Goldfish sure are smart not in sense as dogs are, but they are smart. They will swim up to meet you probably because they think you are going to feed them. They might not be able to differentiate between one person and other but they do know that people they live with are caregivers. Know that they depend on you and hence love you.

Why is a new goldfish not moving in its bowl, when he is very much alive? Well first of all, he probably hates being in a bowl. Goldfish do not like bowls even though humans think bowls are cute. Put him in a tank with a compatible companion goldfish. Meanwhile watch fish. Is he coming up to top of tank when you feed him? If he is then, he’s probably just getting used to new bowl. If it looks like he has difficulty swimming and that he keeps sinking to bottom he might have a swim bladder disorder caused by too much dry food and bad water.

Why is a goldfish swimming to top every once in a while? Goldfish keep swimming to surface of tank because that’s where they get their oxygen. Always make sure that there is enough empty space at top. Do not fill up tank to brim, as leaving space will give them required oxygen. If your fish are normally active, swimming and chasing each other a round, don’t worry if they swim to top every once in a while.

Why do goldfish always seem starving?

How do you use a siphon to clean your goldfish tank?

You will need to use a siphon to clean your goldfish tank because it efficiently cleans up muck, does not disturb your fish and is easy to use. It’s essential to use during partial water changes. A typical aquarium gravel vacuum would be a wide tube attached to a narrower siphon tube. By cleaning gravel every week you would get rid of a lot of substances that could turn toxic for your fish over a period of time. Here’s how you begin siphoning process:

* Put a bucket on a low stool or even on floor in front of fish tank, and place wide end of gravel vacuum in tank.

* Now gently suck at other end and hold it over bucket. Once you feel water flowing into tube let it flow into bucket. Be careful not to swallow water though- but even if you do, it isn’t going to be harmful!

* Now that siphon has started, use wider end to suck out dirt and debris out of gravel and flow out of tank into bucket.

* Pass vacuum end over all gravel and keep doing so till you have removed 10 to 15% of water.

* If gravel gets stuck in vacuum, release gravel by plugging other end of siphon tube with your finger or thumb.

* When you want to stop siphon just raise both ends above level of tank

* To stop siphon, simply raise either end of siphon above surface level of fish tank.

There are gravel vacuum that can be attached to a faucet but this would mean that you be putting back tap water directly into tank which might not be good for your goldfish if there is a marked temperature difference. Also you would be adding all chemicals present in tap water without allowing chlorine to evaporate. The best option is to keep a container of fresh water overnight.

The Weekly 10-15%