Goldfish are freshwater fishes that every aquarist prefers to add to their home aquarium. A goldfish is an ideal option for all the aquarists at the beginning of their fish-keeping journey as they are low-maintenance fish.
Goldfish in captivity can live up to 10-15 years. But, your goldfish dying in a short period is unusual and can raise several questions in your mind. So, why does my goldfish dying? Let us find out.
Inadequate housing conditions and a poor diet are the root cause behind your goldfish dying. However, other factors like non-compatible tankmates and illness also explain your goldfish dying. Provide good water conditions and a stress-free environment in the tank to prevent such issues.
The below article will discuss the reasons behind your goldfish dying. In addition, we will learn how to stop your goldfish from dying.
Contents
Why is my goldfish dying?
Your goldfish dying indicates inadequate tank conditions and a poor living environment in the tank.
There can be many reasons like an overcrowded tank, poor water quality, aggressive tankmates, infections, and overfeeding behind your goldfish passing away in a shorter period.
If your goldfish passes away in a shorter period, you should examine the tank properly before adding any other fish.
Therefore, you should provide a healthy environment in the tank for the well-being of your fish.
What are the symptoms of a dying goldfish
Here are some symptoms of a dying goldfish
- Your goldfish having white spots on its body is a sign of illness in your fish.
- Your goldfish refusing to eat their food is a sign of health issues like constipation in your fish.
- Your goldfish swimming in erratic patterns is a sign of health issues in your fish.
- Your goldfish gasping for air at the top of the tank’s water surface indicates oxygen deficiency, eventually causing harm to your fish.
- If you discover your goldfish hiding from the other tankmates, it indicates unsuitable tankmates, leading to stress in your fish.
- Your goldfish rubbing itself against the tank decors points towards diseases like ich that can cause harm to your fish.
- Your goldfish losing their color indicates inadequate tank conditions, leading to severe health issues in your fish.
- Your goldfish bloating indicates a poor quality diet that can cause severe health issues in your fish.
- Your goldfish laying at the tank’s bottom indicates inadequate housing conditions, further leading to significant health issues in your fish.
- If you discover swollen fins of your goldfish, it indicates fin rot that can lead to significant health issues in your fish.
The above symptoms in your goldfish indicate that your fish is weak and is about to pass away in a short period if you do not provide any treatment.
What are the reasons behind your goldfish dying?
Here is the reason behind your goldfish dying
- Poor water conditions
- Non-compatible tankmates
- Inadequate water parameters
- Overcrowded tanks
- Illness
- Overfeeding
Poor water conditions
The root cause of several health issues in your goldfish is the poor water quality in the tank.
Contaminated water in the tank can lead to a drop in the tank’s oxygen level, making your fish gasp for air at the top of the water surface.
Poor water quality in the tank can also weaken your goldfish’s immune system, making them weak and prone to several diseases and parasites, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
Also, read: Can Goldfish Live In Dirty Water?
Non-compatible tankmates
Goldfish are peaceful species that do not prefer aggression in their tank.
Pairing your goldfish with aggressive tankmates as betta can lead to severe aggression in the tank and cause many physical injuries to your goldfish.
In addition, pairing your fish with non-compatible tankmates can also lead to extreme stress, eventually making your fish pass away.
Also, read: Can Goldfish Live With Angelfish?
Inadequate water parameters
Goldfish are cold water fishes that prefer a temperature between 68-74°F.
Sudden changes in the water temperature can lead to shock in your fish, eventually making them pass away.
Inadequate water parameters can also lead to several health issues like stress in your goldfish, weakening their immune system, and making them prone to several diseases and parasites.Â
Overcrowded tanks
Goldfish require ample space in their tank for their proper growth and development.
Placing your goldfish in an overcrowded tank can stress your fish and make them territorial.
In addition, goldfish are messy fish that produces a lot of waste in the tank.
Overstocking them will contaminate the tank’s water leading to oxygen deficiency and many health issues like loss of appetite in your fish, eventually making them weak and pass away.Â
Also, read: What Happens When You Overstock Goldfish Tank?
Illness
Several diseases and parasites like ich and fin rot can also explain your goldfish passing away.
Inadequate tank conditions are the root cause behind such illness in your goldfish.
If you discover your goldfish suffering from such health issues, you should immediately provide treatment to your fish for their well-being.
Overfeeding
Overfeeding your goldfish can lead to significant health issues like constipation in your fish, eventually making them weak and pass away.
In addition, overfeeding can also lead to leftovers in the tank that will further contaminate the tank’s water, further leading to a spike in the tank’s ammonia level.
Excessive ammonia levels in the tank can lead to severe health issues like ammonia poisoning in your fish, eventually making them pass away.
How can you stop your goldfish from dying?
Here are the ways to stop your goldfish from dying
- Provide good water conditions in the tank
- Maintain adequate water parameters in the tank
- Avoid overfeeding your goldfish
- Avoid overstocking your goldfish tank.
- Pair them with compatible tankmates
- Provide a stress-free environment in the tank.
Provide good water conditions
Goldfish are freshwater fishes that require good water conditions for healthy growth and development.
Providing poor water conditions can lead to several health issues in your fish, eventually making them weak and pass away.
As goldfish are messy fish, they produce a lot of waste, contaminating the tank’s water in no time.
It will be advisable to perform a 30% water change weekly to maintain the tank’s water quality.
In addition, you should also add a water filter to your goldfish tank as it helps to eliminate the toxic chemicals from the water and keep the water clean.
We recommend using Fluval High Performance Aquarium as it helps to eliminate harmful bacteria.
You can buy it from Amazon Fluval High Performance Aquarium Filter
Also, read: Do Goldfish Need Filters?
It would be best to keep eyeing the tank’s ammonia level, as excessive ammonia in the tank can lead to ammonia poisoning in your goldfish, eventually making them pass away.
We recommend using an API test kit to check the tank’s ammonia level as it provides accurate results.
You can buy it from Amazon API TEST KIT.
Also, read Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish.
Maintain adequate water parameters
| Particulars | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 68-74°F |
| Ph Level | 7.5 |
| TDS Level | 170-250ppm |
| Ammonia Level | 0-0.25ppm |
| Nitrite Level | 0ppm |
| Nitrate Level | Below 40ppm |
- The ideal water temperature of your goldfish tank should be between 68-74°F.
- The ideal Ph level of your fish tank is 7.5.
- The ammonia level of your goldfish tank should be between 0-0.25ppm.
- The nitrite level of your goldfish tank should be 0 ppm.
- The nitrate level of your goldfish tank should be below 40ppm.
Also, read: Goldfish Minimum Water Temperature
Avoid Overfeeding your goldfish
You should avoid overfeeding your goldfish as it can lead to significant health issues like constipation in your fish.
As goldfish lack a stomach, they digest their food through their intestines. So, overfeeding your goldfish can lead to severe digestive issues in your fish.
You should always provide the quantity your fish can consume in under two minutes to avoid overfeeding.
In addition, it will be advisable to provide high-quality food to your goldfish to maintain their proper health.
Goldfish are omnivore species that require meat and green veggies for adequate development.
Here are some best food options for your goldfish.
| Goldfish Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of times | Advisable for proper development of your goldfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brine Shrimp | One pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI BRINE SHRIMP CUBES |
| Tubifex Worms | One pinch | 1 time a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED TUBIFEX WORMS |
| Veggie Pellets | One pinch | 2 times a day | HIKARI SINKING FISH FOOD |
| Blood Worms | One pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED BLOODWORMS |
| Boiled peas | Half a pea | 2-3 times a day | Feed fresh |
| Daphnia | One small pinch | 2-3 times a week | Feed fresh |
| Blanched Cucumber | One small slice | 3-4 times a week | Feed Fresh |
| Blanched Zucchini | One small slice | 3-4 times a week | Feed Fresh |
| Bananas | One small slice | 2 times a week | Feed Fresh |
| Mosquito Larvae | 12-15 | 2-3 times a week | Feed live |
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
Avoid Overstocking your goldfish tank
You should provide ample space in the tank for your goldfish to ensure their healthy growth and development.
It will be advisable to provide one gallon of water per inch of fish to avoid overcrowding.
In addition, avoid placing your goldfish in a bowl as it provides no space for your goldfish to swim, eventually leading to stress in your fish.
Therefore, you should always provide a bigger tank than a bowl to your goldfish for their proper development and offer them a longer lifespan.
Pair your goldfish with compatible tankmates
Goldfish are non-aggressive species that do not prefer aggression in their tank.
It would be best always to place your goldfish with peaceful species to develop a healthy environment in the tank.
Here are some best tankmates for your goldfish
- Rosy Barbs
- Guppy Fish
- Zebra Danios
- Snails
- Giant Danios
Also, read: Can Goldfish Live With Guppy?
Provide a stress-free environment in the tank
You should always provide a stress-free environment for your goldfish to provide a healthy life to your goldfish.
Here are the ways to provide a stress-free environment in your goldfish tank.
- Avoid Overcrowding your fish tank
- Provide adequate water conditions
- Maintain ideal water parameters in your goldfish tank
- Place your goldfish with suitable tankmates
- Avoid overfeeding your goldfish.
- Provide a high-quality food to your goldfish
- Provide lots of hiding spots in your tank
The above were some ways to provide a stress-free environment for your goldfish.
Also, read: What To Do If My Goldfish Is Stressed?
Conclusion:
- Your goldfish dying indicates inadequate tank conditions and a poor living environment in the tank.
- Your goldfish having white spots, refusing to eat, swimming in erratic patterns, and gasping for air are some symptoms that your goldfish is suffering from severe health issues and is about to pass away.
- Poor water conditions, overcrowded tanks, illness, and overfeeding are some reasons behind your goldfish passing away.
- You can stop your goldfish from passing away by providing adequate tank conditions and good quality food.
- You should always provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish to ensure their proper growth and development.
Reference: ResearchGate