I have a concern with some of my fancy goldfish that seek the surface after being fed. They sit there gulping air in and I am concerned that they may get swim bladder issues from it.

Why do they do this? I have plenty aeration (2 Airstones and a lot of surface agitation). Also it is only 4 of them that do it. The rest just swim as regularly.

The tank is slightly overcrowded. They are in a 140 gal while I reorganize their 190 gal. but nothing extreme. Also they did the same when they were in the large tank so I don’t expect it to be down to overstocking.

  • ANGRY_MAPLEEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    IIRC that usually means that the water is missing some oxygen.

    Do you have good reads on the ammonia and nitrate levels? High levels can also cause respiratory distress and gulping.

    Do you have a decent filter? Is the water the proper temperature for that species? Is there a chance that they might be ill?

    • cosmicrookie@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      I am currently re-establishing my 190 gal so while i do this, i have them in a 140 gal and do more regular water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites down. They should be 0 really, and i do water changes whenever they seem to show up on the tests.

      The filter is decent but not ideal. But as long as ammonia and nitrites break down fairly fast i think i can keep up with water changes. I do aprox 1/4 water changes every 5 days, as goldfish generally are very messy, especially when kept indoors.

      My main concern is that they may have gill flukes. but not sure how to diagnose it, as the local vets have no idea

        • cosmicrookie@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          Yeah I only have fancy goldfish in the tank. Not ideal to mix with other species. But I don’t use dechlorinator as the tapwater here has no chlorine or chloramine. I feel like it’s the more round bodies goldfish that I have that get affected and also the smallest size wise but maybe they have over fed?