Goldfish are active swimmers that can grow up to 14 inches in captivity. Your goldfish not growing is a matter of concern that requires immediate attention.
So, why is your goldfish not growing? How can you ensure the faster growth of your goldfish? Let us find out.
Inadequate housing conditions like poor water quality, overcrowded tanks, and improper water parameters are why your goldfish is not growing. Genetics can also make your fish not grow much. Consider providing adequate tank conditions and a proper diet for the faster growth of your goldfish.
The below article, we will discuss the reasons behind your goldfish not growing much. In addition, we will also learn the ways to ensure the faster growth of your goldfish.
Contents
My goldfish is not growing
Your goldfish not growing indicates inadequate housing conditions in the tank. The poor quality environment in the tank is the root cause that affects your goldfish’s growth.
Goldfish are active swimmers that can grow up to 14 inches in captivity if you provide them with adequate tank conditions.
Poor water quality, Overcrowded tanks, Low-grade food, Improper feeding schedule, and genetics are some common reasons for your that affect the growth of your goldfish.
There are chances of your goldfish developing physical deformities due to severe stunting.
Also read: How Often Should You Feed Goldfish?
What are the reasons behind my goldfish not growing?
Here are the reasons behind your goldfish not growing.
- Poor water Quality
- Overcrowded Tanks
- Poor Diet
- Low-grade food
- Stress
- Genetics
Poor water Quality
Poor water quality can affect the growth of your goldfish.
Contaminated water in the tank leads to ammonia and other toxic chemicals buildup, making your goldfish sick and prone to several diseases and parasites, eventually affecting the growth of your goldfish.
Higher levels of nitrates in the water can limit the growth of your goldfish.
In addition, poor water quality can also lead to a drop in the tank’s oxygen level, making your goldfish gasp for air at the tank’s water surface.
Overcrowded Tanks
Overcrowded tanks can also limit the growth of your goldfish. Goldfish are active swimmers who require ample space in their tank for adequate growth and development.
Placing your goldfish in an overcrowded tank will provide no room for your fish to swim freely, eventually affecting their growth.
In addition, goldfish are messy fish that produces a lot of waste in the tank. So, placing them in an overcrowded tank can contaminate the tank’s water, leading to oxygen deficiency.
Poor Diet
Providing a poor diet to your goldfish can also limit the growth of your fish.
Goldfish are omnivore species that require a mix of red meat and green veggies for their proper growth and development.
Goldfish require 40% protein in their diet for adequate growth and development.
A poor diet can also make your goldfish suffer from constipation and other severe health issues.
Also read: Can Goldfish Die From Overfeeding?
Feeding Low-Grade food
Feeding low-grade food to your goldfish can lead to blockage and weaken your fish’s immune system making them sick and prone to several diseases, eventually affecting the growth of your fish.
Stress
Stress can also limit the growth of your goldfish. Some factors that can lead to stress in your goldfish are as follows.
- An overcrowded tank can make your goldfish stress
- Poor water quality can lead to stress in your goldfish.
- Placing your goldfish with aggressive tankmates can lead to stress in your goldfish.
- A poor diet can make your goldfish suffer from stress.
- No hiding spots in the tank can make your goldfish suffer from stress.
Stress caused due to the above factors can stop the growth of your goldfish and make your fish suffer from physical deformities like a bent spine.
In addition, excessive stress can also lead to the passing away of your fish.
Also read: Are My Goldfish Stressed?
Genetics
Genetics also plays a role in your fish not growing correctly. Some goldfish are naturally smaller due to their genetics.
Even if you provide them with adequate living conditions and high-grade food, your goldfish will not grow much.
Therefore, your fish not growing due to genetics is nothing to worry about as it is entirely normal.
How can you make your goldfish grow faster?
Here are the ways to make your goldfish grow faster
- Provide good water conditions
- Maintain adequate water parameters
- Avoid overstocking
- Provide a good quality diet
- Provide a stress-free environment in the tank.
Provide good water conditions
Poor water conditions are the root cause behind several health issues in your goldfish that affect your fish growth.
As goldfish are messy fishes that produce a lot of waste, maintaining the tank’s water quality is essential for their faster growth and well-being.
You should 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 eliminate the harmful toxins from the water and keep your tank water clean.
You must ensure to remove the leftover from the tank as it can lead to the buildup of ammonia that can affect your fish’s health.
Therefore, we advise providing good water conditions to your goldfish for their proper growth and development.Â
Also read: Can Goldfish Live In Dirty Water?
Maintain adequate water parameters
Inadequate water parameters can lead to severe health issues like dropsy in your fish, eventually affecting the growth of your goldfish.
You should always maintain adequate water parameters to ensure your goldfish’s faster growth and well-being.
| Particular | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 68-74°F |
| Ph Level | 7.5 |
| Ammonia Level | 0-0.25ppm |
| Nitrite | 0ppm |
| Nitrate | Below 40ppm |
The ideal water temperature of your goldfish tank should be between 68-74°F.
Sudden changes in the temperature can lead to shock in your goldfish, making them suffer from stress, eventually affecting the growth of your fish.
However, your goldfish can also live in warm water as it increases metabolism and makes your fish active, which helps to ensure your goldfish’s faster growth.
The ideal pH level of your goldfish tank should be 7.5. Inadequate pH levels can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish, making them sick and prone to several diseases.
Therefore, you should maintain adequate pH levels in the aquarium to ensure the faster growth of your goldfish.
Ensure to keep eyeing the tank’s ammonia level, as the excess buildup of ammonia in the tank can lead to ammonia poisoning in your goldfish.
We advise you to purchase API TEST KIT to check the tank’s ammonia level as it provides accurate results.
You can buy it from Amazon API TEST KIT
High nitrite levels in the aquarium are due to the breakdown of ammonia by bacteria in the filter.Â
The leading cause of nitrite in the tank are overstocking and damaged biological filters.
We advise you to maintain 0ppm of nitrite levels in the aquarium as high nitrites can lead to significant health issues in your goldfish.
The nitrate level of your goldfish tank should be below 40ppm for the well-being of your fish.Â
Also read: Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish
Avoid Overstocking
Overstocking your goldfish tank provides no room for your goldfish to swim, affecting your fish’s growth.
You should provide ample space in the aquarium to ensure the faster growth of your goldfish.
Avoid placing your goldfish in a bowl as it provides no space for your goldfish to swim freely, which eventually hinders your fish’s growth.
You should provide one gallon of water per inch of fish to ensure enough room in the tank.
We advise you to always plan for the aquarium size by how big your fish can get to provide enough room in the tank.
For example, let us learn about the number of goldfish you can keep in a 10-Gallon tank.
| Types of Goldfish | Minimum Size | Maximum Size | In a 10-Gallon tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Goldfish | 4 inches(10.16cm) | 14 inches(35.56cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
| Comet Goldfish | 2 inches(5.08cm) | 12 inches(30.48cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
| Shubunkin Goldfish | 9 inches(22.86cm) | 18 inches(45.72cm) | 1 small goldfish |
| Sarasa Goldfish | 4 inches(10.16cm) | 14 inches(35.56cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
| Fantail Goldfish | 6 inches(15.24cm) | 8 inches(20.32cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
Therefore, we advise you to provide ample space in the tank to ensure the faster growth of your goldfish.
Also read: How Many Goldfish Can You Keep In A 10-Gallon Tank?
Provide good quality diet
You should provide a good quality diet to your fish to ensure faster growth.
Goldfish are omnivore species that require meat and green veggies for healthy growth and development.
| Goldfish Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of times | Advisable for proper growth and development of your fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veggie Pellets | One small pinch at a time | 2 times a day | HIKARI SINKING FISH FOOD |
| Brine Shrimp | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI BRINE SHRIMP CUBES |
| Blood Worms | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED BLOODWORMS |
| Tubifex Worms | One small pinch | 1 time a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED TUBIFEX WORMS |
| Leafy Greens | A piece of leaf | 3-4 times a week | Provide Leaf Lettuce |
| Mosquito Larvae | 12-15 | 2-3 times a week | Feed Live |
| Boiled peas | Half a pea | 3-4 times a week | Feed fresh |
| Blanched Zucchini | One small slice | 3-4 times a week | Feed Fresh |
Therefore, you should always provide an excellent diet to your goldfish to ensure their faster growth and development.
In addition, always maintain a proper feeding schedule for your goldfish as it helps your fish develop a regular eating pattern and aids their digestive cycle.
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
Provide a stress-free environment
Stress can affect the growth of your goldfish and make goldfish sick and prone to numerous diseases.
You can provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish in the following ways:
- Maintain adequate water temperature(68-74°F) in the tank.
- Provide good water conditions to your goldfish.
- Maintain an adequate water pH level (7.5) in the aquarium.
- Avoid pairing your goldfish with aggressive fishes like betta.
- Provide lots of hiding spots in the aquarium.
- Avoid overcrowding your goldfish aquarium.
- Avoid placing your goldfish in a bowl.
- Maintain a proper feeding schedule for your goldfish.
Therefore, you should provide a stress-free environment in your goldfish aquarium to ensure the faster growth of your fish.
Also read: What To Do If My Goldfish Is Stressed?
Conclusion:
- Inadequate housing conditions like poor water conditions, improper water parameters, and overcrowded tanks can affect the growth of your goldfish.
- Genetics can be a reason behind your goldfish not growing much.
- You should avoid overcrowding your goldfish tank as it provides no room for your goldfish to swim, eventually affecting the growth of your fish.
- You should provide a diet mix of all essential nutrients for the healthy growth of your goldfish.
- Goldfish are messy fishes that produce a lot of waste in the tank. So, you should perform frequent water changes and add a water filter to the tank to keep the tank water clean.
Reference: ResearchGate ResearchGate