“Goldfish jumping” is a phrase that is getting a lot of attention from many hobbyists lately.
Some fish owners are surprised when they find their pet has permanently left the tank even after jumping from their tank, as there are tales of goldfish living for hours after a jump.
The reason a fish may leap from its tank is a variety of factors: from water quality concerns to a conflict with fellow aquarium mates; fortunately, all of these conditions can be avoided with some habitat adaptations.
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Cleaner Water Is On The Other Side
It is most common if the water is at an extreme that a fish will try to jump out of its home: this includes when the water is too dirty, too warm, too cold, too acidic, too alkaline, or if there is too little oxygen in the water.
Keep your tank clean and change the water often, but do not overdo the water changes. Keep an eye on your goldfish for any signs of discomfort, and change the water as needed, but do not overdo it.
Make sure there is enough oxygen and clean water in the pool by using a water pump, an air stone, or an aerator, in addition to keeping a constant level of water changes.
Regardless of whether goldfish live in fresh or cold water, they require a temperature range of 65 to 75°C, clean water, and a medium level of oxygen for optimal health.
A goldfish that feels that the water in his aquarium is too hot will not only become stressed, but more importantly, he will begin to search for a cooler clime elsewhere (even if this is not inside his aquarium).
It is also important to mention that your fish are at risk for pain, illness, and even death when the pH level of their waterfalls falls below 5 or climbs above 8.5.
This is quite possible that this acidity or alkalinity of the water can cause serious burns on goldfish’s fins and gills, causing them to do whatever is necessary for relief, even getting out of the tank.
Unscratchable Itch
Goldfish can get quite frustrated when dealing with parasites which are often invisible to us as they race about the tank, trying to remove lice or parasites.
The fish become infected by these parasites, and this causes great discomfort for them.
The fish may even leap out of the water in search of relief. Parasites can lead to a goldfish being infected in many ways. Among the signs are:
- The goldfish is showing irregular movements or has circular spots on its body.
- These are signs that the goldfish is under constant stress.
- The constant movement of the goldfish.
- Large and growing red bumps on its body.
- Large boils.
It is important to treat your fish with parasitic medication, which you will find at local aquarium shops if you suspect your fish has parasites.
Contact a local aquatic specialist for diagnosis and recommendations if your fish seems to be in pain, or if it appears lethargic.
The stress that an individual feels can also cause erratic behavior, such as jumping from a tank. There are many things that can drive a fish over the edge, out of the tank, such as a too-crowded tank, bullying from other fish, or even a fight over mating.
Priority Is Given To Safety
If your fish does decide to leap for it, you will want to keep the water level of the tank low enough that he will not immediately hit the cover of the tank with his feet, and possibly hurt himself.
You should place your aquatic buddy back into his aquarium if you happen to find him on the floor, regardless of whether or not you believe he may be dead.
The fish could be back in the water in just a few days, with a bit of luck and good timing – as well as future preventative fixes.
In order to allow your fish to make a leap to the surface should he decide to do so, keep the water level in the tank low enough that he does not hit the cover of the tank and possibly sustain an injury.
The chances are that you may come across your aquatic buddy on the floor, even if you suspect he may be dead, make sure that you return him to the water of his tank as soon as possible.
The goldfish may be able to swim to his heart’s content again with some luck, some good timing, and some future preventative measures.
Video About The Goldfish Jumping
FAQs
Where can I find instructions on how to get my goldfish to jump?
When your fish approaches, put your fingertips full of food on the surface of the water and then, as your fish approaches, remove them from the water.
The behavior of your fish should be induced in such a way as to encourage them to jump out of the water to feed.
Once they jump out of the water, provide them with some treats so that they will be encouraged to feed again.
What tricks can a goldfish perform?
Goldfish are capable of performing simple tricks such as the following. It is very important to reward them with food as a means of motivating them.
In order to see the goldfish swim through the hoops to get the food, for example, you can place some food at your fingertips at the end of the hoop.
If the goldfish still finds it difficult to swim through, you can try again over and over again.
Do goldfish have intelligence?
These fish can actually be trained to perform tricks, so they have very high intelligence.
It is possible to implement the principle of positive reinforcement to teach goldfish to do things like push a ball through hoops or go through an obstacle course by using food as positive reinforcement.
Other things can also be taught to goldfish with food as positive reinforcement.
Annette M. Chaney is an experienced marine biologist with over 20 years of experience as an aquarist and fishkeeper. She started her first aquarium at a young age, filling it with frogs and goldfish obtained from the ten-cent pet store.
Annette grew up caring for and breeding African Cichlids, which led to a hobby in high school that doubled as a profitable means. Attending Reed College gave her time to solidify herself as an accomplished aquarium caretaker with an eye for sales. After that, from 2009 – 2013, she studied at Roger Williams University – one of the most prestigious universities for Aquaculture and Aquarium in USA. She is the founder of AquariumCircle since 2010.