Fish behavioral problem

[goldenpuon]

I have a goldfish named Saylme who shares its tank with 7 other goldfish. It is 5 inches including fins- by the largest fish even though almost two of those inches is just its tail fin. I have had it 4 years.

Less than a week ago, I saw Saylme nibble on Aztec (a goldfish who was still recovering from a bad injury) while it was searching for food on the bottom of the aquarium some time after I fed the fish.

I wrote about this on another topic on EA but dismissed it as just a mistake the fish made since Aztec was swimming close to it and it was foraging.

Well this evening, my goldfish were begging for food (as usual). But Saylme seemed to get carried away and nibbled on another goldfish, Wickren's side a few times. Wickren nibbled Saylme's side as if trying to get back at Saylme. Saylme also tried to nibble on a few other goldfish who found it uncomfortable and swam to another part of the tank before begging again.

This doesn't seem to be aggression in my opinion (although I could be wrong.) Saylme is going for the fish's sides most of the time, not just their fins when doing the nibbling. As well, some of the goldfish similar in size to Saylme like Wickren and Kona don't seem to mind this although the smaller ones tend to swim away. (The smallest fish in the tank is 2 1/2 inches.)

I also noticed that 90% of the time, this happens while the fish are begging me for food. It's as if the fish is getting so carried away in wanting its next meal that it forgets its tank mates aren't food. While I am standing farther away from the tank or the fish haven't just been fed, this doesn't happen near as much. And the fish aren't underfed FYI, they are simply extremely tame food addicts.

I'm not sure if Wickren is doing this as well (since I mentioned I saw the fish do the same thing to Saylme back.)

But my main concern is Saylme. It is the fastest growing fish in the tank and this nibbling seems to be on the increase. I have also felt it nibble my finger and it nibbles hard. It has never been an aggressive fish though.

Is this likely harming the other goldfish in any way?

Also, is it likely to get worse?

Any ideas for what I can do about this?

Last, why is the goldfish doing this? Is this a normal behavior for some goldfish when they get really excited about food?

Thanks. Any feedback is appreciated.

Renee

[Carl]

My opinion (& just an opinion) is this behavior is a combination of of dominance and feeding "frenzy".

Essentially what Saylme is saying is "I am am hungry and I am eating first, so all others get out of my way"

As for what to do (short of moving Saylme to another tank), I might suggest a tank divider that can be quietly slipped in during feeding time.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the prompt response Carl.

I could use a tank divider but I'd have to slip it in every time I approach the tank. That's when the fish swim up to me and say "feed me" and the nibbling starts. This happens if I come near the tank even if I'm not feeding them. However, if I stand at a distance and watch them, they can not see me well enough to go nuts begging me. So this does not happen if I am standing far enough away.

I would have to put the tank divider in all the time so I'll have to weigh my options to see if putting it in and completely seperating Saylme from the others and sacrificing the beauty of the tank is worth it. I don't have a seperate tank large enough that I think can hold a 5 inch growing fish except for short periods.

But most importantly, is the nipping likely hurting my other fish? Like say, damaging their slime coat enough to make them more suspetible to disease? This is the most important factor for me on dividing the tank up or not. I know this stressed Aztec when it happened but the fish was just getting over an injury and was nibbled on it injured side.

I'm going to try to feed my fish throughout the tank to see if that will make them beg in different spots opposed to one corner when I go near the tank. I know last time I did this, the fish got confused and there was some nipping and pushing among the fish who had gotten their hierachy mixed up as a result of the feeding in different places.

Renee

[goldenpuon]

Ok. So apparently I have two fish I've seen so far doing nibbling on other goldfish. Wickren, whom I observed nibble at Saylme after it nibbled on it, tried to nibble on another fish today. It was one of my smallest fish. The fish didn't like it expectedly.

So from here I really don't think the tank divider is going to work. I'd need 2 dividers now. Plus, who knows if other fish are doing this too less frequently. Anyway, I hope I can fix this another way.

I'm trying to look at them long side of the aquarium vs. the short one that I normally watch them through so they have more room to beg and less chance to nibble at each other.

[Carl]

A few nibbles of the slime coat (of a healthy fish) likely would not cause too much damage
However a lot of nibbling of a weaker fish could cause damage leading to disease.

The best way I could give an example is to think of a healthy person versus a sickly person; as well then think of a minor burn while cooking versus a getting hot oil spilled on you. Since the slime coat of a fish works like the skin (epidermis) of a person the nibbling is similar to a minor burn (or cut), but either continued nibbling &/or a weak fish could make the situation worse IMO.

Another thought is a permanent divider or attempting to feed in different locations of your aquarium (different fish can be trained to go to different areas too)
I had a customer with an Orbic Batfish (which admittedly are very smart) that had three different persons feeding him. He was taught to go to different areas of the tank for each person. So this same idea might work where you remove a fish while training another, then do the same again except feed in a different location.
Just an idea, which may be simply too much work.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

They should be ok then. They all are very healthy. (Aside from Aztec who is still recovering and whom I am keeping a close eye on.) They should be ok from here.

That is a good idea. But the question is if they would listen. They'll do almost anything for food. To train a goldfish to eat at one side of the aquarium would work while the rest are out but when it comes time to feed each fish in each part of the tank, I'm sure the they would have major issues staying put. lol

I do know goldfish are smart enough to learn this but self-control (which they seem to have VERY little of) would be a bigger issue in this case.


I think I may be able to train them not try to nibble at other goldfish if I can figure out a way for them to understand what I want them to do.

Sorry about not taking your recommendations on this. They are both very good/creative ideas. I do really appreciate the help.

BTW, I will try to get a video posted of my goldfish begging. They are hilarious to watch.


Renee