My fish is swimming sideways

Lemming

So I think my goldfish is pretty healthy, but he swims like he is drunk off his ass. He's still energetic, but he goes sideways and sometimes upside down. I figured this wasn't good, and apparently he has a swim bladder disorder that is causing this.

Using the power of Google, I find that this can be solved by feeding him peas. Goldfish are supposed to be perpetually hungry, so this shouldn't be a problem. However, he won't eat them. Or his normal food. I tried holding some in front of him, dropping it on/near him, and sprinkling it around the aquarium, but he isn't biting.

Anything I can do?

DrFrylock

1. Find a very small ziploc bag.
2. Fill it with air.
3. Glue it to the back of your goldfish*.

No seriously I have no idea. Are they dried peas or cooked ones? Can you flatten them and let them float at the top of the tank like flake food? Just sort of leave them there until he eats them?

* Use a water-curing glue

TrippyDK

When I used to have goldfish, this was always a sure sign they were dieing. The only thing that is different is that you say yours is energetic...Well I guess if it starts slowing down, you know whats coming.

bone daddy

Lemming wrote:

Using the power of Google, I find that this can be solved by feeding him peas. Goldfish are supposed to be perpetually hungry, so this shouldn't be a problem. However, he won't eat them. Or his normal food. I tried holding some in front of him, dropping it on/near him, and sprinkling it around the aquarium, but he isn't biting.

Anything I can do?

Check a forum specifically for goldfish. Some are composed of complete tards, but most places are full of people with a bit of experience and a genuine interest in the wellbeing of your fish.

jhunter46

Sounds like it could be bloat or dropsey. The thing about fish getting sick though is sometimes the cure is as deadly as the sickness.

seraphiminia

Firstly, stop feeding the goldfish his regular food--if I remember correctly, overfeeding is what causes the problem in the first place (especially if it's flake food, which expands in the fish's stomach). In fact, don't feed him his regular food for a couple of days; they can survive for a few without food; just give him peas (don't go overboard) for a couple of days.

This happened to a black goldfish-thing a friend of mine had before; we used frozen peas (thawed out), and the fish recovered.

Changing the water might not be a bad idea, either; just make sure that you get the temp right (best way is to leave the water out overnight) so as not to shock the fish.

Good luck!

DarkPrimus

Out of curiousity, how long have you had the goldfish?

Lemming

DarkPrimus wrote:

Out of curiousity, how long have you had the goldfish?

A few years now, I won it at one of those fairs. I expected it to die, but it didn't, so I ended up getting a tank and filter for it :P

I think this spring, it'll be thee.

DynamiteKid

Then hasn't he overstayed his life expectancy by...I dunno...over three years?

matt7718

DynamiteKid wrote:

Then hasn't he overstayed his life expectancy by...I dunno...over three years?

some fish can live to be really old.

like 200 years old.

Aroused Bull

matt7718 wrote:

DynamiteKid wrote:

Then hasn't he overstayed his life expectancy by...I dunno...over three years?

some fish can live to be really old.

like 200 years old.

Not goldfish. In good conditions they can live for a couple decades, though.

Lemming

My dad talked to a guy at a pet store, and said just don't feed him for three days.

Here's hoping it works. I'd miss Fishy

DynamiteKid

matt7718 wrote:

DynamiteKid wrote:

Then hasn't he overstayed his life expectancy by...I dunno...over three years?

some fish can live to be really old.

like 200 years old.

So can some tortoises.

That is equally relevant to the thread, as a goldfish is not generally known as a fish that lives for 200 years.

bone daddy

DynamiteKid wrote:

So can some tortoises.

That is equally relevant to the thread, as a goldfish is not generally known as a fish that lives for 200 years.

Red Berry Blue wrote:

Not goldfish. In good conditions they can live for a couple decades, though.

Feral

Lemming wrote:

My dad talked to a guy at a pet store, and said just don't feed him for three days.

Here's hoping it works. I'd miss Fishy

That's what we'd do with our fancy-tails if they had swim bladder problems. No food but peas for a few days. Most people overfeed goldfish anyway.

Also, if there are no other fish in the tank besides goldfish, a small amount of aquarium salt can help swim bladder problems and is actually good for the fish. I've seen recommended dosages everywhere from one tablespoon per three gallons to one tablespoon per ten gallons. (We used the latter.)