Aeldra

Hey,
First of all I'd like to say I'm dead happy to have found this site...It's been full of really helpful advice.
So, the problem I'm having; I recently bought a new 2 inch goldfish (Athena) for my aquarium. She went in with my two larger ones, Alexine and Accolon, and got on fine- no tail nipping or anything.
Thing is, she's always getting out competed for food. My two older ones know what it means when I bring the tub to the tank and open the hatch and immediately swim up. Will Athena eventually get used to the tank routine as she learns and gets bigger? Is there anything I can do to help her appetite (I read something about garlic supplements somewhere?).
I was just a little worried..I like my babies to be at their best

Lucy

Hi Aeldra Welcome to Fish Lore

Your new goldfish will learn what the tub means and come swimming for her share.
Goldies are little piggies. lol
Three goldfish also need a larger tank than you have. They're huge waste producers and the toxins can build up quickly.

Perhaps if you had a proper size for that amount of goldfish, there would be more room for Athena to get her share with out having to compete with the bigger fish.

Good luck.

Chief_waterchanger

Aeldra, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Glad you enjoy the site.

I would agree that the goldfish should learn as it ages, because they are fairly intelligent buggers.

I would, when you have the money and/or space, upgrade them to a 40-55g tank. (160-220 liter.)

Aeldra

Cheers for the information guys. I'll keep an eye on her and hope she learns soon. I'll also save up the pennies for a new tank at some point. Handy thing is we've got an aquarium specialist 5 minutes down the road. Makes stocking up much easier
For the moment, will two filters and a bubble disc, and weekly water changes and gravel siphoning help keep the water clean (obviously with chlorine neutraliser etc too)?
Thanks

sirdarksol

Welcome to Fishlore!

If things become desperate (your goldfish doesn't get pushy enough), try feeding a mix of floating and sinking food (goldfish food often comes in both forms). Your bigger fish will be forced to decide between eating at the surface and following the sinking food to the floor, leaving the other for the smaller one to get at.