Goldfish are bottom dwellers that prefer to eat and rest in the tank’s bottom. Your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank is unusual if they are not doing it for food.
So, why is my goldfish swimming at the top of the tank? Is it normal? Let us find out.
Lack of oxygen in the water is the root cause behind your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank. However, inadequate water parameters and stress can also make your fish swim at the top. Consider providing favorable water conditions and adequate living conditions to prevent such issues.
In the below article, we will discuss the reason behind your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank. We will also learn the ways to prevent such issues.
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My goldfish is swimming at the top of the tank
Your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank’s water surface indicates unfavorable tank conditions that require immediate attention for the well-being of your fish.
Oxygen deficiency in the water is why your goldfish swim at the top of the tank’s water surface.
However, many other reasons like aggressive tankmates, inadequate water parameters, stress, contaminated water, and providing floating food to your goldfish can make them swim at the top of the tank’s water surface.
If you discover your goldfish swimming at the top of the water surface, you should take immediate action as it is an indication that your fish is facing some severe issues.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live With Angelfish?
Goldfish swimming behavior
Goldfish are bottom dwellers who prefer to eat, rest, and protect themselves from predators by hiding at the tank’s bottom.
However, as goldfish are active swimmers, you will not discover your fish swimming in one particular tank area.
If you discover your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank’s water surface, it indicates that your fish is hungry or gasping for air due to a lack of oxygen in the water.
My goldfish start swimming at the top of the tank’s water surface when I go near it as they know it’s time for their food.
We advise you not to regularly provide floating foods to your goldfish as it can make your goldish gulp excessive air leading to belly enlargement.
Why do goldfish swim at the top of the tank?
Here are the reasons behind your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank
- Lack of oxygen in the tank
- Your goldfish is suffering from swim bladder disorder.
- There is an ammonia spike in your goldfish tank.
- Stress
- Overfeeding
Lack of oxygen
The primary reason your goldfish is swimming at the top of the tank’s water surface is oxygen deficiency.
When there is a drop in the tank’s oxygen level, your goldfish swims at the surface and gasps for air.
The top of the tank’s surface holds the most oxygen in the aquarium.
There can be numerous reasons behind the tank’s oxygen level drop. Some of them are as follows:
- Overcrowded tanks
- Contaminated water
- No aeration in the water
The lack of oxygen can also lead to a sike in the tank’s ammonia level.
The beneficial bacteria in the tank require oxygen to eliminate the toxic ammonia and nitrite from accumulating.
In the absence of oxygen, the beneficial bacteria will not be able to eliminate the ammonia, leading to a spike in the ammonia levels.
High ammonia levels in the tank can also lead to ammonia poisoning in your goldfish.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live In Dirty Water?
Swim bladder disorder
Swim bladder disorder can also make your goldfish swim at the top of the tank.
Swim bladder helps your goldfish to maintain its buoyancy.
If your fish is suffering from swim bladder disorder, then it will not be able to maintain its buoyancy resulting in either sinking at the tank’s bottom or floating at the top of the tank.
Sinking at the tank’s bottom, swimming in erratic patterns, swollen belly, and loss of appetite are some signs of swim bladder disorder in your goldfish.
Some causes of swim bladder disorder are as follows:
- Gulping excessive air
- Genetic defect
- Overfeeding
- Parasitic or bacterial infection
You can treat swim bladder disorder by maintaining an adequate water temperature (68-74°F) and not providing food to your goldfish for about 2-3 days.
To learn about swim bladder disorder in detail, you can check my article Why Can’t My Goldfish Swim?
Ammonia Spike
Ammonia spike in the tank can also make your goldfish swim at the top of the tank.
Usually, ammonia occurs in the new tank, but it can also develop in an established tank due to poor water quality.
Here are some reasons behind ammonia spikes in your goldfish tank
- Oxygen deficiency
- Leftovers in the tank
- The poor water filtration system
- Improper cleaning
High levels of ammonia can lead to ammonia poisoning in your goldfish.Â
Also read: Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish
Stress
Stress can also make your goldfish swim at the top of the tank. Numerous reasons can lead to stress in your goldfish. Some of them are as follows:
- Overcrowding
- Aggressive Tankmates
- Irregular supply of food
- Unstable water parameters
- Illness
- Physical Injury
Excessive stress can also lead to the passing away of your fish.
An overcrowded tank provides no space for your goldfish to swim, leading to stress in your goldfish and making your goldfish swim at the top of the tank.
As goldfish are peaceful species, adding aggressive tankmates can also lead to stress in your goldfish.
Hungry goldfish will also swim at the top of the tank, waiting for the food as they know they will get food from the top.
Unstable water parameters can also lead to stress in your goldfish, making them swim at the top of the tank.
Overfeeding
Overfeeding your goldfish can also make them swim at the top of the tank.
Overfeeding can lead to constipation, making it challenging for your goldfish to swim because of an enlarged abdomen.
It can also lead to swim bladder disorder in your goldfish.
Feeding frozen food to your goldfish that stretches in its stomach can lead to belly enlargement.
Why is my goldfish swimming at the top of the tank after the water change?
Your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank after the water change is normal.
It is because your fish takes time to adapt to the changes made in the water.
Your fish swim at the top of the water after the water change as it contains most of the oxygen required by your goldfish.
You should perform regular water changes to maintain the tank’s water quality.
There is no harm to your goldfish when you perform a water change.
However, you must ensure not to perform a significant water change as it can lead to stress in your fish.
We advise you to perform a 30% water change weekly for the well-being of your goldfish.
Also read: My Goldfish Died After A Water Change
How to prevent such issue in your goldfish?
Here are the ways to prevent such issues in your goldfish
- Provide favorable water conditions
- Maintain Adequate water parameters
- Avoid Overstocking
- Provide a stress-free environment
- Avoid overfeeding your goldfish
- Add an air pump to your goldfish tank for aeration.
Provide favorable water conditions
You should provide favorable water conditions to your goldfish to prevent such issues in your goldfish.
Contaminated water can lead to oxygen deficiency, eventually making your goldfish swim at the top of the tank.
You should perform a 30% weekly water change to maintain the tank’s water quality.
We advise you to add a water filter to your goldfish tank as it helps to eliminate the harmful toxins from the water.
Consider washing the filter once a month. You should clean the sponge and the filter media from the aquarium water.
Maintain adequate water parameters
You should provide adequate water parameters to prevent such issues in your goldfish.
Providing adequate water parameters will help to prevent stress in your goldfish.
| Particulars | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 68-74 |
| Ph level | 7.5 |
| Ammonia level | 0-0.25ppm |
| Nitrite level | 0ppm |
| Nitrate level | Below 40ppm |
You should keep eyeing the tank’s ammonia level for the well-being of your goldfish.
We advise you to use the API Test kit for accurate results.
You can buy it from amazon API TEST KIT.
Also read: What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Goldfish?
Avoid Overstocking
Goldfish are active swimmers who require ample space in their tank for their proper growth and development.
An overcrowded tank can lead to numerous issues. Some of them are as follows:
- Your goldfish will have no room to swim, leading to excessive stress.
- An overcrowded tank can lead to a drop in the tank’s oxygen level.
- Goldfish are messy fishes. If you place them in a crowded tank, they can contaminate your tank’s water in no time.
You should provide a big-size tank for your goldfish for their proper growth and development.
We advise you to add one gallon per inch of fish to avoid overcrowding.
Also read: What Happens When You Overstock Goldfish Tank?
Provide a stress-free environment
You should always provide a stress-free environment for the well-being of your fish.
If your goldfish is suffering from stress, you will discover them swimming at the top of the tank.
Excessive stress can also lead to the passing away of your goldfish.
You can provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish in the following ways:
- Provide favorable water conditions to your goldfish.
- Maintain adequate water parameters in the tank (68-74°F)
- As goldfish are peaceful species, you should avoid pairing them with aggressive tankmates.
- The ideal water pH level in your goldfish tank is 7.5.
- To prevent overfeeding, you should always provide the amount your goldfish consume in under two minutes.
- You should always perform a 30% water change weekly to maintain the tank’s quality water.
- You should add a lot of aquatic plants to the tank to keep your tank well oxygenated.
Taking care of all these will help develop a stress-free environment for your goldfish.
Also read: What To Do If My Goldfish Is Stressed?
Avoid overfeeding your goldfish.
You should avoid overfeeding your goldfish to prevent such issues in your goldfish.
You should always provide the amount your goldfish can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding.
| Goldfish Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of times |
|---|---|---|
| Brine Shrimp | One pinch at a time | 1-2 times a week |
| Veggie Pelllets | On pinch at a time | 2 times a week |
| Bloodworms | One pinch | 1-2 times a week |
| Leafy Greens | A small piece of leaf | 3-4 times a week |
| Blanched Peas | Half a pea | 2-3 times a week |
| Blanched Cucumber | One small slice | 2-3 times a week |
Overfeeding make your goldfish tank contaminated by the fish leftovers and waste.
Therefore, we advise you not to overfeed your goldfish for their well-being.
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
Create aeration
It would be best to create aeration on the tank’s surface as it helps increase the aquarium oxygen level.
Consider adding an air pump to the tank as it helps to create aeration.
The water filter also helps to create movement on the water surface.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live Without An Air pump?
Conclusion:
- Lack of oxygen in the water is the primary cause behind your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank.
- Poor water quality, stress, and aggressive tankmates can also make your goldfish swim at the top of the tank.
- Your goldfish swimming at the top of the tank is regular as your fish need time to adapt to the changes in the water.
- It would be advisable to perform a 30% water change weekly to maintain the tank’s water quality.
- You can prevent such issues by providing favorable water conditions, maintaining adequate water parameters, and adding an air pump to your goldfish tank for aeration.
Reference: ResearchGate NCBI