Why is my fish motionless at the top of the tank?

Why is my fish motionless at the top of the tank?

A fish may linger near the surface because he’s trying to breathe more easily. Remember, fish breathe dissolved oxygen—not oxygen that is already combined in the H2O molecule. Naturally, these dissolved oxygen levels tend to be higher near the surface, where interaction between air and water takes place.

Do goldfish rest at the top of the tank?

Yes, goldfish definitely sleep to get their rest. They sleep up to 12 hours per day and will calmly hover a little above the bottom of their tank.

Why is my goldfish not moving much?

When a goldfish is stressed, he will sometimes just hang there in the water, unwilling to move. Sometimes this condition is apparent, as the fish is hanging out on the bottom of the bowl a lot. Conditions that can cause this are poor water quality, lack of air, poor nutrition and loud noises.

How do I fix low oxygen in my aquarium?

The best way to increase oxygen is to increase the surface area of the aquarium. Increase Surface agitation or water movement on the surface. This allows more oxygen to dissolve and more carbon dioxide to escape. You can also add a source of fresh oxygen by installing an air pump.

Why is my goldfish in the corner?

When your goldfish is sick they may back up into a corner to make themselves feel safer. They do this because they feel vulnerable so they’re trying to cover their backs. It’s best to check your fish for any signs of disease to make sure this isn’t what’s causing the behavior.

How can you tell if a goldfish is stressed?

Strange Swimming: When fish are stressed, they often develop odd swimming patterns. If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress.

Why do goldfish gasp for air?

The reason they are at the surface trying to breathe is due to a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water. The low levels of oxygen are mainly due to a lack of aeration or poor water quality, which can then cause the fish to stress. You can add pond plants, which naturally release oxygen into the water during the daytime.

What does the tail of a fantail look like?

When the tail is folded it is rounded at the end, but when spread in display or aerial foraging it has a characteristic fan shape that gives the family its name. Fantails adopt a hunched horizontal posture most of the time, with the wings drooped and held away from the body and the tail half cocked.

What kind of migration does a fantail have?

Most fantails, particularly the tropical or insular forms, are sedentary and undertake no migration. Some northern and southern species undertake a variety of movements; the yellow-bellied fantail of the Himalayas is an altitudinal migrant, breeding between 1500 and 4000 metres, but moving to lower altitudes (as low as 180 m) in the winter.

Which is the most adaptable species of fantail?

The most adaptable species is the willie wagtail, which is abundant in every habitat type in Australia except for dense rainforest. The behaviour of many species of fantail has not been studied, but overall the family is highly uniform in its habits.

How is a fantail different from a flycatcher?

Fantails are territorial and aggressively defend their territories from conspecifics (other members of the same species) as well as other fantail species and other flycatchers.