Your fish is likely floating because it has ingested too much air, often while eating, which has affected its swim bladder.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Air Ingestion: Many fish, especially goldfish, are enthusiastic eaters. They can gulp down food at the water's surface, unintentionally swallowing air bubbles along with their meal.
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Swim Bladder Impact: The swim bladder is an internal gas-filled organ that helps fish control their buoyancy. Excess air ingested during feeding can inflate the swim bladder beyond its normal capacity.
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Positive Buoyancy: When the swim bladder contains too much air, the fish becomes more buoyant than normal. This results in the fish floating uncontrollably, often at the surface of the water.
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Dietary Issues: Some dry fish foods expand in the fish's stomach, which can also contribute to buoyancy problems. Overfeeding can worsen the issue.
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Constipation: In some cases, constipation can press against the swim bladder and affect its function.
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Swim Bladder Disease: While less common, a bacterial infection can sometimes affect the swim bladder, leading to buoyancy problems. This typically involves other symptoms like lethargy, clamped fins, and loss of appetite.
What can you do?
- Soak Dry Food: Before feeding your fish dry food, soak it in water for a few minutes. This helps prevent it from expanding in the fish's stomach.
- Feed Sinking Food: Use sinking food pellets instead of floating flakes, so the fish won't have to gulp air at the surface.
- Feed Smaller Portions: Avoid overfeeding. Offer small portions of food two to three times a day.
- Pea Treatment: For constipation, try feeding your fish a small piece of cooked, shelled pea. Peas are a natural laxative for fish.
- Water Quality Check: Make sure your water parameters are good. Poor water quality can stress the fish and make it more susceptible to illness.
- Observe for Other Symptoms: If floating is accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy, clamped fins, or loss of appetite, it may indicate a more serious issue like swim bladder disease, requiring veterinary attention.
