Hi folks

I know that this sounds like a silly idea, but I keep fancy fantail goldfish and my youngest fish unfortunately passed away on Sunday.
It wasn't illness that caused pipers passing but an attack from Bonnie our young golden algae eater (since removed into another tank on her). I found it quite upsetting and since then the fish have been very subdued and Phoebe and Pru have just been resting at the bottom of the tank and not swimming all over the place.
I think they they might be depressed, is this possible?

Love and peace to all.
Rainbow

Fish sitting on the bottom is more likely to be poor water quality than depression.

Is the tank big enough? Filter adequate? Do regular partial water changes?

Hi Streetmonkey
I do a 25% water change on a weekly basis and I check the levels too. I now have sadly 5 fantails is a 240 litre tank which is apparently ok but I wouldnt want to have more than 6 in there. it is just the fantails in the tank with the occasional snail which sneaks its way into the tank when i refresh the plants.
x

Yes, they do. I had a sick fish and I put it in a quarantine tank whilst I treated it. It's mate was really fed up and wouldn't move from the side of the tank where he could see his mate. All too readily we right fish off as dumb when we just don't understand how they think/feel or what emotions they have.

Sorry I should have said stressmonkey.
x

goldfish are one of the most dirty fish (as in there bio-load) so water quality needs to be monitored regularly.
have you done a test on the water ?
ammonia ?
nitrite ?
nitrate ?
ph ?

Hi Dab
Yes, we test the water on a twice weekly basis and also do a quarter water change once a week.
x