When Fish Attack!?

[SunnyD]

Hi,

I'm still quite a newbie and I need help!

My goldfish is freaking out! He's being a bully today and attacking my other goldfish...his buddy of 2 months. He's pushing and shoving him and seems to even be trying to bite him. He won't let up and it's quite unnerving to say the least. They've always been very compatable and I've never seen this behavior before.

I have bully in time out at the moment in a bowl. I couldn't bare to watch the aggression anymore.

Any suggestions please!!

~Dee

[RanchuRick]

How big is the tank? How big are the goldfishes?

[SunnyD]

Hi,

The fish tank is 10 gallon. The goldfish are white with red on top of their head and the bully, Arjuna, is about 2 inches, the other one is just a bit smaller approx. 1 & 3/4.

I've noticed that the Arjuna is growing at a faster rate then the other one. And also the smaller one has a sort of a dwarf tail going on. Part of it is crinckled up and not growing...his name is nemo.

I returned Arjuna back to the tank. When I put him in the bowl he freaked and swam like a madman for a few mins then sat at the bottom. I guess he was pissed he was in timeout, but I got nervous that he would die so I returned him to the tank. But he's back at it and harassing Nemo again.

I have pics I will see if I can figure out how to post them.

Thanks ~Dee

[Raskolnikov]

You'll soon need at least a 55g tank, if those fish are Orandas (as it sounds from your description). Goldfish can be territorial, and right now it doesn't sound like there's room enough for the both of them.


When I put him in the bowl he freaked and swam like a madman for a few mins then sat at the bottom. I guess he was pissed he was in timeout

Fish don't get "pissed", but it sounds like your fish was suffering shock. Longer in the bowl would have resulted in ammonia burns to the soft tissue of the gills. Anthropomorphism can be quite dangerous; fish aren't going to understand a "timeout".

[SunnyD]

Yes, I do realize the fish is not able to comprehend the "timeout". I was just using that word as my description for removing him from the tank to give Nemo a break from the harassment. Kind of like a joke...haha, funny...no, not getting it?

But anywho, thanks for your words of wisdom. I appreciate any help I can get!

~D :)

[SCU33ZE]

NO timeout is not good for a fish,,its like if i gave you a timeout and put you from a nice warm rooom and the switched you in the arctic with propane gas,,
!
Btw. that tank is getting small,i woud give away the goldies and get something smaller
people just dont understand that a goldfish un a bowl is a crime :mad:

[tornangel012]

I hope you will come to learn and follow the rules to Goldfish keeping is by FAR not the easiest fish to care for in this "hobby"

First of all one goldfish needs 20gals
then 10gal per each additional goldfish

They are also messy poopers and care nothing for you.
Unlike Bettas that you can train to eat from your fingers and can keep in something safely as small as a 5 gal.
Or cichlads that have WONDERFUL parently abilities.

IMO Goldfish belong in HUGE ponds in Chinese restaurants.

Also the aggression will not stop until you remove the other two because from you describe it's a BIG territory issue with that one.

Hope you learn lot's from the Forums and GOOD LUCK!