Why is my Goldfish sitting at the bottom of the tank?

Have you ever walked into the room where your fish tank is located and noticed that your goldfish are sitting at the bottom of the tank? Sometimes this can be quite normal behavior and as such it is nothing to worry about. However, in other cases there could be something seriously wrong with your goldfish that has led to this behavior. Some of these reasons can even be fatal. Why are my fish at the bottom of the tank?

Let us look at some common causes of goldfish sitting at the bottom of the tank. We will also look at some practical ways you can employ to prevent this dilemma from happening altogether.

Why do your Goldfish sit at the bottom of the tank?

Here are some popular reasons why your precious goldfish may be sitting at the bottom of the tank:

The size of the tank

It is very important that your goldfish has adequate space to swim around. A small tank could mean that they do not have enough space to get enough exercise. This might seem like a small concern but it can actually shorten the life of your goldfish. If it is a sizable tank and it can facilitate another Goldfish, then this would be good idea to promote fish exercise and avoid your Goldfish sitting at the bottom of the tank. a minimum of 30 gallon is required for two goldfish

Improper levels of Nitrate and Ammonia

In relation to the right size aquarium, always ensure that there is no buildup of both nitrates and ammonia. Laying at the bottom at the tank may be one of a few signs that your goldfish show that they are experiencing nitrate poisoning.

Nitrates can increase due to uneaten food decomposing in the tank and excess waste build up if the tank is not cleaned regularly.

Nitrate poisoning gradually results when your goldfish are exposed to rising nitrate levels. This can be fatal to them even as soon as 24 hours exposure when levels are extremely high.

You can control the nitrite levels in your goldfish tank by cleaning/ maintaining it regularly, avoid giving your fish more than they can consume in a single feeding session, adding floating plants and reducing the temperature of the tank.

Of course it never hurts to check the water for high levels of nitrite from time to time using testing strips.

The water in the tank is polluted

If by any chance you have not gotten around to cleaning out your goldfish’s tank in while, you may notice that your goldfish begin to sit at the bottom of the tank. Goldfish tend to excrete a lot and mess up the tank water quite frequently.

It is imperative that you maintain your tank and change the water regularly. If you notice your goldfish at the bottom of the bank, simply clean the tank and replace the water. They should be swimming about in no time.

Disease

According to some limnology and fisheries experts, a serious disease by the name slimness or Shimmies that can affect your goldfish. When fish suffer from this disease, the tend to lose control over their muscles and nerves. This then leads to them sitting at the bottom of the tank.

The disease results from parasites called Costia, Chilodon and Cyclochaeta. However, it can be treated by changing the water and raising the water temperature to approximately 26 degrees Celsius. This will kill the parasites. Consult your vet for further treatments if you suspect your goldfish may have this disease.

Stress factors

When your goldfish are in a crowded setting such as their tank space or their water is not the ideal temperature for example, they can become stressed which lead them to sit at the bottom of the tank. Make sure you do everything in your power to reduce any factors or situations that you now can be stressful to your precious goldfish.

Parasites

If your goldfish is affected by any sort of parasites, this can result in them feeling ill and sitting at the bottom of the tank. However, there are multiple treatments that your vet can recommend to help your fish back to their happy state. Also, worthy to note, try and find out the source of the parasites and remove them to avoid future infectiions.

Excretion issues

The swim bladder in fish play a very significant role in their overall wellbeing. It is the organ that helps them to maintain stability and balance. So basically, anything that affects this organ will be bad for your goldfish and result in them sitting at the bottom of the tank. 

Excretory problems such as constipation can be a real problem. Constipation can result from eating food that the fish’s stomach cannot handle such as bread that contains gluten. Constipated goldish usually end up sitting at the bottom of the tank because their swim bladder becomes affected.

When air gets trapped in it and prevents the fish from moving around freely.

What can I do if my goldfish is laying on the bottom of the tank?

Of course, the first thing you have to try and do is identify the reason why your goldfish is sitting at the bottom of the tank. In some cases you may have to get veterinary advice to help you diagnose the problem. The number one thing you can do is to clean tank and provide the adequate temperature for your goldfish. Then depending what is the cause you identified, make the necessary adjustments as highlighted above.

Final thoughts

Goldfish tend to do well in when they are in stable water conditions. That means that you are in good stead if you provide adequate tank space, which is located where it can receive enough natural lighting and the temperature should ideally be between 68° to 74° Farenheit. Above all the fish tank should be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis as numerous problems can occur from a dirty tank. So, why do fish lay at the bottom of the tank?

Goldfish can sit at the bottom of the tank for numerous reasons and some cases nothing is really wrong with them. The good news is that most of the causes we discussed are not irreversible.

So, take the necessary precautions and keep those goldfish happy and swimming about.