Symptoms of a sick goldfish
Observe your goldfish regularly, and look out for any change in their appearance or behaviour that could indicate disease. If your fish is hiding on the bottom or not eating, it may be an early warning sign that something is amiss.
Healthy Common and Fancy goldfish both take a lot of interest in their surroundings, particularly when young.
Physical physical symptoms of a sick goldfish:
- Fluffy growths on the goldfish
- Small white spots on its body
- Bloating or engorged body
- Raised scales
- Enflamed, red gills
- Rapid breathing, indicated by fast-flickering gills
- Rotting or decaying fins or tail
- Extruding eyes (not to be mistaken for the naturally bulbous eyes of Bubble-Eyed goldfish)
- Any red ‘bleeding’ on the goldfish’s body
Changes in behaviour can also be a symptom of disease. Look out for:
- Listless floating or lethargy
- Lurking on the bottom
- Goldfish hiding in the corner or underneath aquarium decorations
- Not eating. Goldfish love to eat, so if your goldfish is not eating it’s the first sign something is amiss.
These behavioural symptoms of disease aren’t as surefire as physical symptoms of a sick goldfish. Your fish might not be unwell (yet) but if it is acting oddly then something is probably wrong.
Have you forgotten to change the water recently, or is your filter overdue a clean? Could some pollutant have gotten into the aquarium? If only one goldfish is acting strangely, watch carefully to see if it’s being bullied by any other fish tank inhabitants.
You can mostly cure goldfish disease if you catch it early enough - ideally before too many physical symptoms become apparent. Watch your pets carefully, and you’ll be more likely to determine what is making your goldfish sick.
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