He is acting kind of funny, and he's back to being really shy, and hes in one spot near the bottom! he wont move unless i poke him, and then he doesn't move much. He's alive and everything. But when i fed him this morning he would not eat!!! Is something wrong! i don't want him to die! I just got him yesterday.

I would test your water and do an immediate large water change around 80% in case its water related

Hi Jenny, Sorry your little fish is not feeling well. To save some time and get everything together so when one of the Mods see this can you try answering as many of the questions in the box at the top of the page on the Disease and DX section. That will help figure out what is going on with your fish.

oh, ok thanks. I don't think he has a disease tho, hes just being....well, weird. None of my other fish acted like this. hes afraid when i turn the lights off or on, hes afraid of his own reflection...ANd hes just not eating...

Ok here it is. And i know i need a test kit, but i can't get one till this weekend when my parents pay me back. My last $27 i had to use to buy my daughter diapers and food.


Test Results for the Following:
Ammonia Level? I do not have a test kit, but I just got my well water checked and its perfect for fish. I also just did a huge water change. (all the water) but i fulled the tank 25% with cycled water from my 10 gallon tank. So it should be 0.
Nitrite Level? Dont have test kit, but should be 0
Nitrate level? Dont have test kit, but should be 0
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)? Don't have the test kit yet.
Ph Level out of the Tap? I don't know, but petsmart tested it and its perfect they said.
Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running? Right now its quarentined in my 2 gallon for about a week until i can make sure he has nothing that my other fish can catch.
What is the name and size of the filter/s? Right now its a air filter, it bullbes up to the top. its a 3 gallon undergravel filter.
How often do you change the water and how much? About 3-4 times a week. and its always 1/3 of the water in the tank.
How many fish in the tank and their size? Just one, and he is like less than an inch.
What kind of water additives or conditioners? I use tetra aqua aquasafe.
Any medications added to the tank? No
Add any new fish to the tank? Just this little guy
What do you feed your fish? Right now he is getting soaked Wardleys premium goldfish flakes.
Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt",
bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? Nothing like that, he looks fine on the outside.
Any unusual behavior like staying
at the bottom, not eating, ect..? Yep just that, he stays at the bottom, and is totally not interested in eating. And I only feed my fish once a day, so all the other ones are racing to get food in their tanks, but he just stays where he is... I don't understand.

Jenhy I am going to move your thread to the diagnosis section.

I understand about money being tight, but I am afraid that your water could be the problem. Even though it may be good for the gf, your tank has a biological cycle that it needs and that could be out of whack.
So testing should be the first thing you do.
Another thought, simply because one fish is acting funny doesn't mean it isn't the water. This fish could simply be more sensitive and is starting to become sick.

What exact numbers did Petsmart give you? They should write them down each time.
Ammonia should be 0, as nitrites.....however your nitrate reading should be between 5-20. 0 is bad for that param.
Your tank is only 3 gallons??? If this is true and you are heavily overstocked. GF need 10-20 gals each per fish, depending on the type of gf they are. So right away I can tell you have water issues.

What you are describing is classic water problems. So that is where to begin. If by chance it turns out ok (which my experience is going to tell me no way) then we can further look into problems.

Once i get paid this weekend i'm getting a test kit and a big rubbermaid and filter for my goldfish. I just checked on him and he can swim, but its like he would rather just chill there. They did not give me any numbers, they just put the strip nest to the pictures of what the clors on the strip should be, and it matched perfectly for goldfish. I can get this little guy a 10 gallon for now. But what is the rule about filters? so if i get like a 30-50 gallon rubbermaid on saturday, how do i know what power filter?

Ok thanks for the help, i will get him a bigger tank with a better filter asap. I just wanted to make sure he didn't have a disease first.

For any size tnk/Rubbermaid that you end up with,we recommend a filter that actually filters 10 x's the size of your tank so for instance a 30 gal' Rubbermaid would need at least a filter with a gph(gallons per hour) filter of 300. For a 10 gallon tank,you'd want at least a Filter of a 100 gph or more.

oh ok. So if i get a 30 gallon rubbermaid, then i can put the three goldfish that i have in my 10 gallon into the 30 gallon, and the little one i have in the 2.5 gallon into the 10 gallon right?

Poor little pumpkin still sin't swimming around. Should i put him in the 10 gallon with my 3 others and try to see if he gets any better. I also have some blue rubbermaids in the attic, but how to i determine how many gallons one is?

I'm still so new to this. My dad said i can have 3 tanks in my room, so i will eliminate the 2.5 gallon, and replace it with a rubbermaid. Sounds good right?

i can't go out today, i do not have my license yet (working on it) and i have nobody to drive me. Should i put the little guy in with my other fish with a better filter? Cuz i need to know. Hes not getting any better! Please help me ASAP! should i put him in with them or not? If i do it will only be for a couple days until i get a filter for my rubbermaids.

I would not move him in with your other fish as he may be carrying something. Most fish come home from the store with some kinf of nasty. I would just do a big water change on the tank he is in for now.

ok. I just did. He still doesn't look much better tho. I hope hes ok...He moved when i poke him or touch the tank, but i dont understand why he stays on the gravel and just sits there.

Ok great news! Hes actually swimming around now! hes still really scared of me, but i put a fake rock thing with holes in it for him and i think it makes him feel more safe. He looks much better now!

Now the only problem is finding out what is wrong with my other goldfish that are in the 10 gallon. Because i do not want to put him in with them until i figure out if they have ich and treat it. But he will be rooming with them until april when i get my 20 gallon from my fiance's sister!