My daughter's goldfish is possessed!!

[decker96]

We got her goldfish in Feb. 2003. That's right, I said 2003!!! DS has gone through 3 fish since then, but DD still has her original one. It's in a cold water tank with a filter.
I've decided there is something seriously wrong with her fish. About 6 months ago I looked in the tank and the fish was on it's back laying on the bottom. I figure it's dead, I turn on the light in the tank and the thing flips over and swims up to the top! Every day after that, every time I would look in the tank it was laying on it's back on the bottom. A couple days ago I went to feed them and it was floating on it's back at the TOP of the tank. I figure it's for sure dead this time, turn on the light and it swims away, ON IT"S BACK!!!
What is wrong with this fish?! It is totally freaking me out!!

 

[MonorailDude]

Freaky. But I think it is kind of cool.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Maybe you should sell him on eBay under "possessed fish." You'd probably get big bucks for him.

 

[decker96]

Originally posted by DisneyAddict_M
Maybe you should sell him on eBay under "possessed fish." You'd probably get big bucks for him.

That would be a good way to get rid of him! LOL! Especially since it's almost Halloween.

 

[MonorailDude]

Maybe someone switched with a remote control one, and is playing tricks on you.

 

[danacara]

This made me giggle. Honestly. Thanks.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Fish have air bladders to help them swim,
it sounds like something is wrong with his-not deadly but obviously incapacitating

 

[WDWHound]

You should name him Beelzibubbles!

 

[Otto's Doll]

Originally posted by WDWHound
You should name him Beelzibubbles!

LOL!

 

[aimee11621]

 

[decker96]

Originally posted by tiggerwannabe
Fish have air bladders to help them swim,
it sounds like something is wrong with his-not deadly but obviously incapacitating

Okay, I know we're only talking about a fish here, but that makes me a little sad! Would it be better if we flushed him? He still eats fine and everything. And he does swim around normally at times.

 

[rascalmom]

Just goes to show that a good night's sleep can lead to a long and healthy life!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

With a 3 second memory he probably doesn't remember which way is up!

~He's actually fine, just upside down~

I agree with WDWHound: rename him beelzibubbles

 

[Celluloidgal]

Originally posted by danacara
This made me giggle. Honestly. Thanks.

ditto

 

[sha_lyn]

Originally posted by decker96
Okay, I know we're only talking about a fish here, but that makes me a little sad! Would it be better if we flushed him? He still eats fine and everything. And he does swim around normally at times.

There are several fairy inexpensive medicated foods or tablets on the market. I prefer the food because it does not interfer with the water cycle. Just describe the behavior to someone "in the know" at a local pet store, they should be able to tell you what to get.

 

[decker96]

Thanks sha_lyn. I'll have to check that out next time we're at the pet store.
Actually DD likes that she swims upside down (the fish's name is Wendy, by the way, but I like beezilbubbles, LOL!). DD thinks it's cool. 7 year-olds.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Lol! I had a Betta once who was like that (see my tag). He used to just float on the bottom all the time. I thought he was dead several times.

 

[totalia]

Lol. It's just a fish. For nearly 10 years of my life, I had 4 fishtanks in my home and have had at least 250 fish. The things die quickly usually but I had two angel fish for 6 years.

1. Fish often float down to the bottom. Fish have bladders that they can fill with air. The air allows them to float. They can also empty them of air. By emptying them, they allow themselves to float down to the bottom. Basically the fish is being lazy. By staying at the bottom, he has to do very minimal work and can "sleep" (fish don't have eyelids but they do sleep. Kind of).

2. Fish have personalities, just like people. That means that some fish will like to ride the bubbles that come out of the filter or a toy in the tank (I had two who LOVED that. They played in the bubbles). They will do things like play hide and seek with each other. They will do things like play tag (this is where one chases another and then the other chases that one back). Some fish are scaredy cats and some LOVE people. Floating upside down is probably just a part of its personality. For all you know, he might just be playing with you or like the view from upside down lol.

3. It's an animal. lol. A very hardy adaptable one apparently but still an animal. Who knows why they do the crazy things they do?

If anyone can tell me why my cat Sasha seems to take malicious joy in chasing another cat (Shy) in the house when the other cat hisses and spits, I'd love to know.

I'd also love to know why, when the box is clean, Willie with squat and pee on the floor right in front of me while giving me a look that just DARES me to do something about it.

I'd also love to know why Shy hooks her claw in whatever blanket is on the couch and then naws the fibers off her claw.

Oh the mysteries of animals.

 

[jennyL]

We have a Betta here at my office that will float on the bottom. We actually think thats where he likes to sleep because he will perk up and swim around we get in in the mornings. However our Betta has other issue since his name is Sushi. LOL

 

[epcotfan]

http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#bladder

The link above has info on many goldfish ailments. Sounds like a swim bladder problem to me, however I would look at the other symptoms links to see if they match his/her behavior. Please don't flush the guy down the toilet. The little guy or gal might recover with the right treatment.