goldiefishy
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hello!
About three weeks ago I picked up a gold fish from some friends who didn’t want him anymore. He is about 10cm long and 8 months old and up until now has been very active and happy according to them.
So I went and bought a new (very stylish fluval ) fish tank which holds 23L (6gallons) of water. At first he was happily swimming up and down the tank but now seem to just sit on the bottom of the tank with occasional rather crazy spurts up and down the fish tank when startled.
At first I am sure it had elevated ammonia levels because he started developing black spots on his scales which I assumed to be ammonia burns so I did a few water changes over the next couple of days and bought a testing kit. The test now indicates zero ammonia.
I then tested the pH which was at about 7.8 and with pH up seems to have stabilised at 6.9.
I don’t know why he won’t cheer up! He also takes a while to realise when there is food in the tank, and seems to have trouble finding it. I just feed him fish pellets.
The tank also contains Milfoil which is thriving quite well in the tank and some gravel bought from the fish shop.
I’m not really sure what else to do. He came from a tank, about the same size (23L) but with 2 other gold fish and 2 guppies (one of which he ate, hence why he was given away ) and he was happy in there so I’m not sure it is lack of space? Could another fish help? What else could it be in the water making him so subdued?
Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. I am new to owning fish, and so am open to any suggestions anyone can give me.
Thanks,
Sally
About three weeks ago I picked up a gold fish from some friends who didn’t want him anymore. He is about 10cm long and 8 months old and up until now has been very active and happy according to them.
So I went and bought a new (very stylish fluval ) fish tank which holds 23L (6gallons) of water. At first he was happily swimming up and down the tank but now seem to just sit on the bottom of the tank with occasional rather crazy spurts up and down the fish tank when startled.
At first I am sure it had elevated ammonia levels because he started developing black spots on his scales which I assumed to be ammonia burns so I did a few water changes over the next couple of days and bought a testing kit. The test now indicates zero ammonia.
I then tested the pH which was at about 7.8 and with pH up seems to have stabilised at 6.9.
I don’t know why he won’t cheer up! He also takes a while to realise when there is food in the tank, and seems to have trouble finding it. I just feed him fish pellets.
The tank also contains Milfoil which is thriving quite well in the tank and some gravel bought from the fish shop.
I’m not really sure what else to do. He came from a tank, about the same size (23L) but with 2 other gold fish and 2 guppies (one of which he ate, hence why he was given away ) and he was happy in there so I’m not sure it is lack of space? Could another fish help? What else could it be in the water making him so subdued?
Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. I am new to owning fish, and so am open to any suggestions anyone can give me.
Thanks,
Sally