My goldfish is pooping A LOT. No, like, really, A LOT.
- Thread starter StarSapphire22
- Start date
Oh, mine do! I watch with horror as I see a direct poop going to mouth and chewing action going on. Then I can't look at them the same for a couple of days. LOL. Only the goldfish poop, though... I haven't actualy seen this in my other tanks. Maybe because the goldies already scavenge the tank pretty thoroughly of other food, so there's slim pickins' going on in there? Maybe goldies just have horrible digestion, and leave a lot of unassimilated food in their leavings? Or, maybe my snails are just extra gross weirdos? Not sure... option 3 would not surprise me. They definitely aren't starving, though- have doubled their size in a couple of months. Just looked in there now- one is happily munching away on a big cucumber slice- another scarfing down a big goldfish or pleco turd... They seem to LOVE the stuff in that tank. Blech. Anyone else have this going on in a goldfish tank?
Well even if they just help eat some of the stuff in the sand, I'll be happy....that will help get rid of poop in the long haul, so I'm ok with that.
Mystery snails? They do great at the lower water temps goldfish like- they'll scavenge for food, but appreciate an algae wafer or 2 every now and again, as well (do it at night when you know the fish are sleeping goldfish also love algae wafers, and will eat it in a second). They LOVE munching on fresh veggies, too, and will eat algae if it starts growing. (I've had them in since just after my tank started up, so, I can't say if I have ever gotten algae- apparently they will eat brown, green, and hair algae, though. Never seen algae in that tank- but, I am pretty sure it is because of the snails.) If you don't have hard water, you may need to give them calcium supplements, so their shells will grow normally. I don't have an issue with this, so, I can only say what I have read... apparently putting pieces of a cuttlebone from the bird section of the pet shop will keep them happy with calcium, or, other people have thrown in calcium tabs for them. They actually eat it, but, apparently also can benefit from the calcium dissolved in hard water. They seem to enjoy having other snails in the tank with them, even though the interaction is a bit limited. They will breed if you have males and females (which you won't know, until you see them at it, or find eggs). The egg clusters are laid above water, so, if you keep your water level high (no more than a 2 or 3" gap from the top), and the lid pretty well closed to prevent them from crawling out & laying the eggs on the sides of other things at the top of the tank, & it shouldn't be a problem. Egg clusters look like a big wad of pinkish stuff- kind of like bubbly chewing gum. Easy to remove at the top of the tank. Freeze it overnight to kill the embryos and chuck it in the trash, if you don't want babies. Don't ever use anything with copper in it in your tank copper kills snails. You also have to be careful with any meds you add, as a lot of them are also unsafe for snails- even if it doesn't say "unsafe for inverts" on the label, unless it specifically says "invert safe", it's better to come here & ask before dosing. I know malachite green is deadly (not through experience), methylene blue is supposed to be safe for them, but I haven't tried it... prazi-pro is fine for them... treating the tank with salt and heat is ok for them. They don't like salt too much, but will tolerate it if you add it slowly. I have never pushed it over 1 tbps/ 5 gal of water, tho. All in all, they're pretty easy to care for. No real demands.... just kind of an easy going little cleaning machine.
My tank is usually between 74-76, so that should be fine, right?
And my fish sleep?! Haha, I don't think I've ever seen it....they just swim and eat and scavenge. I mean I know they do obviously, but I have some freaking energetic goldfish. But algae wafers and some cucumbers now and then are good? How often would you recommend it?
I don't think (?) our water is very hard...so I'll have to do supplements.
Our glass hoods shattered in transport, so we have an open top at the moment....they won't try to escape will they?
And my fish sleep?! Haha, I don't think I've ever seen it....they just swim and eat and scavenge. I mean I know they do obviously, but I have some freaking energetic goldfish. But algae wafers and some cucumbers now and then are good? How often would you recommend it?
I don't think (?) our water is very hard...so I'll have to do supplements.
Our glass hoods shattered in transport, so we have an open top at the moment....they won't try to escape will they?
I put a slice of raw cucumber in the tank every week for the snails/ pleco. About an inch or so thick, and leave it until it's gone, which takes them somewhere around 3 days- you have to weigh it down to the bottom with something. A decorative rock & a rubberband work well. I have 4 snails and a 7" pleco in that tank right now, though (had 7 snails, at one point- inherited the pleco and moved some snails out so the pleco has a chance to eat)- you probably won't need that large of a piece of cucumber. Your goldies will probably also chew at it, and it is fine for them to eat, if they make head way with it. They will all enjoy some romaine lettuce, as well. Nope- that is not too hot for the snails. Your single tailed goldfish might think it's a little toasty, but, they are pretty adaptable. That is definitely at the high end of his recommended temp, though, and the snails and moor could go lower (I keep my fancy tank at 74-76, too... to my knowledge, single tailed varieties like lower). If it's just your room temp, don't worry about it... it isn't crazy high, or anything.
If you have a water softener, you will probably need to add calcium. If you get hard water stains and build up (in the shower, on sinks, etc) you probably won't need to. I am sure someone else who is a lot more knowledgeable with this part can tell you more of what you need to do, here.
If your snails do crawl out of the tank (which I have only seen with mine when one crawled up the tube leading to the spray bar from the canister filter to lay her eggs above my high water level- and only one time), they will not go far. Like, as in, it would be very rare for them to even leave the inside of the tank. About to the water line is as far as I have seen any of mine go, with the one exception of my one girl who wanted to lay eggs. (which apparently in the wild they lay eggs on tall reeds sticking out of the water- so, not too abnormal) So, no, you shouldn't expect to come home & see one crawling across the living room floor, or on the wall behind the tank, on the top of the tank or outside walls, or anything. They are capable of leaving the water for a little bit, but really prefer to stay in the water, from what I have seen.
If you have a water softener, you will probably need to add calcium. If you get hard water stains and build up (in the shower, on sinks, etc) you probably won't need to. I am sure someone else who is a lot more knowledgeable with this part can tell you more of what you need to do, here.
If your snails do crawl out of the tank (which I have only seen with mine when one crawled up the tube leading to the spray bar from the canister filter to lay her eggs above my high water level- and only one time), they will not go far. Like, as in, it would be very rare for them to even leave the inside of the tank. About to the water line is as far as I have seen any of mine go, with the one exception of my one girl who wanted to lay eggs. (which apparently in the wild they lay eggs on tall reeds sticking out of the water- so, not too abnormal) So, no, you shouldn't expect to come home & see one crawling across the living room floor, or on the wall behind the tank, on the top of the tank or outside walls, or anything. They are capable of leaving the water for a little bit, but really prefer to stay in the water, from what I have seen.
I dont know anything about snails, but a slightly lower water line may keep them from getting out. I knew goldfish were really good at making a tank dirty in a heartbeat, but not like that. They are probably fine, but I have never seen anything like that.
I know it is crazy to think your fish sleep, but they do. My betta is almost always moving around in his 5g. But right around 8pm he starts to settle down to his little plant and lay there. But he is up before the lights turn on the next morning.
I know it is crazy to think your fish sleep, but they do. My betta is almost always moving around in his 5g. But right around 8pm he starts to settle down to his little plant and lay there. But he is up before the lights turn on the next morning.
I'll have to buy veggies now and then for them. 
omnomnomnomnomnom!
Yeah, that's just my room temp...it fluctuates depending on whether the light is on, if the a/c is on, etc. But never by more than 3 degrees max.
Our water is just a little hard....very minimal buildup, and I think that's just because our apartment maintenance man forgets to add softener salt once in a while, haha.
Good to know they won't escape!
omnomnomnomnomnom!Yeah, that's just my room temp...it fluctuates depending on whether the light is on, if the a/c is on, etc. But never by more than 3 degrees max.
Our water is just a little hard....very minimal buildup, and I think that's just because our apartment maintenance man forgets to add softener salt once in a while, haha.
Good to know they won't escape!
Nerdyrcdriver, my goldies are just special. Haha. And I know they sleep, but I never ever ever ever ever have seen them do it. They're too busy eating and pooping.
