Your goldfish may jump out of its tank and fall to the floor. This could be because the water temperature is too warm for the fish (over 24 degrees Celsius), or the goldfish is infected with a parasite that swims too fast and jumps out of the tank. If you find a goldfish lying on the floor, follow these steps to bring this animal back to life.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the Fish
Step 1. Check for signs of life in goldfish
Before you try to revive a goldfish, check the fish for signs of life so it can still be revived. These symptoms include:
- The fish looked dry and the skin was crusty.
- Fish eyes appear concave (protruding inward) instead of convex (protruding outward).
- The pupils of the fish are gray.
- There are fish body parts missing, such as fins or tail.
- If your goldfish shows any of the signs above, it's a good idea to humanely euthanize the fish, for example with clove oil. However, if the fish appears dry but has complete body parts or the eyes are still sunken, the fish can still be brought back to life.
Step 2. Put the goldfish into a container of cool water from its aquarium tank
The cool water contains oxygen and helps bring your fish back to life.
Some experts also recommend putting the fish back in the water immediately, even if it appears to be dry
Step 3. Remove any dirt or debris from the fish
Hold the fish with one hand in the water tank, and use the other hand to remove any debris from the fish. You can also just gently shake the fish in the water until it's clean.
Step 4. Use fingers to open the gills
Your hands must be firm and patient. You will need to open the gill covers on both sides of the fish to check for red coloration on the gills, which is a good sign.
You can also massage the fish's belly to stimulate airflow
Part 2 of 3: Giving Oxygenated Water to Fish
Step 1. Move the goldfish close to the air bubble device or water stone
Most aquariums have air stones that regulate the temperature of the tank and add oxygen to the water (aeration). If you have air stones or air bubbles, use your hands to move the fish near the air source. This helps the fish get more oxygen and hopefully come back to life.
If you don't have an air stone, continue massaging the fish's belly in the water tank until it moves back, or buy an air stone for the fish
Step 2. Use the air pipe
Some goldfish keepers carry out more drastic procedures to revive fish using dechlorinated water, pure oxygen containers, and air pipes. This procedure can be done if the fish are still alive, but appear lethargic and sluggish. To apply serious CPR to fish, visit a hardware store and purchase the following supplies:
- Air stone.
- Air pipe.
- Pure oxygen container.
- Plastic container big enough for fish.
- Food plastic wrap.
- Adhesive tape.
- Clean dechlorinated water.
Step 3. Put the dechlorinated water in the container
This water contains no chlorine or chloramines, and prevents the deposition of ammonia in fish, which can cause illness and death. Add the dechlorinated water until the container is half filled.
To obtain dechlorinated water, mix an additive called a dechlorinator with tap water. You can buy this substance at a pet store. Follow the instructions on the label to find out how much to use and the amount of water needed
Step 4. Put the fish in the container
You will need to attach the air stone to the oxygen tank so that oxygen can be pumped into the water. Once connected, insert the air stone into the container and make sure it lies on the bottom of the container.
Step 5. Turn on the pure oxygen and let it enter the water
Avoid introducing too much oxygen into the water through the air stone. The flow of air bubbles out of the air stone should be small and regular.
- During the first five minutes, the air should flow strongly and remain in the water.
- After five minutes, reduce the oxygen valve so that the airflow is slow but still steady.
Step 6. Use plastic food wrap to seal the container
Take a large sheet of plastic wrap and place it on top of the container. Fold the edges so that the container is sealed and your fish is in the oxygenated water.
You can seal the plastic wrap using a strip of adhesive tape
Step 7. Leave the fish in the container for two hours
Make sure you check the fish periodically to make sure it's getting a steady stream of oxygen from the air stone.
After two hours, the fish should start to breathe and swim as usual
Part 3 of 3: Helping Fish Recover
Step 1. Give the fish a salt bath
Although goldfish are freshwater fish, salt baths can improve the fish's overall health and help it recover from oxygen deprivation. However, if the fish is already on medication or using other treatments to come back to life, it's best if the salt bath is only given before you give other medications or after completing any medication or other treatments.
- You should use sea salt, kosher salt, aquarium salt, and pure Morton rock salt. If possible, use natural sea salt without additives because it is high in mineral content.
- Use clean, contaminant-free containers. Put tank water in a container, provided it is safe to use, or fresh, dechlorinated water. Make sure the temperature of the water in the container is the same as the temperature of the water in the tank, or only a maximum of 3 degrees.
- Add a teaspoon of salt per 4 liters of water. Mix the salt with the water to make sure all the grains have dissolved and then put the fish in the brine container.
- Leave the fish in the brine for 3 minutes, and monitor your fish. If your fish are showing signs of stress, such as fast swimming or jerking movements, transfer them to the main tank.
Step 2. Try a garlic bath
Garlic is a natural detoxifier and helps purify your fish. Make your own onion juice by peeling and then chopping a medium-sized garlic bulb. After that, put the onions in hot water and let sit for 12 hours at room temperature. Then, you can crush the cloves and strain them to make onion juice. This onion water can be stored in the refrigerator and lasts up to 2 weeks.
- Use onion water like salt water. Mix 1 teaspoon of onion water per 38 liters of tank water. Then, give the fish an onion bath for 1-3 minutes.
- You can also give onion water to prevent infection. Give it to the fish's mouth using a syringe or pipette, two drops daily for 7-10 days.
Step 3. Add chlorophyll to the aquarium tank
Chlorophyll is believed to be a medicine for goldfish and helps improve the immune system and fish health. Look for liquid chlorophyll at your local pet store. Generally, this product is sold in the form of drops.
Give a chlorophyll bath to the fish in the tank, following the instructions on the bottle. You can also drip chlorophyll onto goldfish food gel
Step 4. Apply a stress-reducing water conditioner (stress coat)
You can buy this product at a pet store. Most water conditioners are made from aloe vera which helps relieve fish stress and heal damaged tissues. This product can help fish recover after being turned on.
Tips
- Prevent your goldfish from jumping out of the tank by attaching a tank cover, and do not fill the tank until the water level is near the top of the tank.
- Perform partial water changes and testing regularly to maintain aquarium water quality.
