Expert: Chris Robbins - 12/2/2006

Question
Hi, I have one goldfish which I have had for over a year that appears to be unable to stay right side up. It is in a 1 gallon bowl not a tank and has always been in the same bowl since I bought it but seems to have had this problem for a couple of months at least. I contacted the pet store I bought it from but they had no idea what could be wrong. They said either fish are sick or they are not and told me by the sound of it the fish should be dead by now. It appears to also have trouble staying down in the water, swimming for very short periods and then floating right to the top back end first and hovering in the corner to prevent it from turning upside down. I change the bowl weekly and put a neutralizer in the water w/ every change. Any ideas?

Answer
Hi Missy;

It's just too small a container for him. He can't stay healthy in such close quarters. His most obvious trouble is related to digestion affecting his swim bladder(gas and constipation) but without a bigger tank he can't stay healthy if he does get through this. He needs exercise and he can't get enough in a little bowl. To help him until you can get him a bigger tank, give him cooked and peeled green peas. I like to use frozen because they're easier to store. Take one out of the freezer and thaw it out. Peel off the little round skin and break it into chunks to feed him 2 or 3 times a day. Only feed peas and no other foods until he is swimming normally.

Goldfish are very messy guys that require 10 gallons per fish with good filtration too.  They grow to be about 6 or 8 inches. Your little guy is probably still small and that too is related to his tank size and constant ammonia exposure from his waste. Get him a ten gallon tank with a good filter, change 25% of the water weekly and he will probably recover and hopefully live a good long life of ten or more years. Here is a good web page about goldfish and their needs;

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

I hope he feels better soon.....

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins