Comet Goldfish rubbing against plants

Hey all,
I have a 3.5 inch Comet Goldie named Bubbles. He's been through a lot since we got him and he's quite special to us. In the last day or two, he has started rubbing against all the decorations and nibbling at them. There are no signs of white spots, discoloration, cloudiness or bubbling of the eyes... I'm not sure what exactly is wrong so I can help him.
We just added some new fish about 9 days ago. 3 fancy male guppies (which were moved to a separate tank 5 days ago... Bubbles was being aggressive and stressed), 1 ghost shrimp (I've read it's fairly common for them to carry disease) and 1 additional Comet Goldie (He's about 1 inch long)

A tank cleaning was performed at the same time I moved the guppies to their own tank. All readings were good other than it was just dirty and a bit cloudy. Ammonia never went above .25ppm, Nitrites were at 0 and Nitrates were about 40ppm. I used Seachem Prime to condition the tap water that was put back in and the cloudy water resolved after 24 hours of tank change.

No one else seems to be having any of these issues. Just our Bubbles The only thing I see both Goldies doing is it looks like they are constantly chewing their pellets. It's not gasping as their mouths dont opening very wide while doing it and they are swimming around at the same time. Neither is hanging at the bottom or top of the tank and none of their fins are down. I'm stumped. Everything I google has clear symptoms to point to why so it's of no use to me. Anyone had a similar issue or have anything i can check that I may be missing? I wanna help our lil guy

Current Tank parameters:
Temp: 73
pH: 7.5-7.6
Ammonia: Between 0 ppm and 0.25ppm (about 0.125 ppm)
Nitrites: 0 ppm
Nitrates: 40 ppm

 

I don't really know much about goldfish, but I would do another water change to lower the ammonia and do you think it could be ich? Do you maybe have a picture?

 

Ich was my first thought, but he doesnt have any spots on him. He's a swimmer, so I will do my best to get a pic of him here soon

 

Ich was my first thought, but he doesnt have any spots on him. He's a swimmer, so I will do my best to get a pic of him here soon

Ohh okay, sorry I thought you said he does have white spots and all those other things you mentioned. How long did you have him for?

 

Ohh okay, sorry I thought you said he does have white spots and all those other things you mentioned. How long did you have him for?

We got him at the end of February, so about 3 months. Its been a turbulent journey for all of us. We almost lost him in the beginning and being a total n00b i started learning as fast as i could to save my sons Goldfish before it broke his heart.

Here's some pictures just taken. Forgive the quality, he hates pictures.

 

We got him at the end of February, so about 3 months. Its been a turbulent journey for all of us. We almost lost him in the beginning and being a total n00b i started learning as fast as i could to save my sons Goldfish before it broke his heart.

Here's some pictures just taken. Forgive the quality, he hates pictures.

View attachment 700347View attachment 700348View attachment 700349

I'm not quite sure what it could be. How big is the tank? Is he still doing this even after you removed his tank mates?

 

Not good. I'm guessing parasites of some sort, you'd do good to quarantine him and treat with aquarium salt to start. Raising the temperature a bit in the QT tank would help as well.

 

I'm not quite sure what it could be. How big is the tank? Is he still doing this even after you removed his tank mates?

He's currently in a 38 gallon. He didnt start acting like this until after we moved the Guppies. He perked up for a few days and calmed down, then he started rubbing and chewing on the faux plants. Wednesday night he was swimming erratically so we treated the tank with aquarium salt and left the lights off and the shades drawn yesterday to let him rest. Only turned them on for feeding. He is still eating well. He was doin better Thursday evening. No more rubbing, and less erratic swimming. I thought the salt had helped. Today I turned his light back on and he's hovering in his sleeping spot and being really lethargic. I did an immediate 25% water change and gravel vac. I'm not sure what else to do now but wait and hope he pulls through

 

You could have added something in the tank when you added the new fish, which is why it's important to quarantine or at the very least be very mindful of the fish you choose to add to your established tank. That said, I think perhaps you jumped the gun too quickly adding salt without knowing what you're trying to cure. I don't know if you're aware, but salt does not evaporate, so it needs to be removed with water changes.

I would keep the light on a regular schedule. I see no point in turning it off. Seems like the irregular lighting schedule would induce more stress, having it suddenly come on. I've never turned lights off in my tanks, whether the fish were new or sick. Let them adjust to what the regular schedule will be from the start.

So I'm really not sure what the problem is. None of my goldfish rub against anything, but they do like to test things with their mouths to see if something is edible. It's what they do, so I don't see anything abnormal about that. I have a fish (not goldfish) that rubs against things on occasion, as if to scratch an itch. Three years later and can not figure it out. It's still alive and well to this day. If it is an external parasite you could try Prazipro by Hikari. It's very effective but also mild enough where I feel comfortable recommending you try. At worst, it won't do further harm.

Edit: I want to say the fish looks healthy, otherwise. Eating is a good sign. When you say hovering after you turn the lights on, perhaps you simply shocked it? Was it turned on at an unusual time, like in the middle of the night? If so, should be fine after a bit of time. Hopefully it's just that.

 

You could have added something in the tank when you added the new fish, which is why it's important to quarantine or at the very least be very mindful of the fish you choose to add to your established tank. That said, I think perhaps you jumped the gun too quickly adding salt without knowing what you're trying to cure. I don't kfnow if you're aware, but salt does not evaporate, so it needs to be removed with water changes.

I would keep the light on a regular schedule. I see no point in turning it off. Seems like the irregular lighting schedule would induce more stress, having it suddenly come on. I've never turned lights off in my tanks, whether the fish were new or sick. Let them adjust to what the regular schedule will be from the start.

So I'm really not sure what the problem is. None of my goldfish rub against anything, but they do like to test things with their mouths to see if something is edible. It's what they do, so I don't see anything abnormal about that. I have a fish (not goldfish) that rubs against things on occasion, as if to scratch an itch. Three years later and can not figure it out. It's still alive and well to this day. If it is an external parasite you could try Prazipro by Hikari. It's very effective but also mild enough where I feel comfortable recommending you try. At worst, it won't do further harm.

Edit: I want to say the fish looks healthy, otherwise. Eating is a good sign. When you say hovering after you turn the lights on, perhaps you simply shocked it? Was it turned on at an unusual time, like in the middle of the night? If so, should be fine after a bit of time. Hopefully it's just that.

My son turns their light on at 10am and feeds them each morning and I typically leave it on for 12 hours. Is that too much? I've noticed before that Bubbles seems to be sensitive to light. His tank sets across the living room from the picture window and when I open the curtains each morning he starts swimming back and forth against the glass. I changed his tank around and gave him a shaded cubbie he likes to hide in and he spends most his time there when the light is on. The light goes out and he's back to swimming the tank.

I noticed he seems a bit bloated more so then usual but he has been eating more too (He's much bigger than his other goldfish friend so he gets more of the food.) I don't notice him pooping much as of late either but i have seem him poop. It's a light clay like grayish brown. His original tank mate died a few days after we brought them home from hemorrhagic septicemia. Rubbles (RIP) also had light stringy white poop which I just listened to a youtube video is indicative of a parasite. They came from the same pet store and possibly the same feeder tank. Could he be battling a parasite this whole time?

I'm so overwhelmed. Just when I think i've got things under control, Bubbles throws me for a new loop. Would API General Cure be a good solution? I can get that from the local pet store tomorrow morning, but any kind of seachem products I have to order from Amazon. Limited supply in our town for fishies.

 

mattgirl Any advice on this? I need your wisdow <3

 

My son turns their light on at 10am and feeds them each morning and I typically leave it on for 12 hours. Is that too much? I've noticed before that Bubbles seems to be sensitive to light. His tank sets across the living room from the picture window and when I open the curtains each morning he starts swimming back and forth against the glass. I changed his tank around and gave him a shaded cubbie he likes to hide in and he spends most his time there when the light is on. The light goes out and he's back to swimming the tank.

I noticed he seems a bit bloated more so then usual but he has been eating more too (He's much bigger than his other goldfish friend so he gets more of the food.) I don't notice him pooping much as of late either but i have seem him poop. It's a light clay like grayish brown. His original tank mate died a few days after we brought them home from hemorrhagic septicemia. Rubbles (RIP) also had light stringy white poop which I just listened to a youtube video is indicative of a parasite. They came from the same pet store and possibly the same feeder tank. Could he be battling a parasite this whole time?

I'm so overwhelmed. Just when I think i've got things under control, Bubbles throws me for a new loop. Would API General Cure be a good solution? I can get that from the local pet store tomorrow morning, but any kind of seachem products I have to order from Amazon. Limited supply in our town for fishies.

I haven't used API General Cure, so I can't personally recommend it; but if there are a lot of positive reviews, it's generally a positive sign it's a good product. Again, the thing is I'm not sure what the issue really is. You said he still has a good appetite and the poop sounds normal, and it's active and alert, albeit when the lights are off. The only problem is the rubbing? The only other thing that might be concerning is you said it's bloated. I'd be very careful not to overfeed. Probably up there in the top ten reasons fish die. I've seen fish pinecone from eating too much, too quickly, and it can be fatal.

Definitely keep an eye on the rubbing, and check on its activity, and appetite. Other then that, it's difficult for me to say what to do, without being there in person and seeing it. Pictures don't tell the whole story, but, again, it appears healthy. You could buy the API General Cure, if it's a good product or the Prazipro I recommended earlier. I just don't want you to get gung-ho, trying a bunch of different things, not knowing the real issue, as people on this forum have made things worse and even killed their fish.

 

I haven't used API General Cure, so I can't personally recommend it; but if there are a lot of positive reviews, it's generally a positive sign it's a good product. Again, the thing is I'm not sure what the issue really is. You said he still has a good appetite and the poop sounds normal, and it's active and alert, albeit when the lights are off. The only problem is the rubbing? The only other thing that might be concerning is you said it's bloated. I'd be very careful not to overfeed. Probably up there in the top ten reasons fish die. I've seen fish pinecone from eating too much, too quickly, and it can be fatal.

Definitely keep an eye on the rubbing, and check on its activity, and appetite. Other then that, it's difficult for me to say what to do, without being there in person and seeing it. Pictures don't tell the whole story, but, again, it appears healthy. You could buy the API General Cure, if it's a good product or the Prazipro I recommended earlier. I just don't want you to get gung-ho, trying a bunch of different things, not knowing the real issue, as people on this forum have made things worse and even killed their fish.

I threw some shelled peas in before turning their light out this evening and watched to see if they'd eat it and noticed the new little goldie has stringy white poop hanging from him. I think the best course is to treat for an internal parasite. After spending 2 hours reading up on different symptoms, it's what makes the most sense. Bubbles is definitely acting abnormally. I can't really pin point to others but to me I'm seeing red flags that he's trying to tell me he doesnt feel good.

Our local pet store doesn't have Prazipro, but they did have 1 box of General Cure left so i snagged it for curbside pick up tomorrow. I hope this does the trick. I'm thinking a new puppy would have been less stressful at this point

Edit: I feed both Goldies about 1/4 tsp. of Aqueon Goldfish Granule pellets, 2x a day. They typically eat them all within 2-5 minutes ( They say slow sinking but they sink fast and they forage them off the gravel) Is that too much?

 

mattgirl Any advice on this? I need your wisdow <3

I can't give any better advice than goldface has already given. I am not bad at cycling advice but since I've never had deal with a sick fish or medications I'm afraid I can't be of much help.

Your little guys may need more green food in their diet. I think if it were me I would only feed the amount you are feeding every other day instead of every day. Do you have or can you get some kind of floating plants? I am thinking goldies enjoy nibbling on plants. Folks have reported not being able to keep even duckweed in a gold fish tank because the fish eat it all.

If you can't get floating plants you may want to look into a food for them that is mostly vegetable based. Maybe something that has a lot of algae as the main ingredient.

 

I threw some shelled peas in before turning their light out this evening and watched to see if they'd eat it and noticed the new little goldie has stringy white poop hanging from him. I think the best course is to treat for an internal parasite. After spending 2 hours reading up on different symptoms, it's what makes the most sense. Bubbles is definitely acting abnormally. I can't really pin point to others but to me I'm seeing red flags that he's trying to tell me he doesnt feel good.

Our local pet store doesn't have Prazipro, but they did have 1 box of General Cure left so i snagged it for curbside pick up tomorrow. I hope this does the trick. I'm thinking a new puppy would have been less stressful at this point

Edit: I feed both Goldies about 1/4 tsp. of Aqueon Goldfish Granule pellets, 2x a day. They typically eat them all within 2-5 minutes ( They say slow sinking but they sink fast and they forage them off the gravel) Is that too much?
View attachment 701076

It doesn't seem like too much food. Can't say without knowing the size of your fish. Even watching them eat helps me to know if they're eating too much. I say just use your best judgement. Best of luck with the parasite meds. It can't hurt, I don't think. As always, keep us updated.

 

Thank you goldface and mattgirl . I appreciate u guys! Ill keep u posted

 

So we finished the rounds of API General Cure and the bloated tummies went back down and the odd behavior has stopped! Super Bubbles is back!

 

Well folks, I finally got today what I was working for all along. As I sat and visited with my goldie boys today (They're becoming quite friendly to the great food keeper in the sky, lol) and talked to them about how healthy and handsome they were, my son looked over from his bean bag chair where he was engrossed in Minecraft and said, "You're a really good fish keeper, Momma. You saved Super Bubbles and Super Bubbles Jr."

I think it's safe to say... Im not crying, your crying! <3<3

Thank you for taking this n00b under your fins and helping me with everything we've been through with our handsome boys. We are so very grateful for your help. Without your advice and guidance, we wouldn't have been able to care for these guys they way they deserved and for that, thank you just doesn't seem to be enough!

Thank you all so much from this very humbled and loved Momma <3

 

So.... as I've been observing the goldfish lately to ensure the parasites are gone and behavior is normalizing, I've come to a realization. Bubbles really likes to chase Oreo around the tank.. Then I starting noticing the differences between my boys. Then it clicked that i didnt get Bubbles a companion, i got him a mate! Oreo is a girl! Lord have mercy, what have i done?