I just got a new Telescope goldfish and he's been acting odd. Like, he'll kinda float at the top on his side, or he'll be on the bottom with his head pointed straight down. But he eats just fine. When I looked at him at the store I watched him for a while and he acted normal, not like this. I was wondering if it could be caused from stress perhaps? Any help would be great Thank you!

What about the possibility of a swim bladder disease. I have read that not soaking their food for ~1 minute before feeding them can lead to this, due to the food expanding inside them.

I belive that the treatment is to fast them for a couple of days, then resume feeding with food that has been properly soaked, that it is already expanded, and doesn't expand inside your fisy.

There are much more qualified people here, who I am sure will reply. I am just a very green beginner.

Good Luck!

I don't think that it's swim bladder since I just got him yesterday and he was fine at the pet store.

What are your water paratmeters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrates)? Also, is this a new tank?
My fish are currently suffering from nitrite poisoning (my tank is cycling, and nitrites are extremenly high right now), and they act the same way you're describing...they gasp for air at the surface, and the weakest one tends to kind of float on his side, he also sort of floats butt-up in the water.
Just a thought...but you may want to test your water.

All the settings are where they should be. My other fish acts just fine. It's just this new one that's acting odd. Plus he isn't gasping for air at the top.

hm, no idea then...anyone else?

Hum. If he seemed fine in the store, and he started acting weird after you brought him home, it could be the stress of the move. Was he in the little bag of water for a long period of time? Ammonia can build up quickly in such a small amount of water.

I would watch him closely and see if there is any pattern of behaviour. Such as, does he float more after he eats.

Also, I would do a water change and see if that helps. High nitrates can cause floating. Also, do you know what your ph is? A lower ph can cause a fish to behave lethargically. Fish can go from a lower ph to a higher ph without problem, but the other way around is stressful to them, particularly if the difference is over 2 points.

Hopefully, your fish will recover from this, after a few days in your tank.

I didn't keep him in the bag for long. Just long enuf for him to adjust to the new tank temp. I did the reccomended method that I read about on this site. I was thinking maybe he's constipated. He hasn't gone potty that I've seen. Could that be the cause?

I just changed the water and he's still acting the same. 8\

Witht he water change my other fish is now hanging out at the bottom of the tank. Since it's a small and temporary tank I changed the majority of the water. I'm way worried now. Could it be shock of the water change? And also, after a water change like that, do fish normally recover in a day or so?

A couple of questions to help answer you better.

What is the size of your tank and how long has it been running? Also, what is the filter you are using and how often do you normally do water changes, also how much water do you normally change at a time.

How many fish do you have and how long have you had them.

Also, feeding ... how often and how much.

Thanks

It's about a two gallon tank. I know it's tiny and all, but it's just temp till we get our 30 gallon tank ready (it should be ready for some tomorrow). It's been running for a couple of weeks and the filter is an undergravel system. I got this tank to use for a hospital tank. This is the first time I've changed it.

I've had my faintail (Fishie) for about two weeks now. SHe's being her normal self now.

I just got my telescope calico (Popeye) two days ago.

I normally feed them twice a day and just a little pinch. I haven't been useing their flakes that much, but I have been giving them bloodworms to snack on. Yesterday I gave them a peice of lemon to munch on. The girl at the pet store said that they really like it, and mine seem to love to nibble on it. But, I took it out when I cleaned it.

In such a small tank, your problems are probably caused by poor water quality. I would try and get the larger tank up and running as soon as possible. I would put the gravel from the two gallon tank into the 30 gallon to try and "seed" the tank with as much good bacteria as possible. Also, I would put the 2 gallons of water in the big tank, too. It isn't much, however, it will at least contain some good bacteria. What you could do is put the little fish in a bucket with the two gallons of water, then take out the gravel and put that in your new tank. Fill the tank, and add whatever decorations and such you are going to use, hook up the filter and let it run with the filter going until the temperature in the new tank matches the temperature in the bucket. This will all be stressful on your little fish, however, I think the 30 gallons of water, even if it is unseasoned water will be better than the two gallons of poor water.

For a hospital, quarantine tank I would suggest a minimum of 5 gallons. The little two gallon tank would make a nice home for a little betta

Also, in the hospital/quarantine tank, I would suggest a foam filter that could be cleaned and dried after treating a sick fish, rather than an undergravel filter. Fish medications often kill the good bacteria in a tank, so it is best to have a filter that can have new media put into it after a disease has been treated. Also, a bare bottom tank is easier to deal with as a hospital tank.

I think that you will notice a huge difference in your fish when they have more water. Toxic substances such as ammonia and nitrite which are deadly to fish build up very quickly in a small tank.

I hope this helps, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We all have been at the stage you are at now, and we are all learning together

I know that it's small and all, it was all I could afford at the time however. It came with an air pump and light so that was a big plus in going on and getting it. I had gotten it with the intentions of useing it as a temp. tank anyway.

On a side not, I have (this is going to sound kinda gross) not been able to see my new fish's anus, so I really am not sure if maybe he isn't ablt to go potty. Okay, so that sounds bad, but it's true! Maybe that's it?

I don't really know about the water quality seeing that I just changed it and my other fish is doing great and is back to her normal self. Ah, I love not knowing what to do. But, I really am starting to think that it's because he's not used to a small tank. I wish he'd could just tell me <laughs>

Btw, thanks for all your help