for your question about your fish, and congratulations on your new family members! I didn't see how recently the tank was set up, but there are a couple of things that could be going on. I would start by checking your water quality - any abnormalities in water quality can make fish have abnormal behaviors, and the water looks a bit murky in the photos you provided. There may be parameters that need to be addressed depending on what you find. If you do not have a water quality kit, they can be purchased at the pet store or an aquarium store, or you can take a sample of your water in for evaluation to these places as well. Some will charge a small fee for this service, just so you are prepared. Also, with recent tank set ups, it can be stressful for fish as they are in a new habitat. I would recommend keeping the light on for only a few hours per day to start, as the bright lights can be shocking for them (since fish don't have eyelids). Gradually you can increase the length of time that the lights are on so that you reach a cycle of 10-12 hours of light and 12-14 hours of darkness for them. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I wish you and your mom the best with the new pets!

Since the others in the tank are behaving normally, this one may be sick or injured. Ideally, it should be separated into a quarantine or hospital tank Check water chemistry first, even if you've done it already. You can use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0ppm) of ammonia and nitrites, with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform partial water changes to correct or stabilize water chemistry. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent additional stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 68F and 74F. Change no more than 30% of the volume at one time. In the absence of other symptoms or injury, medications cannot be recommended. You can use plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Kosher salt) as a general tonic to decrease stress, increase gill function and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 2 gallons of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then perform partial water changes to decrease salinity.

Thanks for reaching out about Goldie. There are two concerns here: (1) not apparently eating and (2) high ammonia. For the appetite, try to note if there is feces. If feces, then eating. If appear getting thinner, then not eating enough. For the second problem, this is probably new tank syndrome, and not allowing the biological filter to establish. Water changes are needed to bring down the ammonia as that is toxic to the fish and damaging to the gills. Probably the reason for the frantic swimming. Good luck.

Hi there, when you change a tank over you should take some water from the previous tank then make it up with freshwater. You should let this stabilise for one week before adding the fish. If you put a fish straight into a new tank without letting the water acclimitise it can be a shock to it's system. At this point all you can really do is let the fish settle in and don't disturb its tank for a week or so.

Check the water chemistry. A large water change can cause ammonia spikes or other imbalances. Check the water temperature as well. Goldfish do best in cooler water, between 65 F and 72 F. Consider a quarantine tank for him if he is the only symptomatic fish. Continue with the medications as directed on the package.