A sick or simply weakened fish can provoke aggressiveness in its fellow fish. Always by survival instinct, the others will chase it, push it into corners, try to eliminate it. In this case, it is necessary to isolate the sick fish and treat it in a hospital tank, then reintroduce it once the cure is confirmed.
In cases of environmental pollution due to a rise in ammonia and nitrites, glofish become easy prey on the ground and can quite easily be finished off and eaten by their fellow fish.
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Can glofish eat each other ?
In their natural state, there is no reason for glofish to start eating each other. However, in the case of a sick fish, they may become more aggressive and feel more endangered.
In this way, it can happen that glofish fight, and in some extreme cases, eat each other, but don’t worry, this rarely happens.
Why would glofish eat each other?
1. Lack of space
An aquarium that is too small, an overpopulation in a restricted space can provoke aggressive behavior in glofish, including Japanese varieties. By survival instinct, it will start to chase another congener, and can go as far as to injure it like tearing off the sails of the caudal, the pectoral fins, the eyes. By offering the necessary space we avoid this inconvenience allowing the fish to evolve harmoniously in group.
2. Lack of food
Goldfish should be fed at least once a day, or twice in reasonable quantities, but they should eat their fill. If the fish are underfed, this may trigger aggressive behavior in them to eliminate a fellow fish in order to get more food, a fellow fish that is considered a rival. Therefore it is important to make sure that everyone is well fed and to observe the behavior of the fish during feeding.
3. A mistake in cohabitation
Mixing lively varieties such as glofish with slower varieties such as Japanese fish can cause problems. It is not uncommon to see the common varieties attacking the slower varieties, which is why it is advisable to keep each variety in a specific aquarium.
4. The game of domination
It is not uncommon to see goldfish playing a dominance game with each other. This is often seen during food distribution and in young individuals. This is only a game that fades as the fish enter adulthood. This game can be reversed, the pushed will in turn push the pushing and so on.
5. The poverty of the setting
A study reveals that the aggressiveness of fish can be linked to the poverty of the decor and thus, in practice, to the size of the aquarium. Just like humans or other animals, the aggressiveness felt towards a fellow fish decreases when eye contact is broken.
The glofish needs, in a way, to be able to isolate itself from others to go about its business. However, the richness of the environment provided by an aquarium depends on its size. A small volume provides less scenery. Therefore, the fish living inside will be more aggressive.
Why do my glofish keep dying ?
There can be dozens of reasons why your glofish die, however, if it happens several times in a row, it is either a transmissible disease, or a bad water setting, make sure to check the nitrite and pH levels in the water.
When in doubt, do not hesitate to change the water to avoid that the rest of the fish are condemned to the same fate.
How do I know if my fish is dead?
1. Turn on the lights
If the lights in the aquarium are off and the room is dark, this may be why your fish didn’t react when you approached. In fact, it may simply be sleeping!
Yes, fish also rest, most often at night, when it is dark. For that, they can lie on their side without moving, giving the impression of being dead. So, in order to try to wake up your fish if it is alive, turn on the lights and knock on the glass of the aquarium.
2. Observe its breathing
Most fish species have gills that move, a sign that they are breathing. So if your fish’s gills aren’t moving, it’s likely that it’s dead.
But be aware that some species, like fighting fish, breathe through their mouths. If this is the case with your fish, check its body movements.
3. Look at its eyes
If your fish has sunken eyes or glassy pupils, it’s usually a sign that it’s no longer alive or in agony.
4. Check the water temperature
When the water in the aquarium is too cold, it can send the fish into a kind of hibernation. So, consider checking the water temperature as well as its toxicity.
Indeed, if the water is too high in nitrite, your fish may have become intoxicated and is therefore sick. In this case, a change of water is necessary.