My goldfish is bloated. What are the causes and how can I help?

Question

My goldfish appears bloated. Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish | 6 years and 4 months old

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

Check the water chemistry, quality and temperature. Goldfish can be quite messy and will foul water quickly without powerful filtration and regular partial water changes. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Confirm an absence (0ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 40ppm or less. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65F and 72F. Any colder (or warmer) can cause stress and affect appetite, digestion and activity. confirm your filter is rated for at least twice the volume of the tank and rinse filter media (using tank water) to maximize filtration. Once water quality is squared away, check medical causes. A common cause of bloating is constipation. You can fast Sally for 3 days then feed bits of cooked and shelled green peas. This can relieve constipation. Feed the peas until bloating is resolved then transition back to a quality pellet or flake diet. Occasionally, infection can also cause bloating. This is typically accompanied by lethargy and decreased appetite. A broad spectrum antibiotic can be found in the aquarium section of the local Petco in these cases. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

My goldfish is bloated. What are the causes and how can I help?

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