When I was about 6 years old or so, I had a bowl with two feeder goldfish. I know I was young then, but I'm sure I remember that they would always quarrel and chase eachother, as if fighting. I remember one day I found one dead on the bottom of the bowl...Can goldfish be that aggressive? Especially young ones? I know it could have been disease, but those goldfish seemed aggressive.
Aggressive goldfish?
- Thread starter Nabbig2
- Start date
I used to have 3 goldfish (two were mine, one was my brothers) and if I remember correctly they bit one to death. We found him floating on the surface all torn up one day and he died. His gill was pretty badly messed up.
I have a goldfish who has the nasty habit of eating the eyes of other goldfish. To date she has eaten 4 eyes from three goldfish. Goldfish are capabile of aggresion, as are all other species of fish. This is especially true during breeding time, males can be relentless in their quest for a mate. Goldfish will also have no problem eating smaller fish, though they aren't as predatory as a a gar they are oppertunistic. I have read quite a few horror stories about these guys eating smaller tankmates and even getting corydoras stuck in their mouths.
I agree with Sandtiger. I've also read on other forums that you have to watch your chem balance in your tank if you have fish that are aggressive that normally arent. Some fish seem to be prone to aggression if the water is "way off" and the PH, nitrites, and other stuff isnt right.
goldfish are in the barb family. barbs are known to be agressive. Most if not all goldfish will pester smaller goldfish.
Aggression may be triggered from ammonia levels. Fish are not stupid, they know when there are too many of them in a lifeboat. Try moving to a larger tank or improving water conditions. I am sure there are some nasty individuals too. Some of this behaviour can be learnt/copied.