Oh no, I just found my goldfish on the floor...

[GetYourMoneyBackAtTheDoor]

I thought it was a toy. Laying in a patch of sunlight. I picked her up and put her back in the tank (no lid). She seem ok ish, quiet but moving.

Did she jump out?? I've had the fish about a year, 60 litre tank with water about an inch or 2 from the top. I'm so upset, how awful. I've put a makeshift cover on now. Why on earth did that happen? Thanks for any answers you can give me

[EauRouge]

It might have seen a bug, it might have been trying to escape the other fish, it might not be happy with its environment (have you checked the water parameters?)... all kinds of reasons. Keep an eye on it, there may be injuries. You'll need to keep the water super-clean and maybe add some melafix as a precaution to protect against infection.

How many fish do you have in the 60 litre? Long term it isn't big enough for a goldfish. It might be that your fish has outgrown the tank and is trying to find somewhere bigger!

[GetYourMoneyBackAtTheDoor]

Thanks for replying. The 2 goldfish were bought, along with a tiny plastic tank, by my neighbour for my children I knew nothing at all about (nor had any interest in) fish! I know now they are not pets to keep in a tank but have been unable to find anyone with a fish pond who can help.

There are two GF and 2 danios in the tank. It's cleanish (a stingray filter thing) but not great I'm sure. The fish seems better now so thank god I saw it when I did (I have a dog and a cat too!!)

I'll get a replacement filter today and some of that stuff you mentioned. How does one go about finding a pond to rehome GF into? One (the non-jumper) is getting quite big.

[BikeRunSki]

That happened to my fish when I was a teenager. Someone said that in hot weather the fish's water loses oxygen and the fish jump out seeking oxygen from the air.

[EauRouge]

Do you know what sort of danios they are? They may be OK in a 60 litre if you can find a home for the goldfish. If they are common goldfish they can go in a pond. If they are fancy goldfish (the fat round ones) then they need to be kept indoors in a tank. For two fancy goldfish you'd need a 40 gallon tank because they get massive.

Finding a pond shouldn't be too hard, probably the best place to try is local gardening or pet groups on Facebook, or maybe Freecycle if your local one allows animals (mine wouldn't even let me list snails!).

If you're going to get a replacement filter, take the sponge from the old one and put it in the new one, otherwise all the good bacteria will be gone. Also never, ever wash the filter sponge under the tap, always use water you've taken from the tank. This link explains all about the bacteria.

Then make your neighbour buy you a bottle of wine for causing you so much work

A dog and a cat! That's one lucky fish!

[EauRouge]

x posts. Yes, warmer water holds less oxygen but this is only ever really a problem in overstocked tanks with inadequate water movement (for example if the filter's too small).

[CestTout]

If you are anywhere near Cambridge I can rehome in a pond for you!

[GetYourMoneyBackAtTheDoor]

Thanks for the info. Not near Cambridge sadly, south coast. They are just just plain GF. The danios are one zebra and one leopard I think (def one zebra anyway). I know none of its ideal.

Interesting about the hot weather.

I meant I'll buy a new filter sponge. I think the filters fine. I usually bail out some of the water each week, along with loose weed, and wring/rinse the sponges in that before replacing them. I probably buy a new sponge every month (or so). I put brand new sponges in the tank loose for a few days before swapping them. I also add some 'good bacteria' stuff and put some blue stuff in the reaplacement water to make it safe.

Sound ok?

I think I'm not doing too bad, reading that back, for someone who's not keen or interested

[mummylin2495]

I am in the south coast and would take them for you

[EauRouge]

You'll be throwing away nearly all the good bacteria that way. Is there a reason why you are replacing the sponge so often? I only do mine every couple of years and then I do half at a time. There's very little bacteria just floating around in the water because it needs a steady flow going over it. Filters provide an ideal home for bacteria, the rest of the tank not so much.

The bacteria additives that you can buy are nearly all crap :( but the blue dechlorinator stuff is really important.

Yes, you're doing OK, at least you know about the bacteria which is more than most people know!

[GetYourMoneyBackAtTheDoor]

I'll pm you mummylin thank you!

Oh really re sponge?!! I was told they should be changed every week or month or something? Been spending a fortune! That's great to know, I thought it was a bit mean of me to try to get more than one clean out of it. OMG!

[EauRouge]

A lot of instructions for filters tell you to replace the sponge every month. It's a bit bonkers really, I know the companies want to make money but it's incredibly risky for the fish to just bin the whole filter sponge every month. The manufacturers must know that

[GetYourMoneyBackAtTheDoor]

So glad you told me!