How do I know if my goldfish is hungry?

How To Tell If Your Fish Is Hungry
  1. Your fish is digging around the substrate (searching for food).
  2. Waiting and the top of the aquarium (for feeding time).
  3. Behavior changes (aggression).
  4. Noticeable weight/size changes.
  5. Slow or sluggish behavior.
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How do I know if I am feeding my goldfish enough?

In terms of the amount to feed, a good rule of thumb is to only feed an amount that the goldfish can consume in under two minutes or only feed as much as the size of the goldfish's eye. Goldfish feed at all levels of the aquarium and will accept most foods.
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Are goldfish always hungry?

Many freshwater tropical fish and goldfish will come to the front of the tank and “beg” for food. This is a learned behavior and does not mean they are hungry. Remember, fish are built to scavenge or prey on foods in the wild. They have to find it and capture their food.
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How long can goldfish survive without food?

Goldfish are able to go up to two weeks without food, but it's not recommended to leave your fish without food for so long because captive goldfish has its daily feeding schedule. If you are away for longer than three or four days, make arrangements so your goldfish gets its food on a schedule.
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Is it OK to feed goldfish once a day?

Until they are one year old, you should feed goldfish 2 or 3 times per day. Once they are older than one year, you should feed goldfish just once per day. There are, however, a number of factors that could lead you to adjust this schedule. Also, the type and amount of goldfish food you feed your goldfish is important.
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Why Do My Fish Always Act Hungry Plus How Much To Feed Fish



Do goldfish need darkness to sleep?

Goldfish don't naturally sleep at night, like people do. They do sleep better when it's dark and quiet, so many fish will sleep at night. If you make noise around a sleeping fish, it will startle awake. Thus, it's best to keep the noise level down when your fish wants to sleep.
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How do I know if I'm feeding my fish enough?

Fish will eat as much as they need, so dispense the food in a few servings. When they start spitting out the food, they've eaten enough. If there is food remaining in the tank and floating to the bottom, you're giving your fish too much feed.
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How can you tell if a fish is sad?

If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress. Talk to your veterinarian about treatment and look into what may be causing the stress and alleviating it.
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Do goldfish eat off the bottom?

Also, because goldfish have no stomachs, they are constantly on the lookout for food. This means that goldfish will eat algae wherever they find it – off the sides of your tank, off decorations and plants, and off the gravel on the bottom of your tank.
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What do goldfish do all day?

First of all, it's normal to see your goldfish swim, play and explore during the day and sleep at night. Do fish sleep? Yes, but because they have no eyelids, they can't close their eyes like we do. The goldfish behavior can be influenced by the environment, tank mates and also by its owner.
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How many pellets do I feed 2 goldfish?

If you feed your fish pellets, two to three pellets twice a day should do the trick. Pellets can be bought in either a floating or sinking variety. Because some pellets tend to sink to the bottom, your fish may take longer than two minutes to find and eat them.
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What is better for goldfish pellets or flakes?

Pellets. Almost all goldfish diets will start with the pellet vs. flake debate. Very small fish will likely need to start with flakes, but as soon as your fish graduate to having a mouth that can handle a small pellet, it is better for their overall health.
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How can I play with my goldfish?

You can actually interact with your goldfish by teaching them to swim through hoops and push balls around. You can also feed them with your fingers. Playing with your goldfish is a fun and engaging way to enjoy owning a pet fish.
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What do goldfish like in their tank?

Goldfish like plants, variety in their food, a large, clean tank with a stress-free environment, lots of oxygen in their tank, nice cold soft water, other Goldfish as mates and some decorations in their tank.
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What human food can goldfish eat?

You can feed various vegetables like peas, spinach, kale, etc as well as fruits like grapes, orange, watermelon, apple, banana, etc to your Goldfish. Besides, some people also feed oatmeal and cooked rice to their Goldfish.
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Do fish get bored in tanks?

Fish become frustrated and unhappy when kept in cramped bowls or tanks. House fish in a large filtered tank. All tanks should have a pump to keep water flowing continuously.
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Do goldfish like mirrors?

Additionally, mirrors can help your goldfish feel like there are more fish around -- without overcrowding your tank. Lastly, having a mirrored background to your tank can help improve the lighting.
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How do you calm a stressed goldfish?

Trying a stress coat product, which can help remove chlorine, neutralize chloramines and detoxify heavy metals to set up optimal water conditions. It can also help heal skin wounds and torn fins. Reducing overcrowding by moving additional fish to a new tank, or getting a larger aquarium.
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Are my fish hungry?

If your fish are digging around in the substrate, clearly searching for something, chances are that they are hungry. Fish that go to scavenge, but don't usually scavenge, or go inspect the top of the aquarium, something they wouldn't usually do, are both indications of hunger.
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How do I know how much to feed my fish?

A general rule of thumb is to feed only what your fish can consume in 2 to 3 minutes. When in doubt, start with a tiny quantity and observe how fast your fish consume it. If it is completely consumed in less than 2 minutes, give them a little more.
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How do I make sure all fish get food?

Try feeding dry foods across the water surface to ensure maximum dispersal in the water. This should lower dominant species from crowding out a certain area of the tank. If feeding mixed foods, try feeding different foods at opposite ends of the aquarium.
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Do goldfish like flowing water?

In your tank, your goldfish will be happiest with a slow-moving current, just like they would experience in nature. This doesn't necessarily translate to providing no current, though! Many goldfish seem to enjoy areas of faster moving water that they can play in.
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Can goldfish hear you?

Interestingly, they can listen to you. Just not in the way you think. You may have found goldfish responding to you tapping on the glass to get their attention. They can hear using several different sensory organs, mainly their internal ears and lateral line.
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Do goldfish get bored?

The bottom line is that as long as you provide your goldfish with a large space, good clean water, and lots of plants and tank decorations, it should be perfectly happy. To reiterate, no, goldfish do not get bored or lonely, which is a definite benefit.
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Do goldfish like colored lights?

Color. Lighting color is just as important as the brightness of the light. The color should be soft and gentle for goldfish if they accidentally stare into the light. Since goldfish are naturally curious, they will most likely do this a few times throughout the day.
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