As an aquarist, you will be curious to see your goldfish hiding behind the filter. So, why is your goldfish hiding behind the filter? Is it normal? Let us discuss this below.
In general, strong currents from the water filter cause goldfish to hide behind the filter. Unfavorable water conditions and a stressful environment can also make goldfish hide behind the filter. Adding aquarium decors can help minimize the water filter current and prevent stress in your fish.
In the below article we will discuss the reasons and preventions for your goldfish behind the water filter.
Contents
My goldfish is hiding behind the filter
Your goldfish hiding behind the filter indicates unfavorable tank issues. However, the most common reason behind your goldfish hiding behind the filter can be the strong currents from the water filter.
The strong currents from the water can make your goldfish uncomfortable and hide behind the tank’s filter.
There can also be many other reasons like poor water quality and aggressive tankmates that can lead to stress in your goldfish, making them hide behind the tank’s filter.
Your goldfish hiding behind the filter also indicates an overcrowded tank. Unfortunately, an overcrowded tank can also lead to extreme stress in your goldfish.
Also read: Do Goldfish Need Filters?
Is it normal for goldfish to hide behind the filter?
It is not usual for your goldfish to hide behind the filter, as such behavior points towards unfavorable housing conditions that require immediate concern.
If your goldfish is small in size, they may get uncomfortable with the strong water currents from the filter.
Your goldfish hiding behind the filter also raises questions about the tank’s oxygen level.
So, you should not ignore such issues as they can lead to severe health issues for your goldfish.
We advise you to take immediate action in such a case for the well-being of your goldfish.
What are the reasons behind my goldfish hiding behind the filter?
Here are the reasons behind your goldfish hiding behind the filter.
- Strong currents from the water filter
- Overcrowded tank
- Aggressive Tankmates
- Lower oxygen levels in the water
- Stress
Strong Water Currents
Strong water currents can make your goldfish uncomfortable and hide behind the filter.
It usually happens when you have a small goldfish in your tank as they cannot tolerate such strong water currents. Unfortunately, it can also lead to stress in your goldfish.
Overcrowded Tank
An overcrowded tank can also make your goldfish hide behind the filter. Goldfish require ample space in the tank for proper growth and development.
Placing your goldfish in an overcrowded tank can lead to stress in your goldfish, eventually making your fish hide behind the tank’s filter.Â
Also read: What Happens When You Overstock Goldfish Tank?
Aggressive Tankmates
Aggressive Tankmates can also make your goldfish hide behind the tank’s filter.
Goldfish are peaceful fish that requires non-aggressive tankmates in their tank.
If you place your goldfish with aggressive tankmates like betta, it can lead to extreme aggression, making your goldfish hide behind the tank’s filter.Â
Also read: Can Goldfish Live With Angelfish?
Lower Oxygen Levels in the water
The lack of oxygen in the tank can also make your goldfish hide behind the tank’s filter.
Lower oxygen levels in the tank can lead to stress in your goldfish, making them hide behind the filter to intake oxygen as that area holds the cleanest water.
Lower oxygen levels indicate contaminated water in the tank, leading to extreme stress in your goldfish.
Stress
Stress can also make your goldfish hide behind the tank’s filter. Many factors can lead to stress in your goldfish. Some of them are as follows:
- Lack of hiding spots in the tank can make your goldfish stress hiding behind the tank’s filter.
- Providing low-quality food to your goldfish can also lead to stress in your fish, making them hide behind the tank’s filter.
- Pairing your goldfish with non-compatible tankmates can also lead to stress in your goldfish, making them hide behind the tank’s filter.
Also read: What To Do If My Goldfish Is Stressed?
How can you prevent such issues in your goldfish?
Here are the ways to prevent such issues in your goldfish
- Provide Gentle Currents
- Avoid Overstocking your goldfish tank
- Provide Good Quality water
- Provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish.
- Avoid placing your goldfish with aggressive tankmates.
Provide gentle currents
The current from the water filter is essential to maintain a stable environment in the tank.
However, excessive strong currents can make your goldfish uncomfortable and lead to stress in your fish.
Your goldfish will require a lot of energy to swim against the powerful current, eventually making your goldfish lethargic and leading to loss of appetite in your goldfish.
You can reduce the tank filter current strength in the following ways:
- Add aquarium decors like rocks, driftwood, and cave structures to minimize the tank filter current.
- Motor speed control can also help to reduce the tank filter current.
We advise you always to purchase a filter with an adjustable flow as it helps to achieve the perfect flow for your goldfish. Providing ideal flow in the tank is essential for the well-being of your fish.
Avoid Overstocking
You should avoid overcrowding your goldfish tank to prevent your fish from hiding behind the tank’s filter.Â
Goldfish are active swimmers that require a good-sized tank for their well-being.
Placing them in an overcrowded tank can lead to excessive stress in your fish, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
You should provide ample space in the tank for your goldfish’s proper growth and development.
Provide Good Quality Water
You should provide good water quality to your goldfish to prevent your fish from hiding behind the tank’s filter.
Contaminated water can lead to a drop in oxygen, eventually making your fish hide behind the filter as that part of the water holds more oxygen.
Contaminated water can also lead to significant health issues like constipation in your goldfish.
In addition, poor quality water can also spike ammonia levels, making the tank’s water highly acidic, eventually affecting your goldfish gills.
It would be best to always keep an eye upon the ammonia levels in the tank for the well-being of your goldfish.Â
| Particular | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Ammonia Level | 0-0.25ppm |
| Nitrate Level | 0-40ppm |
We advise checking the ammonia levels in the tank with the help of a API Ammonia Test Kit as it provides accurate results.
You can buy it from Amazon API TEST KIT
Also read: Can Goldfish Survive In Dirty Water?
Provide Stress-Free Environment
You should always provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish to prevent your fish from hiding behind the tank’s filter.
Create a lot of hiding spots in the tank to provide a healthy environment for your goldfish.
You can add live aquatic plants to your tank as it helps keep the tank well oxygenated and acts as a hiding spot for your goldfish.
Other aquarium decors you can use to create hiding spots for your goldfish are as follows:
- Aquarium Rocks
- Driftwood
- Aquarium ornaments
- Cave structure
Therefore, we advise you always to provide a healthy environment to your goldfish for your fish’s proper growth and development.
Also read: Do Goldfish Need Hiding Places?Â
Avoid aggressive tankmates
You should not place your goldfish with aggressive tankmates like betta to prevent your fish from hiding behind the tank’s filter.Â
Placing your fish with non-compatible tankmates can lead to extreme aggression in the tank and severe injuries to your goldfish.
As goldfish are peaceful fish that does not prefer aggression in the tank, you should pair them with compatible tankmates like guppy fish for the well-being of your fish.Â
Also read: Can Goldfish Live With Guppy?
Conclusion:
- Strong currents from the filter are the leading cause behind your goldfish hiding behind the water filter.
- Contaminated water, aggressive tankmates, and overcrowded tanks can also hide your goldfish behind the filter.
- You should always provide good water quality to avoid several health issues to your goldfish.
- Always offer a stress-free environment to your goldfish for your fish’s proper growth and development.
- Avoid placing your goldfish with aggressive tankmates to prevent such issues in your fish.