Confuzedd

Is this bad for the goldfish - seeing his own reflection? I don't like how they swim around looking like they are about to vibrate themselves to death.

Martinismommy

I don't see too many goldies in bare bottom tanks..Maybe they think they see food? Cute video though...

Borisbbadd

Maybe he thinks he is a betta.............

bolivianbaby

I can't advise on his behavior, but that video is too cute!

Confuzedd

They seem to like to bite the bubbles ontop of the surface too, is that bad? This is a quarantine tank spiked with melafix...

TedsTank

he is trying to chase the "other fish"...the reflection!!!!

gremlin

It shouldn't bother him at all. I doubt it is his reflection he is going after...unless the tank has a mirrored bottom, the fish are actually seeing what is under the tank. If he was actually seeing his reflection, then the same thing would happen to us trying to look into the tank. We can see in, the fish can see out. The reflection only happens when you look through two sides that are perpendicular. how do I know this? I was curious as to what a fish saw from inside the tank. I bought one of those disposable cameras that could go underwater and put it in a tank full of water and took pics out all four sides and the bottom. No reflections. It was actually a pretty good picture of the colorful towel that I had under the tank. Unfortunately, I did not save any of the pics and this was something I did way back in high school when I had some neon tetras and longfin danios in a tank in my bedroom.

aquarist48

I agree with Gremlin. Look down through your tank to the bottom. Do you see your face reflection or what is under the tank? The fish will see the same thing that you do
Great info Gremlin!
Ken

TedsTank

But, he is not looking streight down, at an the angle his eyes are he could certainly see another fish or parts of one. sorry not trying to argue about this, but, I have done lapidarty work and as a gemcutter you do cut to the Critical angles of the particular mineral in this case quartz would do, at the proper critical angles you achieve the sparkle (light reflected back out)in a gem...below the critical angle you would see thru the stone and no reflections and sparkle. ooops sorry I am rambling again... lol

same as taking flash pictures of you tanks...reflections...even looking streight in...water also has a refective index added to the quartz (glass). oops sorry again..... lolol

I have had this happen to several fish when put in a clean sparkly bottom tank...notibly with small male cichlids, sometimes guppys etc.
Anyway it will not harm your fish.