Goldfish are the most common fish every aquarist prefers to add to their tank due to their peaceful nature. They are easy to take care of and live peacefully in a community tank with other peaceful fish.
Goldfish sometimes show some unusual disappearing behavior, which can raise several questions in your mind. So, why did your goldfish disappear from the tank? Let us find out.
Your goldfish disappeared due to these reasons:
- Goldfish has passed away and got eaten by the other tankmates.
- Your fish has stuck in the filter and pump.
- They are suffering from diseases like fin rot.
- They are hiding in the decor.
- They have jumped out of the tank due to poor tank conditions.
The article below will discuss why your goldfish disappeared from the tank. In addition, we will discuss how to find your missing goldfish.
Contents
My goldfish disappeared from the tank
There can be numerous reasons behind your goldfish missing from the tank.
Your goldfish can get stuck in the tank’s filter or have passed away and consumed by the shrimps or other fishes in the tank.
It is also possible that your fish has jumped out of the tank due to inadequate tank conditions like poor water conditions and aggressive tankmates.
Your fish can also get itself stuck in the tank decors.
Therefore, your goldfish missing from the tank is a matter of concern that requires your immediate attention for your fish’s well-being.
Let us thoroughly discuss all the possible reasons behind your missing goldfish.
What are the reason behind goldfish disappearing from the tank?
Here are the reasons behind your goldfish disappearing from the tank
- They have got stuck in the tank’s filter or pump
- Your fish has passed away and consumed by other tankmates.
- Illness
- Stuck in the tank decors
- Jumped out of the tank due to inadequate tank conditions
Got stuck in the tank’s filter or pump
Your goldfish can get stuck in the tank’s filter or pump. Usually, this happens due to the strong current from the filter that makes it difficult for your goldfish to swim.
Due to the strong currents from the filter, your fish will prefer to hide behind the filter and can get itself stuck.
Adult goldfish might not face difficulties in swimming, but baby goldfish will not be able to tolerate the strong currents and can get stuck in the tank’s filter.
First, consider checking the filter and pump if you discover your goldfish missing.
If not removed shortly, your goldfish can get stuck and pass away.
They have passed away and consumed by other tankmates
Your goldfish may have passed away and consumed by the other tankmates like shrimp or other fishes in the tank.
As soon as your goldfish passes away, the other fishes in the tank will start feasting on the passed-away fish.
It is not a sign of aggression; it is the nature of the fish.
Illness
It is possible that your goldfish was suffering from diseases like fin rot or other bacterial or parasitic infections.
Diseases like fin rot can make your goldfish body part fall into pieces, making your fish disappear from the tank.
Stuck in the tank decors
If you have a baby goldfish in the tank, they may be stuck in the tank decors.
We advise you to lift the decor and go through the crevice hole to find your missing goldfish.
Your fish has jumped out of the tank.
Your goldfish may have jumped out of the tank due to poor water conditions, inadequate water temperature, aggressive tankmates, and several other reasons.
Your goldfish usually jumps out of the tank when something unusual occurs in their environment.
Also read: Do Goldfish Jump Out Of Their Tank?
Why is my goldfish hiding and not moving?
Here is the reason behind your goldfish hiding and not moving
- Your female goldfish is about to release her eggs.
- You have paired your goldfish with unsuitable tankmates.
- Inadequate water conditions
- Your goldfish is suffering from disease or injury.
- Too much light in the tank
- Overcrowded tank
Your female goldfish is about to release her eggs.
Your female goldfish will hide from the other tankmates when they are about to release eggs.
You can also discover many other behaviors like refusing food and sitting at the tank’s bottom while your goldfish is about to release her eggs.
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eggs Look Like?
You have paired your goldfish with aggressive tankmates.
Goldfish are peaceful species that do not prefer aggression in their tank. However, pairing your goldfish with aggressive tankmates can make your fish hide behind the aquarium decors.
The aggressive fishes in the tank can lead to severe physical injuries to your fish, making them sick and prone to several diseases and parasites.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live With Angelfish?
Inadequate water conditions
Inadequate water conditions in the tank can also make your goldfish hide most of the time.
Contaminated water in the tank can lead to oxygen deficiency, making your fish gasp at the top of the tank’s water surface.
Contaminated water in the tank can also elevate the tank’s ammonia level making your fish suffer from severe health issues like ammonia poisoning.
In addition, inadequate water parameters can make your goldfish hide in the tank.
The ideal water temperature of your goldfish tank should be between 68-74 °F, and the appropriate pH level of your goldfish tank should be 7.5.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live In Dirty Water?
Your goldfish is suffering from disease or injury.
Your goldfish will prefer to hide when suffering from disease or injury.
With such hiding behavior of your goldfish, it will be a task to detect that your goldfish is suffering from an illness until it reaches the primary stage.
You should monitor the eating behavior of your fish and notice any change in their appearance to examine the health of your fish.
Too much light
Providing too much light in the tank can also make your goldfish hide.
Goldfish are diurnal that rely upon the alternation between the daytime and the nighttime.
Consider providing light for 12-13 hours in your goldfish tank to mimic their natural habitat.
Also read: Do Goldfish Need Light?
Overcrowded tank
An overcrowded tank can also make your goldfish stress and hide.
In addition, an overcrowded tank can also make your goldfish territorial, leading to aggression in the tank.
As goldfish are messy, overstocking them can contaminate the tank’s water, leading to oxygen deficiency.
Also read: What Happens When You Overstock Goldfish Tank?
How to find the missing goldfish?
Here are the ways to find the missing goldfish
- Search every crevice properly
- Check for your goldfish in the surrounding area.
- Check your water conditions.
- Search your missing goldfish in a filter or a pump
Search every crevice properly
Your baby goldfish can hide behind the tank decors.
If you cannot locate your goldfish, you should check the decors and crevices properly as they might be hiding there.
Check for your goldfish in the surrounding area
Your goldfish can jump out of the tank for numerous reasons like aggressive tankmates, overcrowded tanks, and inadequate water parameters.
| Particulars | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 68-74°F |
| PH Level | 7.5 |
| TDS Level | 170-250ppm |
Also read: Best TDS For Goldfish?
Check your water conditions
If your goldfish has passed away, you should perform a water quality check in your tank.
Check the tank’s ammonia level as excessive ammonia can lead to ammonia poisoning in your fish, eventually making your fish pass away and get consumed by the other tankmates.
| Particulars | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Ammonia Levels | 0-0.25ppm |
| Nitrite Level | 0ppm |
| Nitrate Level | Below 40ppm |
We recommend checking the tank’s ammonia level with the help of an API Test as it provides accurate results.
You can buy it from Amazon API TEST KIT.
Also read: Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish
In addition, you should perform a 30% weekly water change to maintain the tank’s water quality.
You should add a filter to your tank as it helps to eliminate harmful bacteria and keep the water clean.
You can buy it from Amazon Fluval High Performance Aquarium Filter.
Also read: Do Goldfish Need Filters?
Check your missing goldfish in a filter or pump
Your baby goldfish can get stuck in the filter or a pump.
So, the primary thing you should do after you discover a missing goldfish in a tank is to check the tank’s filter or a pump, as they can pass away if stuck for a long time.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live Without An Air Pump?
Conclusion:
- There can be numerous reasons behind your goldfish missing from the tank.
- Your goldfish can get stuck in the tank’s filter or have passed away and consumed by the shrimps or other fishes in the tank.
- Your goldfish got stuck in the filter, jumped out of the tank, and stuck in the tank decors are some reasons behind your goldfish disappearing.
- Overcrowded tank, inadequate water conditions, lack of light, and aggressive tankmates are some reasons behind your goldfish hiding.
- You can find the missing goldfish by searching your goldfish in the filter, checking every crevice and the surrounding area of the tank.
Reference: ScienceDirect