It can be worrying if you notice your goldfish at the bottom of the tank eating rocks. You probably want to know why your goldfish is eating rocks, and whether it is bad for their health. I will answer these questions and explain some ways to prevent it in the future.
Why is my goldfish eating rocks?
The reason goldfish eat rocks is because they are foraging for food. Most of the time, there is no need to worry.
Foraging for food
Goldfish are opportunistic eaters, which means they will basically search for food 24/7. They do this in the wild, so it is no surprise that they do this in a tank.
When a goldfish is foraging for food, they will swim along the bottom looking for small scraps of leftover food. If you have ever looked closely at a goldfish when they eat, you might have noticed that they tend to suck in water to cause the food to enter their mouth.
Sometimes, when they intend to suck up some food, small and light rocks might accidentally get sucked into their mouth. Other times, a goldfish might intentionally suck a rock in their mouth to suck off the food or algae that is stuck on the rock.
Most of the time, your goldfish should spit the rock out in a matter of seconds. It is not uncommon for goldfish to do this repeatedly for a couple minutes. You’d be surprised how much food can get stuck in and around the rocks of your tank.
While it is rare, there is a chance your goldfish will swallow a rock and ingest it.
Related Article: Can goldfish eat cheese?
What to do if your goldfish swallows a rock
If your goldfish swallows a rock, don’t panic. Most of the time, the rock is small enough to pass through their throat and will be released with other waste.
However, in some instances the rock can get lodged in their throat. This will prevent their ability to breathe through their gills.
If your goldfish swallows a rock and it gets stuck in their throat, your goldfish will probably start shaking or swimming erratically. In this case, you must catch your goldfish with a net and put them in a small container.
Next, hold them still with a towel and use tweezers to remove the rock. This might be difficult, but your goldfish has a very low chance of survival if you keep the rock lodged in their throat.
Once you remove the rock, you can put your goldfish back into the tank.
Now you might be wondering if you should even have rocks in your tank in the first place.
Do you need rocks in your goldfish tank?
Yes, it is important to know that rocks are not put in fish tanks as decorations. They allow places for beneficial bacteria to grow, which in turn help break down your fish’s poop and other wasted in your tank.
This can help prevent the buildup of dangerous compounds in your tank. That being said, there are a couple things you can do to help prevent your goldfish from eating rocks.
How to get your goldfish to stop eating rocks
The two best ways to get your goldfish to stop eating rocks is to switch the substrate and to switch to floating pellets.
Switch the substrate
The best long-term solution to prevent your goldfish from eating rocks is to switch their substrate. If you want to stick to the rock aesthetic, I suggest you go for larger rocks. Ideally, you should try to get rocks that are bigger than your goldfish’s open mouth so that they can’t ingest it.
Keep in mind that goldfish can grow very fast, so you might want to plan ahead.
Another option is to go with a sand substrate. While your glofish will probably still ingest some sand, it is much easier for it to pass through your goldfish’s digestive system compared to a rock.
Floating food
Another option is to feed your goldfish floating food. This will get your goldfish in the habit of eating at the top of the tank instead of the bottom.
All floating food will eventually float to the bottom, but it is still a good idea to get them accustomed to eating at the top.
Should I be worried if my goldfish keeps eating rocks?
No, as I explained above, sucking rocks into their mouth is completely normal for goldfish. It is usually harmless, as they will either spit them out immediately or discard it with other waste. However, it is important to keep an eye out for other changes in behavior that could be a sign of illness or stress, such as red streaks on their tail.
If your goldfish does keep ingesting rocks and they get stuck, you may want to try switching to a different substrate.
