It can be pretty concerning when you notice that your goldfish is shaking. You are probably wondering if they are sick, or if they are dying. Today’s article will tell you everything you need to now about why your goldfish is shaking.
Why is my goldfish shaking?
The main reason why your goldfish is shaking is because they are excited for food. However, they might also be shaking because of stress and environmental factors.
Your goldfish is shaking because it wants food
Believe it or not, goldfish are an intelligent species. They are able to recognize feeding patterns, especially when you feed them at the same time and place everyday.
When your goldfish notices you walking up to the tank, it will probably start shaking and eventually swim to the top of the water. They do this because they are excited to eat. You should know that goldfish will do this even if they are well fed, so you don’t need to worry if you think they are doing this because they are underfed.
When a goldfish is shaking for food, they will likely also start opening and closing their mouths. They do this in anticipation of eating the food. It is important that you only give your goldfish food that they can digest. For example, you should not feed your goldfish cheese.
If you only notice your goldfish shaking once or twice, there is nothing to worry about. However, if it becomes a daily occurrence, you should keep a close eye on your goldfish. From a distance, you should check and see if your goldfish still shakes even when they don’t see you.
If you notice your goldfish shaking while you aren’t around, then this could be the sign of a bigger problem.
Your goldfish is shaking because of stress
Unfortunately, your goldfish might be shaking because they are stressed out. If you do not find the source of the stress, it could lead to death. When a goldfish is stressed, they usually display some of the following symptoms:
- Strange and sporadic swim patterns
- Red streaks on their tail
- Change in appetite
- Spending a lot of time at the top or bottom of the tank
- Swimming into the glass
- Discoloration
The main cause of stress in goldfish is environmental factors. Some of the most common mistakes people make with goldfish are temperature, size of tank, tankmates, and water quality.
Your goldfish might also start shaking if they eat rocks and digest them.
Temperature
The temperature of your fish tank should ideally be between 60 and 74 degrees fahrenheight. If the water is too cold, it can cause some of your goldfish’s organs to shut down. On the other end, if your fish tank is too warm, it can lead to the increase of ammonium, which can be deadly for your fish.
You should keep a thermometer in your tank in order to monitor the temperature. If your room temperature isn’t adequate, you should get a fish tank heater.
Size of tank
There is a common misconception that goldfish like small tanks. This is not true. In fact, goldfish are much more likely to survive in large square tanks opposed to a small glass bowl.
When a goldfish lives in a bowl, they don’t have a big area to swim around, which can cause depression. It is also much harder to maintain adequate water quality in a small tank.
Water quality
Water quality is another common reason why goldfish get stressed out and start shaking. If your water has too many toxins such as nitrate or ammonia, it can cause a goldfish’s organs to shut down. While generally rare, this can cause a tumor.
For this reason, it is essential that your fish tank has an adequate filter. This will help break down their waste and prevent the development of toxins.
Another common problem with goldfish fish tank water is that there is not enough oxygen. A common sign that your goldfish doesn’t have enough oxygen is when they constantly open and close their mouth. While fish breathe through their gills, they will gasp through their mouth if they feel desperate. They might also swim to the top of the water to extract more oxygen from the water.
You can help ensure that your water has enough oxygen by regularly performing water changes. If you still don’t think the water has enough oxygen, you can buy an aerator.
Tankmates
Lastly, your goldfish might be stressed and shaking because you don’t have the right tankmates. For starters, goldfish prefer to live in groups, and will get pretty lonely if they live by themselves. For this reason, I suggest that you get at least 3 goldfish so they have someone to play with.
While goldfish are social and certainly interact with other species of fish, you should not put it in the same tank with aggressive fish. I also don’t suggest putting them in tanks with larger predators, such as turtles.
