I just got goldfish and overfed them flakes. What do I do?

Most fish are fed once to twice a day. If you see a lot of food accumulating at the bottom, then you know you are over feeding. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Taylor, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! We can certainly answer your question. I have good news for you. This is normal and no cause for concern. It is similar having crumbs go all over when you eat chips or a crispy cookie. You can try feeding less flakes or switching to a pelleted diet.

If you are feeding flakes, the fish may be swallowing air while feeding. This may account for the signs you are seeing. After a period of time, the fish may expel the air and right themselves. Try feeding a pelleted or stick diet that sinks to prevent gulping air at mealtimes.

Simply monitor him. He may have been constipated and you caught him as he finally defecated. You can fast him 1 day a week and offer cooked and shelled green peas to aid in defecation. Maintain pristine water quality and stable water chemistry.

Goldfish owners sometimes become concerned when they notice a red color inside a their pet’s gills and think they are bleeding which is not actually the case. This is not usually cause for concern. It is really hard for me to say without seeing them. Can you repost your question with a photo? That might assist us in helping you better. Not eating, however, is a huge problem. Environmental effects will alter a goldfish's eating patterns. These include unclean water, the presence of chlorine in its water, a dirty water filter or another dead fish in the tank with your goldfish. Check the water quality in your tank, making sure that you recently added water conditioner to your fish tank and the filter is working correctly. Look at the water in the tank, and check to make sure it is clear. Also look at the glass around your tank, checking to see if the glass is collecting stains or becoming discolored. Goldfish react negatively to food that is no longer good. Check the expiration date on your fish food and make sure it is up to date. Also, check the conditions where you keep the food in conjunction with the instructions on your fish food. Some fish food requires you to keep it at a certain temperature or away from direct light. Keep your fish food stored in a safe place, noting the specific needs of the food. If the fish are becoming ill this may reduce or eliminate the appetite. Look for symptoms of illness in your goldfish, such as any unnatural growths on its body, small white spots, raised scales or unnatural bloating. They may have inflamed gills, gills that flicker at an increased rate, bleeding on its body or rotting around its fins or gills. Look for behavioral changes, such as listless floating or constant hiding. If this is the case you may need to find a veterinarian to examine them. I hope this helps. Best wishes!

It sounds like you need to take a trip to your local pet store. The clerks there can help you pick out an appropriately size tank with proper filtration and heating that can help keep Sushi healthy. They can also let you know what water treatments you'll need for the water in your area, as well as test any water you bring it to see if it is OK for Sushi to live in. Pet stores will also carry commercial goldfish food which is a balanced diet that is given to them. It should have feeding instructions on it so you know how much is appropriate to give to Sushi.

Usually lack of water quality, lack of oxygen, overcrowding and abnormal temperature are all common causes of this behaviour. They could be hungry as well, but usually they come to the surface at certain time or in response to visual stimuli like your presence. Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. Clinical examination should always include a water quality check, even if you have done so already. Water testing should be performed with a quality test kit, measuring NH4, NO2 and NO3. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for these signs. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, your fish should get examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.