Goldfish Behavior

[lark]

How often have you been doing water changes? You may need to test your tap water if you have been doing water changes often. And just to warn you, eventually these goldfish are going to get BIG and will need appropriate housing. I tried keeping one goldfish in a ten gallon once, when he was small like yours, and was doing water changes every couple days, just to keep nitrates under 20.

Swim bladder problems are not only related to what types of food but also how much food you feed to the fish. I would try not feeding them for several days and then feed them only a couple small shelled peas after that.

 

[xiliquiern]

I just learned that salt is also being added to the water...quite a bit, too.

Water changes are being done every week, about 20%. The fish have completely stopped growing...I don't know if it's the tank conditions, or if they are just small, but they definitely havn't increased in size, at least according to my sister.

 

[*TJ]

Swim bladder problems are not only related to what types of food but also how much food you feed to the fish. I would try not feeding them for several days and then feed them only a couple small shelled peas after that.

Good point lark... but feeding should be determined by the fishes metabolism(which is regulated by temperature)... not that a few days without food will hurt them. With his sisters tank hovering around 76-77*F their metabolism is in full peak working order and they sound to be fish of a young age... so ideally several small feedings a day are required with a protien based food. Nutritional needs vary depending on the "body" temp of the fish. But I guess that was not the question ask in this thread... excuse my ramblring

Nitrate: 100 mg/l

I'm surprised there is not an algae issue in the tank...? Are you sure the test is accurate?
I agree with lark, test your source water for nA - also test your present kit against a new one(or another brandname). Several small (10-15%) water changes over the course of a few days should lower that value. And like lark mentioned, uping the water change schedule will help keep it in check(below 40ppm - below 20ppm is better) - if your source water turns out "0".

 

[*TJ]

I just learned that salt is also being added to the water...quite a bit, too.

Numbers are important remember? Do you have a salt test kit or meter? How much is being added? And WHY?

No doubt that your sisters fish are "stunted" ... goldfish have a good growth curve - in ideal conditions they can put on 4-8 inches a year(fancies being on the lower end of the scale). Healthy fish grow at a healthy rate.

 

[xiliquiern]

I don't know about algae. My sister has decided to just try feeding them a little less, and a couple peas, and seeing how it goes.

And as far as I know, the Nitrate test is accurate...it's the same one my LFS uses and the one I've used to track the Nitrates in my tank.

I don't know about salt...lemme go ask. We don't have a test kit.

 

[*TJ]

How old is the nA test kit? If it's near or over 1 yr old, chuck it.

 

[xiliquiern]

It's about 3 months old...I got it when I got my new tank =)