Something is definitely going on in my pond I think and I am worried. :unsure:
Today I went out to the pond like always and noticed that Harley is at the top of the water swimming in the turbulence from the spitter like he is swimming upstream. At first I didn't think much of it. Later I went out to check on him again and there he was swimming in the turbulence. This puzzles me b/c if I remember right that is what Nugget started doing a few months back when he started having trouble.
Is this normal goldfish behavior?
Tia

I have been watching this fish today and he is acting weird.
He swims in the current (tubulence) from the spitter as he has been doing most of the morning.
As I was watching him I saw him swim really fast toward the bottom of the pond, then turn on his side and swim really fast along the bottom floor of the pond (staying on his side) as if he was scratching his side. He turned around and turned on his side again then swam along the bottom again.
I am so confused :unsure:

Not sure if this is considered flashing or not. Maybe Robin or someone else can be of help. Good luck.

Fm3

Mine swim in the turbulence, especially in the spring. When I had my first waterfall ( which was pretty strong ) they scared the crap out of me. Half out of the water and looking like little dolphins. Darting down sounds normal too..it's the scraping on the bottom. Have you caught him to see if his slime coat is intact? His gills look clean?

Maybe Harley is just a vain little man and is trying to get into shape after a winter of just hanging out on the bottom! Maybe Nugget is a girl and he is trying to impress her into spawning with him soon ;-) You know how those men can be if they have been cooped up too long!

Swimming in the current isn't a big concern. Fish sometimes like to do that. The fish may be playing or feeling frisky. The scraping on the bottom, a quick zip sideways on the bottom, is flashing. It means the fish is itchy. Sometimes, that means the fish has parasites but not always. I'm always hesitant to suggest using parasitic medications; I've never used them in my ponds since the side effects are often worse than the problem (if it even exists).

Sadie, I haven't actually caught him but since my pond is so small I am able to get a pretty good look at him. His coat looks ok but I don't know what I am looking for. His scales are bright and the eyes look fine. That is more than I can say for Nugget (I'll post that in Nuggets Streak). Later today I noticed that Skippy was swimming along with him. Maybe that is monkey see monkey do? But you are right it does scare the crap out of me.
I was hoping that it was something to do with spawning and showing off (or working out ;)). :blink: :rolleyes:

I hope it isn't parasites Robyn. I have to keep a watch to see what happens next.
This fish stuff is a little stressful. :blink:

I had to smile at that.

I though keeping cold water fish was going to be easy but it can be veeeeerrrryyy stressful. Fish are so "alien". By the time you realise you are right to be worried it is often too late.

Too late to do anything about it though - I am already hooked. I told my DH that
when I get my new pond in spring it will be the last one I get. He just laughed and
asked my mother if she wanted to hear a really funny joke - "Maggie says the next pond she gets will be the last one she gets". Then they both laughed.

How are your other fish going now?

CG, I am still worried about the other two fish that I have left. I saw them both flashing just the other day. I am now suspecting flukes of some other parasite. I just don't know..
Tia