What can I do about my goldfish being bullied?
I’ve had 2 goldfish for almost 2 years now. When I got them they were both the same size but in the past year one has grown to more than twice the size of the other. The problem is that the bigger one now seems to be bullying the smaller one. The smaller one has been on the bottom hiding under the filter for a few days now. When the smaller one swims out from under the filter when they are fed the bigger one quickly chases him back underneath. Why has this just started and is there a way to make it stop? There is no sign of damage to my smaller fish but surely its not normal for him to have to hide in a corner all the time?
Moving them into separate tanks would really have to be the very last resort as I live away from home for most of the year so my parents look after them and I don’t really want to double their work.
Please help. Thanks!
get the bigger fish and fry it
This is simply solved, instead of investing in another tank simply buy a tank separator. they sell them at most major pet stores, all it is is a divider that sticks inside the middle of your tank, more or less a screen, so the water doesn’t get separated just the fish, food and filtering will still be able to go on both sides.
put them in different tanks
A possibility you could try before buying a tank separator or putting them in different tanks is to move all the decorations you have in there around. This will destroy any sense of ownership and territory over the tank the larger fish has over the smaller one. If that doesn’t work, physically separate them.
My goldfish was bullied by my shubunkin and black moor and he always stayed under the filter
In result he got white spot and fit rot from stress, you should take the poor fish out the tank into another or get a tank sepourater, or he’ll get sick.
Believe me i wish I did that when my goldfish was being bullied.
If you do move him into another tank why not get him a friend.
If you was in a tank with knowhere to go and constantly being bullied you’d hate it.
Yes it’s just a fish as people would say but still..