Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

HELP MY GOLDFISH!!! It won't eat! :((?

I won a goldfish at a festival 3 days ago. Since it's been home, I haven't seen it eat; the pellets just float around! Yesterday (day 2), I noticed it looked like it was chewing, then I saw it spit a pellet out. I just tried flakes today and it didn't seem interested. I may try a couple more times with the flakes, but what should I do?!? Has anyone else had this problem??

It is in a 10 gallon tank with a bubble stone & filter. I have a couple fake plants and rock structure. I treated the water and used a nitrite/ammonia solution to get rid of the these toxins. The temp is abt 70 degrees. It swims around a lot...it seemed to really enjoy all the bubbles haha, but today it has been swimming in the rest of the tank. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

7 Answers

Relevance
  • 6 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    It seems like you're offering food too often. Try skipping a day or two of feeding so the fish is hungry and will eat. In nature, they often don't eat every single day, so skipping a day or two is fine. Feeding every other day or every two days is okay. Make sure to only feed as much as your fish can eat in about a minute. If he eats it all then give him a bit more.

    If that doesn't work you can get some frozen fish food like blood worms or a tropical mix and try that.

    If there's too much uneaten food in the tank it can cause toxins to build up in the tank and kill the fish.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    6 years ago

    10 gallons will be far too small when the fish grows, I hope you realize that. The best tank for a goldfish under 13 inches is a 75 gallon, and they'll outgrow even that. But, at least he's in a tank.

    You don't need extra chemicals that remove ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. All you need is water conditioner. A water testing kit is another important tool along with a gravel vacuum.

    And on the subjected of food; just be patient. The fish is unsure about the new food. It'll eat it eventually. If a week goes by and the fish doesn't eat, try offering frozen blood worms. You might spark its attention then.

    Lastly:

    Change 50% of the water every week.

    Test the water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate every week until it cycles.

    After it cycles, test the water every two weeks and do weekly 25% water changes.

    Never change the filter media.

    Never rinse the filter media in tap water.

    When it gets dirty, rinse the media in old tank water.

    Use the gravel vacuum whenever you change water.

    Never remove the fish from the tank.

    Avoid large water changes.

    Do not get another goldfish unless your tank is 40 gallons or more.

  • ?
    Lv 5
    6 years ago

    Keep the ammonia and nitrite levels at 0.

    Try a different brand of pellets, and try soaking them in garlic extract for a minute or so before feeding. Try frozen brine shrimp or blood worms. If all else fails, google how to culture bring shrimp, blood worms or wingless fruit flies to stimulate the fish to eat.

  • 6 years ago

    Stop feeding. That's it, you are overfeeding the tank, stop it.

    Eventually it will eat, don't just keep putting food in the tank.

    Try again in a couple days.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • Ocimom
    Lv 7
    6 years ago

    You need a 30 gallon tank and you need temps at 65 degrees - the fish is "cooking"

  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    Try another food and ask pet store

  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    try vegetables it would be great

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.