New goldfish.

[Adam Lion]

Okay, so i left the tank cycling for a week, went bacxk to the stroe and the
guy gave me a new fish. it's only small, btu i figure its about right for
the size of tank. He was swimming very storngly in the tank in the store,
and seems relatively happy in the tank now, despite a traumatic ride home
(its only a couple of minutes on the bus, and flat ground...but todays bus
dirver made a real emal out of it).

I left the bag floating on the top of the tank for a while, then added a
little tnak water to the bag as someone suggested. didnt seemt o make a
blind bit of difference to the fish, so i added a little more. kept doing
that, let him swim around in the bag happily for a while before opening the
bag and leaving him. He's happily swum out now and is nipping aorund the
tank happily enough.

A few questions:

1) I have a small pump in the tank. Am i emant to leave it on all the time.
the guy in the store didnt specify, but it appears as though the fish is
fighting against the current occasionally (swims into it, wims forward while
rmeianing static, then stops and gets washed backwards).

2) Occasionally pops towards the surface, stops, and lets the current form
the pump carry him backwards, then turns and swims down before it pushes him
upside down. does this sound normal/erratic/worrying?

3) also occaisonally swims to the side and swims rapidly up and down the
side of the tank with his nose/mouth against the glass. again, is this
normal/erratic/worrying.

I think a part of my worries stem form having only had pond fish ebfore, and
while i can obviously tell some signs of distress/unusual behaviour, im nto
entirely certain on what constitutes normal behaviour for goldfish in a
tank.

again, any suggestions, pointers as well as answers will no doubt be taken
on board :)

[nk]

Adam,
Are you talking about the current from your filter, or do you have
something else in the tank producing a current, like an airstone? Is it
the correct size for your tank?

BTW: My goldies actually play in the current.

Things to watch out for before you panic:
- Is fish eating (don't feed too much; just one or two pieces of food at
a time 2 or 3x per day.)
- Are there any spots on the fish?
- Are the fins torn and getting worse? (Sometimes they get a little
ripped from shipping but they heal quickly.)
- Does fish swim about picking at things in the tank? (Should NOT be
agitated or swimming rapidly back and forth or "hang" near top of aquarium.)

If fish is happy, it will inspect the environment, always look hungry
(again, DON'T Feed him even if he begs!), swim around in a relaxed
fashion everywhere in the aquarium, and perhaps "play" in bubbles.

Good luck.

n

[Geezer From The Freezer]

if its a filter producing the current, never turn it off.
Only turn it off when you are rinsing the filter media
in tank water.