oranda behavior question from newbie

G

gmcb

AC Members
Sep 28, 2008
171
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0
Pennsylvania
Hello,
A few weeks I posted as a newbie; solved the sick fish problem. My red cap oranda survived. The water is crystal clear, nitrate level perfect, phosphate level great, bio wheel running.

Question about the fish's behavior. He is always hiding behind the plants towards the back and bottom of the tank. He doesn't nibble around the bottom of the tank anymore. He just floats around. He looks healthy. He alway darts away very quickly; almost erratically when he notices that I am near the tank; he is eating. Is he shy? Or is there another disease I am not aware of?

Any ideas? Thank you very much,
 
Have you changed something in the room around the tank?

Is someone chasing the fish around the tank?

Do you have the TV or music on loud?

All these things can scare a fish. Especially if they have been recently ill. If there are no other signs of illness and the fish is still eating I wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
Mind giving us a few more tank details? Knowing his tankmates, tank size, whether or not any new fish have been added, etc would be really helpful in trying to figure out whats going wrong. Goldfish are usually really gregarious and active fish so any signs of hiding and lethargy can often signal something wrong. Unfortunately, figuring out what exactly is wrong can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.
 
Thanks for the replies. He is in a 10-gallon tank without other fish; two apple snails who are quite active. The tank is in a quiet part of the living room. Before the illness and all that was entailed with trying to cure both fish (one died); the tank was in a busier area of the room. When I look at the tank it is as if I don't have a fish. He was quite active prior to being ill. That was weeks ago.
 
His behavior is probably from two reason.

First you moved the tank. This is enough to send him into hiding for a few weeks.

Second the tank is way too small. For one oranda alone you really need a 30 gallon tank. With two apple snails in there you need a 35-40 gallons for your current stocking.

If you do not upgrade the size of its tank your fish which can live 30 years or more will be dead in probably less than 2 or 3. In the 10 gallon tank he will keep getting diseases and grow deformed (stunted). There are quite a few species of fish and invertebrates that would do fine in a 10 gallon but goldfish get too big.
 
THE V said:
Second the tank is way too small. For one oranda alone you really need a 30 gallon tank. With two apple snails in there you need a 35-40 gallons for your current stocking.
Click to expand...

I second that - the tank is too small!
But his behavior is likely due to the fact that he's all alone. Goldfish are quite smart and very social fish, so they do best in groups. If you buy a larger tank for him you will be able to keep him with friends, and that will almost certainly perk him up.
 
Again, thanks for all the replies. Yes, I realize after doing a lot of research that I must purchase a larger tank. I am sorry that the pet stores suggest and stock the smaller tanks to people who want to purchase a fish.

To answer the question about filter. I have a biowheel filter. It works very well, I think. The tank is crystal clear.

I have a small apartment and when the fish were sick, I had to purchase another tank and find a place for it. That's why the fish is in a new area. I'm watching him now. He is swimming around and looking at the bottom to find food. Now he is doing his usual facing the back corner of the tank. Now he's swimming around again.

Maybe he does need to adjust and a bigger tank with a friend will help.
 
Great on trying to rehome the guy! I just wanted to comment-the water being crystal clear means nothing. Unless you have a liquid drop test kit which tells you that the Ammonia and Nitrite in the tank are 0 and that nitrates are under 40, then there is no guarantee the water is fine.
 
Yes, I have a liquid drop kit and the reading are well within the appropriate ranges. Believe me, I go above and beyond for my pets. When the fish were ill I was hand feeding peas to Gilbert as he floated sideways.
I'm very glad to have found this web site. It is great to have support and the sharing of information.
 
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