Why Do Goldfish Rub On Gravel? (Reasons+Prevention)

As an aquarist, discovering your goldfish rubbing against the tank’s gravel might raise several questions in your head. So, why is your goldfish rubbing against the tank’s gravel? Is it normal? Let us find out:

External parasites can be the root cause behind your goldfish rubbing against gravel. However, poor water conditions and stress can also make your goldfish rub against the tank’s gravel. Consider isolating the new fish before adding them directly to your house aquarium to prevent such issues.

In the below article, we will discuss all the reasons behind your goldfish rubbing against the tank’s gravel.

My goldfish rubbing on gravel

Your goldfish rubbing against gravel indicates unfavorable housing conditions.

There can be many reasons like stress, external parasites, ammonia spike, and poor water quality behind your goldfish rubbing against the gravel in the tank.

Ignoring such a situation can make your goldfish suffer from severe health issues, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.

Is it normal for your goldfish to rub on tank’s gravel?

It is not normal for your goldfish to rub against the tank’s gravel, as rubbing indicates a severe issue like white spot disease in your goldfish.

Your goldfish rubbing against the tank’s gravel also indicates unfavorable water conditions in your goldfish tank.

Ignoring such a situation can lead to significant health issues in your goldfish.

Therefore, it will be advisable to take immediate action when you discover your goldfish rubbing against the tank’s gravel.

What are the reasons behind your goldfish rubbing on gravel?

Here are the reasons behind your goldfish rubbing against gravel:

1. Your goldfish might be suffering from External Parasites
2. Poor Water Quality can make your goldfish rub against the tank’s gravel
3. Stress can also make your goldfish rub against tank’s gravel.
4. Injuries can make your goldfish rub against the tank’s gravel.

External Parasites

External parasites can make your goldfish rub against gravel. External parasites such as ich can cause itching in your fish, making them rub against the tank’s gravel.

External parasites can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish. 

Adding new fish directly to your house aquarium can make your goldfish suffer from such health issues. 

In addition, infected aquarium decors can also make your fish suffer from external parasites. 

Some other types of external parasites that can make your goldfish rub against the tank’s gravel are

1. Fish Lice
2. Gill Fluke

Fish lice and gill flukes can also cause itching in your goldfish eventually making your goldfish rub against tank’s gravel.

Poor Water Quality

Poor water quality can also make your goldfish rub against gravel. Contaminated water can lead to a spike in the ammonia levels making your tank’s water highly acidic. 

Highly acidic water can further burn the gills of your fish, making them rub against the tank’s gravel. 

In addition, poor water quality can also lead to several other health issues like constipation in your goldfish.

Stress

Stress can also make your goldish rub against the gravel. Many factors, such as inadequate water parameters, can make your goldfish suffer from stress.

Therefore, we want you to know that extreme stress can also make your goldfish pass away. 

Always provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish to make them live a healthy life.

Injury

Injury can also make your goldfish rub against gravel. Many factors like aggressive tankmates and sharp objects in the tank can injure your goldfish. 

Overcrowded tanks can also lead to aggression making your goldfish rub against tank’s gravel.

How to prevent such issues in your goldfish?

You can prevent your goldfish from rubbing against gravel in the following ways:

1. You should isolate new Fish 
2. You should provide good water quality
3. You should provide adequate water parameters 
4. You should wash the aquarium decors

Isolate New Fish

You should always ensure to quarantine new fish before adding them directly to your house aquarium to avoid the risk of external parasites in your goldfish. 

You should at least quarantine the new fish for ten days before adding them directly to your house aquarium. 

Isolating the new fish will help minimize the risk of external parasites like ich in your goldfish. 

Also read: How To Cure Goldfish Ich?

Provide Good Water Quality

You should always provide good water quality to your goldfish to avoid your fish from rubbing against the tank’s gravel.

Contaminated Water can lead to a spike in the ammonia level, making your tank’s Water highly acidic, eventually making your fish rub against the tank’s gravel.

Contaminated Water can also lead to significant health issues like constipation and severe digestive problems in your goldfish.

Particulars	Goldfish
Ammonia Levels	0-0.25ppm
Nitrate Levels	0-40ppm

Also read: Can Goldfish Survive In Dirty Water?

Provide adequate water parameters

You should always provide adequate water parameters to your goldfish to avoid your fish rubbing against the tank’s gravel.

Particulars	Goldfish
PH Level	7.5
Water Temperature	68-74°F

Wash The Aquarium Decors

It would be best to always wash the aquarium decors before adding them to your house aquarium.

Your tank decors can carry several parasites that can cause infections in your goldfish.

It would be best to wash your aquarium decors like rocks and ornaments before adding them to your tank to avoid any harm to your goldfish.

In addition you should also isolate the live aquatic plants and other aquarium decors for 3-4 days before adding them to your goldfish tank.

Also read: Do Goldfish Eat Plants?

Conclusion:

1. There can be numerous reasons, like external parasites behind your goldfish rubbing against gravel.
2. Unfavorable water conditions can also make your goldfish rub against gravel.
3. It would be best to always quarantine your new fish before adding them directly to your house aquarium.
4. It would help if you always washed the aquarium decors properly to avoid any risk of infection to your goldfish. 
5. You should provide good water conditions in your tank for the well-being of your goldfish.

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Reference: ResearchGate