Don't do/have any test results
My tanks 15 litre (Got showed a thing where it says its law to have 5ltr per fish)
It's a new tanks this will be it's second week running, only had the fish in one week
Filter is Elite Mini A 130
I change 10% every few days
There's 2 goldfish which are about 2"
Water Condtioners - Nutrafin Water Conditoner, SeaChem Stability
No meds
No new fish
I feed them King British Goldfish Flake Food / Nutrafin goldifsh flakes


So since they've been put in their new tank Bitzy, the bigger of the two, seems to have got fat? Everyone says am over worrying, but i seem them more than they do, and I KNOW he's got bigger, and today all he's done is constantly look for food in the gravel and on their ornament. He has a few scales missing in places but they aren't new, he's had them a few weeks from when he was "chasing" Bobz.

Bobz seems fine in herself, i think she's younger cause shes quite a bit smaller than him, but she isn't as active, but Bitzy chases her almost constantly? He only ever use to in the old tank at waterchanges, but now since i've got the filter it seems to be constantly, also when i see her eat, most of what she eats she spits back out?

Oo and also.. The part of the filter which puts air bubbles into the water, they both seem to like swimming into it and letting the current kind of push them away? The purposely seem to do, even if i turn it off to get them to stop they still go and try to see if it works, are they just sort of, playing?

Thanks for any suggestions

x

I'm not sure but I think the whole chasing is breeding behavior. I don't know much about goldfish since I'm still a bit of a newbie but I did learn alot by coming here. =)

15 liters for two goldfish is really small I think, you should get a bigger tank for them. The 5 liters per fish doesnt apply to goldfish. It would be more like one common goldfish per 20 gallons and one fancy goldfish per 10 gallons.

Hope that helped a little. ^^;

Hi and

I agree, your tank is too small long-term. But it should be fine for the moment.

My GF love to play in the air bubbles, nothing wrong there.

My main concern is test kits. Please get some ASAP. They will be your best friend, especially since your tank is cycling (new tank, new fish).

What sort of GF are Bitz and Bobz?

Dave

Hi there Bitz&Bobz

Unfortunately your tank is way too small which will end up causing problems. Goldies need a good 10+ gallons each and as your tank is under 4 gallons with 2 fish this will be where water quality becomes the biggest issue.

As your tank has only been set up for 2 weeks, it will be starting to cycle which means the ammonia will be climbing to toxic levels and as the tank size is so small, these levels are unable to dilute making them even more toxic to your fish.

So as a suggestion, I would start to do daily waterchanges of around 80% and if you can, try to get some test kits. This way you'll know how much water needs to be changed for example if you have a level of ammonia over 0.25 - it'll be time for a waterchange or if you have a nitrite level over 0.25, the same again. During cycline, ammonia can climb to 4+ without a change as will nitrites and this will unfortunately kill your fish...

Also, cycling a tank can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks unfortunately and during this time, it's important to test your parameters ... this is why a larger tank is easier to manage during this time. The bigger body of water helps to dilute the levels somewhat meaning water doesn't have to be changed with so much frequency.

So for now, i'd do large daily waterchanges and if you can, try to find a bigger tank for them. They'll love you for it

Hmn Thankies to everyone who replied.
I did a big waterchange today, can't get the kits till next weekend now though. Bobz is a little more distant? today, she tends to swim in the same place staring at her reflection, she does swim around every now and again but if she swims ot the other side of the tank where Bitzy is he just chases her constantly till even he gives up, i think she's just stayin where she is to avoid conflict.

Oh.. Parkerdt..I'm tanking it that Bitz and Bobz are common gf, the label for the tank i chose them out of just said "Small Goldfish"

If it is breeding behaviour.. i thought they only did that when they were a certain age? I heard it was when they were around 8" mine are only about 2" and Bob is small compared to Bitzy, he's real greedy.

Is there anything i can do to calm him down? he seems to be wearing her out.

x

Arf - if they are commons, a larger tank is in order now. Commons can grow to 15" to 18" and live 20-30 years if well cared for. My two are just a bit over two years old and about to outgrow their 58-gallon tank. They grow faster than weeds, and make a huge mess. But I do love the way they look!

A 30-gallon did fine for mine for 18 months, and the 58 is looking like it will last about the same. Had I fully realized all of this, I'd have just bought them a 90 gallon up front and been done. Cheaper in the long run.

Do water changes. LOTS of water changes. Probably 50%- 80% twice a day in that size tank. Sorry I had assumed they were fancies - there are darned few of us common owners around here. My bad. Match the temp and pH as closely as you can and use a good water conditioner like Prime. Get some test kits ASAP, and check you local classified ad5 for a larger setup. You're going to need it.

Once you get the bigger tank, some plastic or silk plants placed in a "grove" will offer some cover so they can hide from each other a bit, but my two enjoy the heck out of chasing each other constantly. I think it is just normal behaviour, commons are quite accomplished, very fast, swimmers, and they love to do it.

Best of luck to you and your fishies!

Dave

Thanks for the info parkerdt

Well i'm not sure if they are common, mah mum rang up and asked exactly what they were, and they said they were "Small Goldfish, that only grow small" that's all the person could tell us really..the managers never available..but.. they prolly just say that so people aren't put off buying them..

I'm not sure if it is "breeding behaviour" because i think Bitzys trying to kill Bob :-/

They woke me up at 2am and i sat and watched them for a bit, and Bitzy kept doing the same three things:
1) Pushing Bob with his nose underneath the filter to the bit that sucks things up
2) Pushing her to the floor and kind of staying on top of her, cuz he is bigger than her.
3) Pushing her to the side and repeatedly swang his head to the side and kept hittign her

I stayed up for about an hour an half to see if they calmed down and they seemed to, but when i woke up this morning Bob was led on her side at the bottom, and when she did have the strength to swim half way up the tank it seemed as though she couldn't handle her own body? Like she was floating and had to really work to keep herself upright. Even when she was led motionless Bitzy was tryna get her, so i seperated her. I put her in the old tank which isn't big enough but it's all i've got at the mo, she's been in it since 8am and she's perked up so so much. She's like she was before he started chasing her.

However, she still isn't eating to my knowledge anyway. In the other tank she didn't even attempt to eat but in this one she puts it in her mouth then spits it back out?

Oh and parkerdt.. I'm glad your fish is better now I saw them earlier, They're Absolutely Gorgeous!

x

Thanks, my two are a Common and a Comet, I figure thay are about 1/2 grown at this point. As you see, even though they started out tiny, they get huge.

Good luck with your two!

Dave