Goldfish can't swim

Kissy_Joy · 03-22-2006, 08:14 AM

My goldfish has been laying upside down at the bottom of the tank for 6 days now. He tries to swim but but ends up turning in all directions and falling back down to the bottom. His breathing is normal and there are no other signs of propblems on his body. He is able to eat food once it falls to the bottom. My three other goldfish are all healthy, please help!

Sprite42 · 03-22-2006, 11:15 AM

How big is your tank? Lots of times when goldies have swimming issues, it is usually related to water quality. It sounds like a swim bladder dysfunction to me.

I would isolate her in another tank to start with. A clear rubber maid tub would work in a pinch.

Georgia Peach · 03-22-2006, 11:20 AM

sounds like swim bladder disease and needs to be treated asap

x-Golden-Lucy-x · 03-22-2006, 01:21 PM

Is she eating?

lotsoffish · 03-22-2006, 07:31 PM

How long have you had this fish, what size is it and what are you feeding it?

Kissy_Joy · 03-22-2006, 09:12 PM

I have a 20 gal tank. Yes, the fish has been eating food off the bottom that sinks. I have been giving them peas recently, I heard that helps with digestion. I am not sure if he's eating them though. He is eating goldfish crumbs that I soak in water before giving to the fish. I have also been adding salt to the tank too. Noting seems to be helping the fish. Other than the fact that he just sits on the bottom of the tank, he seems to be healthy. He wants to eat and does when food come acroos to him on the bottom.

Kissy_Joy · 03-22-2006, 09:20 PM

I have had the fish for about 10 months, he is about 2.5 to 3 inches long. Before his problems he was eating goldfish crumbs, flakes and shrimp. She he has been sick I have been soaking the crumbs in water before giving them to the fish and I have been giving them peas. The sick fish just eats the crumbs when he floats by them on the bottom of the tank.

garfieldnfish · 03-23-2006, 02:45 AM

I have a goldfish with swim bladder disease and I treated him with everything possible short of having a needle inserted in his swim bladder to relieve the pressure. I am afraid to try that. I have tried meds, frequent small daily water changes, soaking food, laxatives, peas etc. Nothing has helped him. He is in a tank by himself as he would not get enough food if he would share a tank with my other 2 goldfish. Also everything to include apple snails started to harrass him causing damage to his fins. Since he has been in a tank by himself, he does fine and has lived this way happily for over 2 years. He headstands most of the day, except at feeding time when he gets all his strength together and swims to collect his dinner. I feed him sparingly with peas 3 times a week, only sinking pellets, presoaked flakes (in castor oil) and a little bit of bloodworms now and then. Lots of cucumbers and zucchini, microwaved longer then for the other fish to make them very soft and cut into bite sized pieces as he cannot manoeuver enough to pick pieces of a larger chunk. It's a little more time consuming but he is a very cute fish and lets me pick him up to hand feed the laxative soaked flakes, he even seems to enjoy that.

sambi7878 · 03-23-2006, 04:27 AM

That's a clear example of Swim Bladder Disease.

Ive had an Oranda before who had swim bladder disease too. Now, I can say he's disease free. Its been 1 year that he's been out of the disease and it took me almost 6 months to cure him. Swim bladder disease is really a disease that needs to be treated for a long time but surely the fish can recover from it. First, you have to do is separate the fish. She needs to be quarantined cause she is not that strong and may be easily bullied by other tank mates. I did feed my fish only once a day or every other day before and even tried to starve him for 3 days (dont worry cause they will not die when not fed for 3days). Garfieldnfish posted nice food for swim bladder disease, specially the flakes soaked in castor oil, they really work! Dont feed your fish with floating food cause this is often the cause of swim bladder disease on fat-bellied fish. Stick with flakes or sinking pellets, and veggies. Maintain a good water quality and IMO, salt treatment is not really needed in this situation.

Good luck! Hope your fish recovers from Swim Bladder Disease.

Kissy_Joy · 03-23-2006, 07:02 AM

Thanks to everyone for the advice, I will give everything a try!

Kissy_Joy · 03-23-2006, 05:53 PM

My goldfish has been in a tank by himself all day. I tried feeding him peas and the flakes soaked in the castor oil but he is not eating now. Hopefully he will start eating again.

03-22-2006, 08:14 AM	#1
Kissy_Joy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5	Goldfish can't swim My goldfish has been laying upside down at the bottom of the tank for 6 days now. He tries to swim but but ends up turning in all directions and falling back down to the bottom. His breathing is normal and there are no other signs of propblems on his body. He is able to eat food once it falls to the bottom. My three other goldfish are all healthy, please help!

03-22-2006, 11:20 AM	#3
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,581	sounds like swim bladder disease and needs to be treated asap __________________ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !*

03-23-2006, 02:45 AM	#8
garfieldnfish Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 661	I have a goldfish with swim bladder disease and I treated him with everything possible short of having a needle inserted in his swim bladder to relieve the pressure. I am afraid to try that. I have tried meds, frequent small daily water changes, soaking food, laxatives, peas etc. Nothing has helped him. He is in a tank by himself as he would not get enough food if he would share a tank with my other 2 goldfish. Also everything to include apple snails started to harrass him causing damage to his fins. Since he has been in a tank by himself, he does fine and has lived this way happily for over 2 years. He headstands most of the day, except at feeding time when he gets all his strength together and swims to collect his dinner. I feed him sparingly with peas 3 times a week, only sinking pellets, presoaked flakes (in castor oil) and a little bit of bloodworms now and then. Lots of cucumbers and zucchini, microwaved longer then for the other fish to make them very soft and cut into bite sized pieces as he cannot manoeuver enough to pick pieces of a larger chunk. It's a little more time consuming but he is a very cute fish and lets me pick him up to hand feed the laxative soaked flakes, he even seems to enjoy that. Last edited by garfieldnfish; 03-23-2006 at 04:34 AM.

03-23-2006, 04:27 AM	#9
sambi7878 "I am SAM" Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philippines Age: 30 Posts: 163	That's a clear example of Swim Bladder Disease. Ive had an Oranda before who had swim bladder disease too. Now, I can say he's disease free. Its been 1 year that he's been out of the disease and it took me almost 6 months to cure him. Swim bladder disease is really a disease that needs to be treated for a long time but surely the fish can recover from it. First, you have to do is separate the fish. She needs to be quarantined cause she is not that strong and may be easily bullied by other tank mates. I did feed my fish only once a day or every other day before and even tried to starve him for 3 days (dont worry cause they will not die when not fed for 3days). Garfieldnfish posted nice food for swim bladder disease, specially the flakes soaked in castor oil, they really work! Dont feed your fish with floating food cause this is often the cause of swim bladder disease on fat-bellied fish. Stick with flakes or sinking pellets, and veggies. Maintain a good water quality and IMO, salt treatment is not really needed in this situation. Good luck! Hope your fish recovers from Swim Bladder Disease. __________________ SAM For every evil under the sun There is a remedy or there is none; If there be one, try and find it; If there be none, never mind it.

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03-22-2006, 11:15 AM	#2
Sprite42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Age: 46 Posts: 315	How big is your tank? Lots of times when goldies have swimming issues, it is usually related to water quality. It sounds like a swim bladder dysfunction to me. I would isolate her in another tank to start with. A clear rubber maid tub would work in a pinch.

03-22-2006, 01:21 PM	#4
x-Golden-Lucy-x Call me Lucy :-) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Age: 20 Posts: 68	Is she eating?

03-22-2006, 07:31 PM	#5
lotsoffish Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: N. Tonawanda NY Age: 46 Posts: 188	How long have you had this fish, what size is it and what are you feeding it?

03-22-2006, 09:12 PM	#6
Kissy_Joy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5	I have a 20 gal tank. Yes, the fish has been eating food off the bottom that sinks. I have been giving them peas recently, I heard that helps with digestion. I am not sure if he's eating them though. He is eating goldfish crumbs that I soak in water before giving to the fish. I have also been adding salt to the tank too. Noting seems to be helping the fish. Other than the fact that he just sits on the bottom of the tank, he seems to be healthy. He wants to eat and does when food come acroos to him on the bottom.

03-22-2006, 09:20 PM	#7
Kissy_Joy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5	I have had the fish for about 10 months, he is about 2.5 to 3 inches long. Before his problems he was eating goldfish crumbs, flakes and shrimp. She he has been sick I have been soaking the crumbs in water before giving them to the fish and I have been giving them peas. The sick fish just eats the crumbs when he floats by them on the bottom of the tank.

03-23-2006, 07:02 AM	#10
Kissy_Joy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5	Thanks to everyone for the advice, I will give everything a try!

03-23-2006, 05:53 PM	#11
Kissy_Joy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5	My goldfish has been in a tank by himself all day. I tried feeding him peas and the flakes soaked in the castor oil but he is not eating now. Hopefully he will start eating again.

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