Why does goldfish eat goldfish?

Even though goldfish don’t get aggressive too often, they have been known to eat at fish that are considered weak in the tank. If a fish is sick or injured then the goldfish won’t want them in their territory anymore. They may try to eat them as a way to get the weak fish out of there.

Can goldfish be cannibals?

Goldfish are not very territorial. However, if an aquarium is already too small for one goldfish, it will certainly be too small for two or more. … Cannibalism is usually rare (occurring maybe when a fish is dying or dead) but in cramped, stressful situations, goldfish may behave unpredictably.

Why do goldfish eat to death?

Mistake 1: Incorrect Feeding

And while you should be stocking up on fish food, most people are in danger of being a little too generous while feeding Goldfish and are actually overfeeding—a common cause of death in Goldfish! … “Goldfish are greedy and will literally eat themselves to death,” warns Williamson.

Do goldfish eat goldfish poop?

Goldfish typically eat their own poop due to their inherited instincts. As scavengers, they eat everything that fits in their mouths, including feces. To prevent this, one has to clean the tank and vacuum the substrate regularly, a pristine tank will keep goldfish from nibbling on their poop.

Why is my goldfish killing my other fish?

Overcrowded. Fantail goldfish can become aggressive if they don’t have enough space in their fish tank. According to PureGoldfish.com, confined quarters can make the fish feel like they need to compete for space, causing them to chase one another in an attempt to claim their territory.

What is the lifespan of goldfish?

Goldfish have a lifespan averaging about 10-15 years, with some varieties living up to 30 years when provided with proper care. Unfortunately, many goldfish do not reach their lifespan potential due to inadequate housing conditions. Housing needs to meet both their behavioural and physiological needs.

Can I put small goldfish in with big goldfish?

As long as they won’t fit in the larger goldfish’s mouth, smaller goldies should be berfectly safe with larger goldfish.

Do goldfish explode if they eat too much?

If you overfeed your fish, the effects may not be apparent at first. It’s a myth that fish will explode from eating too much, so you don’t have to worry about that. … Uneaten food will produce by-products (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) that can be harmful to fish.

Can a goldfish eat too much?

If there’s too much food in the tank, a goldfish will most likely not be able to eat it all. Most of the damage from overfeeding comes from food rotting in the aquarium. Rotting fish food produces ammonia, which is toxic to goldfish.


Do goldfish eat from hand?

Koi, goldfish, betta and angelfish are common breeds that are very sociable. These fish, especially koi, often take food from a human hand. Hand feeding friendly fish will be easier than feeding delicate fish that are shy or less sociable.

Do fishes fart?

Most fish do use air to inflate and deflate their bladder to maintain buoyancy which is expelled either through their mouth or gills which can be mistaken for a fart. … Experts say that the digestive gases of fish are consolidated with their feces and expelled in gelatinous tubes which fish sometimes eat again (eew…

Can goldfish see you?

Eyesight is a highly developed sense in goldfish. In fact, they have vision superior to that of a human in some respects. We humans are air based creatures and evolution has graced us with seeing long distances with excellent resolution of up to a mile. The goldfish sees clearly only for about 15 feet.

Why is there poop hanging from my fish?

Constipation in fish is typically revealed by bloating and the production of stringy feces. Normal fish feces will immediately fall to the substrate, constipated fish feces will appear stringy and hang from the fish. … Constipation doesn’t affect how much feces a fish makes, but how easily it can get rid of them.

How do you know if your goldfish is aggressive?

Goldfish (like all fish) are extremely gutty. If they see other fish trying to eat their food then they may see it as a threat and try to ward them off. The easiest way to tell if this is the aggression your dealing with is when it’s only occurring during feeding time.

How can you tell if a goldfish is male or female?

Male goldfish tend to have more flowing fins and tails compared to females. Male goldfish tend to have a slightly smaller and skinnier body compared to females. Females will have a larger and rounder body and their abdomen can appear soft.

How do I stop my goldfish fighting?

To attempt to curb aggressive behavior, you can:
  1. Put an acrylic tank divider in your aquarium to separate the fighting goldfish.
  2. Add real plants to the tank to ensure a higher water quality.
  3. Buy rocks and other decorations in which your goldfish can hide to get away from an aggressive tank mate.