How can I help my sick goldfish? (staying at bottom tank on side, not eating, fighting to swim)?

Hi, I've had a little gold fish for over a half year now, and he is usually very very active and swimming all over the place. He is the only fish in a filtered 1gallon tank. I feed him a little bit of food twice a day (flakes) and he's never seem to be sick. He stays in a 74-80 degree environment though usually it's towards the middle of that. He usually is always so excited for food. Earlier today I noticed he was just laying at the bottom of his tank not doing much. I can tell he's breathing, and whenever he sees me he gets excited and tries to swim around like he used to, but he just kind of gives up and floats back to the bottom of the tank. At first he tried to get at the food because it was feeding time when I noticed this, but he just gave up and kinda floated to the bottom. I tried the boiled shelled peas for him, and I can't tell if he's been eating those or not, I see most of them still just on the bottom of his tank. Now it almost seems like something is wrong with his swim bladder because he looks like he's struggling to stay swimming straight and when he floats to the bottom he lays on his side now. I have been checking to see if he's still breathing, and he is for now. Whenever I walk up to him he does attempt to swim around but then like I said, kind of just lets himself float back down. He's never had trouble swimming before and he's never been sick. I really can't afford any medicine for a goldfish, I do have some medicine for my betta fish like melafix and aquarium salt and...I think lifeguard tabs and ammonia clear. I haven't checked the ammonia levels but I did a 60% water change two days ago, and he's had his water changed before so I'm not sure if it was that that made him sick.Any advice to help the little guy?

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I really hope you that "1gallon" is a typo and should say 10 gallons...your fish is prolly too small for the space if its a one gallon aquarium! Hes a goldfish as he grows he produces more waste thus making it impossible to keep up with the waste he is producing with water changes and such. And you should NEVER do a 60 percent water change especially if you suspect he is sick! That can stress him out and could lead to death! I have no clue how hes still even alive!If he is indeed in fact in a 10 gallon tank that's good...not great a common goldfish can get as big as 6 inches! Its starting tank is 40 gallons...yea if the goldfish has a fan like tail that's a oranda goldfish and is fine for the time being in a 10 gallon but I would recommend a upgrade SOON. Here are indeed a few answers to your question: Water Condition If you usually change 60-70 percent of the water it could mean a lot of spikes in nitrites/nitrates that can ultimately lead to this problem of the fihs sitting on the bottom. Also access ammonia in the tank I would def. recommend ammonia alert its a little gage that you stick to the side of the tank and it reads off the ammonia levels in the tank but if you just did a 60 percent water change I doubt there is much ammonia left in the tank. Go get the water tested at a petstore just to be sure if something is up ask the person who tested it what to do. Water Current If the water current from your filter is too strong it will cause the goldfish to sit at the bottom Swim Bladder DiseaseIf your goldfish has a malfunction of its swim bladder, it will cause your goldfish to sit on the bottom float upside down etc. Quick cure? Feed him shelled pees! Basically the goldfish is constipated this can happen by over feeding and such. The Pees work as a laxative. Fast him for a day then the second day start the pee diet ONLY pees do this for one more day then slowly introduce food back into his diet only if he looks better. GOOD LUCK!! Hit me up if you need more help!! @ swimmingswimmer52@gmail.com

Other Answers:

  • Get him a friend from the same breed and quick if he's not eating it's not good.
  • He needs a much bigger tank, goldfish need a minimum of a 10 gallon tank per goldfish, the water temp is too hot, goldfish do best art around 60-70 degree temperature, and a 60% water change is enough to shock a fish. If he lives Id get a bigger tank set up asap, and get the water tested, take a sample to petco or petsmart they water test for free. simple answer, too much water was changed, the water temp is too hot, and the tank is way too small.
  • One problem I see is the temperature you're keeping him at. Goldfish need to be in the 64-74 degree area. Anything above and their matabolism shoots up and their life is cut down.
  • Your tank is WAY TOO SMALL!!! And for a goldfish the temp should be 65-75 at most! Move him into a five gallon that will help.

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