My goldfish is pooping A LOT. No, like, really, A LOT.

StarSapphire22 said:
Well, first the snails are dead now, thanks to my powerhead and my own stupidity for not realizing they'd suck onto it, so that doesn't really matter. :(

Second, I personally find the amount they're pooping strange, since I haven't fed them in about a week, other than a pea each yesterday.

All the media is pre-owned as well as the sand and had lots of bacteria in it, and the tank IS cycled. I have taken the water to get tested while I wait for my test kit to get here, and as of three days ago I was at 0-0-10. My goldies are small and according to aqadvisor.com, even with just the sponge filters I'm at over 400% filtration. The new AC70 is coming with the test kit, so more filtration is coming soon.
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Please do not trust what pet stores tell you your params are, they are going to tell you it is okay simply so you will buy more fish. I really don't think there is an issue with waste production it looks normal to me.
 
Well, I have an ammonia meter in my tank that's reading zero. My test kit should be here soon, so I can do a full test then. And I don't see why they would tell me my parameters are fine if I wasn't there to buy anything, just dropped in for a test? I realize Petco/Petsmart are here to make money and that 99% of the time, they don't know squat, but I doubt they would lie over a free test for a customer who isn't buying anything. They've also told me before when my params where really high when my last tank was cycling, so....

I understand that you think it is normal....but these are MY fish, that I observed before, and I am telling you that that is not normal poop for them. They pooped much less in their last tank when I was feeding them, and now they are pooping much more than normal for THEM in size and frequency without me giving them anything to eat. I am not necessarily worried about it anymore, just waiting it out so I can feed them actual food again.
 
Update:
After a few days of looking listless and bottom sitting, they guilted me into a small feeding. Lydia's poop level has gone down quite considerably. She seems to be pretty much back to normal and ready for food again. Ratchet's still pooping up a storm, but he didn't start poomageddon until a day or two after Lydia, so maybe he'll just end a little later too...? Either way, after they were fed they are zooming around the tank and playing and just generally having a grand old time. So, hopefully this problem is going to be resolved soon!
 
petluvr said:
First snails in the pomacea group are not detritivores and will not eat feces.
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Really? Maybe you should explain that to my snails, who eat goldfish feces daily. Only the goldfish poop, only in that tank. The (same variety) snails in the other 2 tanks do not (that I have seen). Reason for this? Well, they don't answer when I ask them, so, let's have the former educator in me come out and look at this critically; Goldfish have pretty inefficient digestion- this leaves a lot of unassimilated nutrients in the feces. I feed high quality pellets, so, there isn't much filler in it- which= even more nutrients left over in the feces. Additionally, I feed them large amounts of fresh vegetable matter several times a week- which= unassimilated vegetable matter in the feces. Apparently, my snails find this to be a delicious combination. Not to mention, I'm not the only club member, of this very site, who has also seen their mystery snails munching down on fish poop- a simple search will get you the same results I got. Am I saying it is their main food source? Of course not... they also eat the biofilm and whatever algae may be growing in the tank, are given fresh vegetables several times a week, as well as algae wafers, and if the goldfish leave any pellets, those are available as well. Have I actually witnessed them eating goldfish feces on a regular basis? YES. I wouldn't post it if I hadn't actually seen it. I was also under the impression that they would not eat fish feces when I purchased them. They surely do- at least in my tank, with the diet that my fish are on. Further evidence is in that there isn't much poop on the substrate between gravel vacs, in a goldfish tank... which are swimming poop machines. Also, if you look back at the original post, I mentioned FIRSTLY that the snails would help to eat some of whatever it is in the sand that the goldfish are finding to be irresistible, and causing them to defecate to such an exaggerated degree. But, to reiterate the mystery snails in my goldfish aquarium certainly do consume feces. Not trying to "argue", just stating a fact.
 
petluvr said:
Please do not trust what pet stores tell you your params are, they are going to tell you it is okay simply so you will buy more fish. I really don't think there is an issue with waste production it looks normal to me.
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I wouldnt trust what petco or petsmart tell you, but I have a lfs that is a ma and pa type shop that test your water with the api master test kit right in front of you. They even show you the levels with the little chart and give advice how to change it without spending a lot of money.
 
I didn't get much time to watch them today (new full-time job's 8-week training is most of their "day" with the light), but I fed them again today. Lydia's Poo-apocalypse seems to be pretty much over. Ratchet still has a ton somehow though. Less than before, but with the food being added now, it's a lot. Not really sure how...maybe he can just fit in smaller spaces (behind plants, nooks between pieces of wood, etc)? Either way, they were pretty perky today. I think maybe with the stuff in the sand, they maybe were getting a little nutrient/vitamin deprived, and that's why they were kinda listless. Just a theory. They've started to recognize me though, and swim to the front of the tank when they see me, which is pretty exciting! I'm hoping the the poo phenomenon is over soon though. :)
 
Awww, aren't you sweet! Thanks! :) They are much loved, and getting friends soon, hopefully!
 
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