Why is my fish swimming frantically

When you say "perfect water parameters", what do you mean? Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 5ppm Tank fully cycled two weeks ago fish less cycle with pure ammonia had been stable so far, no spikes since adding goldfish a week ago.

Using Prime as water conditioner, feeding HikarI sinking pellets , peas and other green veg. Silly question but is there a TV within view of the tank? Bright s like TV that rapidly move or change can sometimes spook fish.

Not directly. But that's an interesting thought. Might be the sound of the TV? My boyfriend has it up pretty loud!!!

I've just checked and he seems calmer with lights off and tv off. Thanks for the suggestion!!! I'll be mindful of the environment. Environment can play a huge role. Fish always seem to respond to light. When I first got my guppies I just turned the light off at night. I noticed they frantically swam around in search for it. Now, I first turn off the living room main lights.

About an hour later I turn off the main tank light, and dI'm the LED tank lights to a low reddish violet. This seems to calm them down, and often they'll go to sleep in this state. Sound is indeed another factor, fish are sensitive to vibrations and things of that nature. Sometimes if my dog barks or runs full speed past their tank, they start to swim around really fast for a moment. If the water parameters are fine, the next thing to do is to check the equipment. What is the temperature, and is the heater working properly?

Is the filter moving water as it should, and is the filter media doing its job or does it need to be changed? Did something accidentally get spilled into the aquarium? Does the water look clear, or is it cloudy or discolored?

If there is a fish that is bullying other fish, remove the bully. If it is a pair of cichlid fish the most common being convicts, kribs or angelfish that have decided to set up house and are trying to eliminate all other fish from their territory, remove either the newly formed pair or the other fish.

If fish are experiencing acute stress i. Maybe cleaning sprays got into the aquarium, or something released toxins into the water. When fish show that much stress, get them into better water conditions immediately. If they do not seem to be in acute danger of dying immediately, do a percent water change, making sure that the new water you put in is conditioned and good for fish; or if you have another aquarium available, you can move the stressed fish into the other aquarium, assuming that you know that the water in that aquarium is good and that the inhabitants of that aquarium cannot harm the refugee fish.

Act quickly — if you hesitate too long, you will probably lose all of the fish. Other than stress caused by a bullying fish or a newly formed breeding pair, most stress that fish are exposed to comes from the water conditions. Regular water changes of 20 percent every week or at least every other week will go far toward preventing stress in your fish. Remember that you are probably the indirect cause of most stress that your fish suffer — and you are also the only thing that can remove that stress for them.

Published: January 1, By: Chewy Editorial Updated: March 18, By: Chewy Editorial Updated: January 20, By: Chewy Editorial Published: May 14, By: Chewy Editorial Published: April 15, Watch for bullying behaviors in species such as the dwarf gourami.

Finally, the size of the tank itself is a big reason a fish may be stressed and unhappy in its environment. Without enough room to swim and live a fish will be stressed. Any animal confined to too small of living space is going to want out.

To make matters worse, small tanks are harder to keep clean, and it is harder to maintain healthy water quality and proper temperatures. If you intend to have more than a few fish these problems are exacerbated even further. All of the issues listed above are magnified in small tanks. I always recommend at least a five-gallon tank for a single betta fish and a ten-gallon tank for tropical fish. Sometimes this alone is all it takes to solve problems with stress behaviors.

There are even some instances where pacing the glass is normal and expected, such as when a fish is new to its environment after you perform a water change or other major tank maintenance, or when people are standing near the tank and the fish may expect food. Your water perimeters are good, your tank is the appropriate size and not overstocked, your schooling fish seem happy and are kept in the appropriate numbers and there are no aggressive fish in the tank.

What now? Make the best decisions you can for the fish under your care, and learn along the way. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Patricia - I don't know much about breeding fish. My guess is they can move in as soon as they are big enough not to get eaten. You'll want to do some specific research on this though.

Good luck. Erick otos have been moved in my 20L tank and are doing great but i got a new issue otos are with my adult Gold Barbs in which the Gold Barbs had fry the fry are now in the 10 gal tank Grow out tank off and on or periodiclly the fry which are now about 10 weeks old and looking like the adulds there about a inch ong but a couple of them do the glass surffing i just done a tank change and water par.

If you want to add more fish in a tank with them i would suggest bringing the tank size up to around 10 gallons or more but be careful because they are territorial and aggressive. I raise bettas and I can tell you its a myth they need a tank of 5 gallons.

I don't recommend keeping them in jars but bettas tend to stay relatively static. They don't like moving water and 5 gallons is a waste of tank. Give them a gallon, no aeration and regular water changes and they are very happy.

Fishie lover - That's a tad high. It wouldn't hurt to bring it down a little, but I suspect there is another issue somewhere. Water parameters are good? Current and temp are good? Hi I have about a 20 L or 4. He sometimes kind of kind of put his head against the glass and kind of swims into it. There are no other fish in there. The only think I think is wrong is the pH is about 7.

Or do i need it lower? Maybe its because i removed their cave, although i never really saw them utilise it. I did move the drifwood cave from one ent to the other end of the tank, maybe they're being picky hahaha. I know my 3 harlequins are too little, im actually judt waiting for the store to get more stock, so definitely adding more.

It's so weird seeing this because other than them acting so funny, there arent any fatalities, so im holding thumbs that they just being weirdos hahaha. But ill do a water test again and see. About the loaches: I'm wondering if you changed something about their hiding spot when you changed the tank and either they can't get to it anymore or can't find a new spot they like.

I am also thinking, because they are scaleless, that the additions to the tank may be affecting them more than the other fish. You said you thought the water quality is okay, but did you test it? Maybe there has been a pH swing with all the plant matter you've added?

Again, just guesses. About the rasboras and tetras: I've noticed many small fish do weird things when they aren't in big enough schools. Sometimes they go a little crazy with water changes too. An influx of fresh water simulates rainfall and the start of the rainy season, which may kick in their spawning instincts. I don't know how much any of this helps. It's hard to guess. I hope you get it figured out! Hi, I have 2 questions. Like they were already pretty confident and coming out even when the light was on my other tank's loaches hide all the time Anyway, I've done an upgrade on the aquascape and added more plants and some almond leaves and occasionally add some of the water I boiled the almond, alder, banana leaves, cinnamon sticks and cones in.

SO I've noticed the loaches would swim up and down the one corner of the tank every single day, maybe its been 2 months now of them doing that. No fatalities and the other fish are super chilled. Not sure if something is up, like if they are trying to swim upstream to a better place, so that means I need to redo the aquascape; or if they are just loving life and playing.

I have seen a stressed loach before, swimming with his head out the water all frantic, this is not what they look like, they barely touch the surface.

Ok, so I've had the harlequins for 6months and they swim like crazy like they love it when I do water changes and they would swim against the current, now I've read that they sometimes glass surf because they see their reflection and is trying to school with more of their kind. I and waiting for my aquarium shop to stock more harlequins to see if this theory is correct and I just need more in my school.

But what I've noticed with the Tetras, that I've only had for 2 months, is that I spotted 2 of them swimming nose up, against the current I've never seen something like that and all the fish seem fine. Good and healthy weight and not really shy and just happy and eating well.

I can't find anything other than swim bladder disease but I know it can't be that. It is smart to quarantine new fish for at least two weeks. Good luck! Pat - Are they moving to a different tank eventually, I assume? I'd keep trying with the algae wafers and see how they adapt to the new tank.

Josh - Sorry it took so long do respond. Has he calmed down at all? The tank is a little small for him but I assume he is a juvenile. Hi Blaire. Wow, I really don't know much about them, expect that this is one of the most interesting fish I ever heard of someone keeping.

Learn more. Last Updated: Jul 30 Fish are seemingly simple and straightforward creatures. They only have a small environment to spend their entire lives. Goldfish will randomly dart around the tank or seem to do all kinds of abnormal movements. They commonly like swimming in circles, up and down, or sinking to the bottom and laying there for a while. In this article, you will learn about the six most common reasons that goldfish begin to swim more erratically.

Glass surfing is typically when a fish begins to swim up and down the glass. Some call this pacing as well since they might swim along the glass from side to side.

Often, this is an emotional response to their environment. The fish are trying to say that they feel stressed or something in their environment makes them unhappy. If you notice this behavior continues for several days, try changing things in their environment to calm them down. This response often has more to do with inappropriate tank mate choices, overstocking, or a tank size that is too small for the fish.

Even something like the water pH and temperature might be driving them up the wall — pun intended. Tank stress is one of the major causes of premature death for aquarium fish. Working out what causes their new stress is essential to ensuring their longevity. If your fish begins to swim frantically in a consistent manner, especially if it is jerking and darting, they could be suffering from ammonia poisoning.

Rapid circling with tucked fins is another vital sign.