Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish – Symptoms, Causes, Prevention & Treatment

Ammonia poisoning is the biggest killer of aquarium fish, and most fish are prone to be affected by it. if you are worried about ammonia poisoning in your goldfish you have come to the right place I am going to tell you everything that you need to know about ammonia poisoning in your goldfish and how to prevent it from happening.

Ammonia poisoning is a serious condition that can affect goldfish when there is a buildup of toxic ammonia in the water. Ammonia is produced as a result of fish waste and other organic matter in the aquarium. Symptoms of ammonia poisoning in goldfish include gasping for air, lethargy, and red or inflamed gills. It is important to maintain good water quality and monitor ammonia levels in the aquarium to prevent this and other health issues in goldfish.

I am going to tell you everything you need to know about ammonia poisoning from what causes it to how to treat it to how to prevent it from happening in the first place. Remember, prevention is better than remedy!

What is Ammonia Poisoning?

Ammonia is an organic chemical gas made up of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. Although small amounts of ammonia will not harm your Goldfish, it will cause difficulties. It is, nevertheless, a big issue with larger groups.

Ammonia poisoning is one of the most common causes of fish death, and it usually occurs while a new fish tank is being set up. It’s possible that your Goldfish became ill as a result of being exposed to the incorrect pH levels. Goldfish, as we all know, must dwell under precise conditions in order to thrive.

It could also be related to where you bought your Goldfish; if they had been kept in a community tank before you bought them, they could have been exposed to ammonia toxicity. As a result, we will provide detailed instructions throughout this post.

What are the causes of Ammonia Poisoning?

Ammonia poisoning is very serious and it can be caused by different things. It is important to understand what causes ammonia as that will make it easier for you to prevent it from happening again.

1. Decomposition of Fish Waste or Other Matter

There are many different forms of biological components in a fish tank. The plants you’ll put in the tank as decoration or food, as well as the fish’s waste and any leftover fish food. All of these items will decay and become trash in the end.

As a result, bacteria that feed on the substance will multiply. Ammonia will be released as a byproduct as a result. The ammonia levels will grow if the fish tank isn’t cleaned on a regular basis or if you put in more food than is required.

Furthermore, having too many fish in a single tank is not suggested for this reason, even if the tank size is adequate to support the amount. As the number of fish increases, so does the amount of waste produced, necessitating more regular water changes. 

2. Ammonia Seepage Through Gills

Sometimes fish themselves contribute to the production of excess ammonia in your fish tank. When a fish eats, its metabolic processes go through a protein-building process. This procedure aids their growth.

So, while this process is critical, it also has a drawback. That is, ammonia byproducts are produced in their blood. This ammonia might seep out into the water through their gills.

3. Overcrowded Fish Tank

This is a rookie mistake most fish owners make. They have an overcrowded fish tank.

An overcrowded fish tank is not only harmful to your fish as it causes diseases, but as I have mentioned above, fishes produce ammonia which seeps out into the water, so the more fish in your fish tank, the higher the ammonia production, this is due to the fact that the nitrogen cycle in your fish tank will not be able to keep up with the growth of ammonia and therefore, will not be able to remove all of it.

Therefore, you should only keep the recommended number of fish in your fish tank. If you want to know how many fish per gallon and how to calculate it then read about it in detail in our other article.

What are the Symptoms of Ammonia Poisoning?

The symptoms of ammonia poisoning are like any other disease that your fish might be suffering from. as a matter of fact, most of the time, ammonia poisoning is itself the cause of many diseases, as it weakens the immune system of the fish and makes it easier for the bacteria to invade.

• Your fish might be weak. This means that it will not be moving around as much as it used to. This is also a sign of other diseases, like I said; ammonia poisoning can cause many other diseases too.
• Spending most of the time at the bottom of the fish tank
• Lethargy
• Skipping on meals
• Clamping their fins together
• Might cause constipation
• You might also notice poop hanging from your fish
• Protruding eyes

Along with the aforementioned symptoms, the water might also change. It might become dirty in the aftermath of dirt buildup in your fish tank.

Is Ammonia Poisoning Fatal for your Goldfish?

Although ammonia poisoning is harmful to your Goldfish, it is not usually fatal. It all depends on how much ammonia has been allowed to build up in the tank.

We want to test the water for ammonia on a regular basis to ensure that it is safe. Ammonia, in little amounts, might cause minor difficulties in your Goldfish, like skin rips and lethargy, which is still not what you want for your pets.

Ammonia poisoning can be lethal to your fish if there are too many fishes in the fish tank, as the more fishes there are in your fish tank, the more the chances of ammonia poisoning in the residents of the fish tank. . You should be able to treat your water rapidly if you test it on a regular basis. In many situations, the treatment will have a significant impact on your Goldfish, so keep them quarantined while you treat the tank and perform larger water changes.

Getting Rid of Ammonia in your Fish Tank

Ammonia is a deadly killer that goes unnoticed. It is a colorless gas made up of hydrogen and nitrogen. You won’t be able to see it, and you might not realize there’s an issue until it’s too late. So getting rid of ammonia is very necessary.

1. Detect Excess Ammonia In The Fish Tank

First things first, you have to identify the amount of excess ammonia in your fish tank so that you can start preparing for the removal of ammonia accordingly.

Any amount of more than one ppm of ammonia in a fish tank is considered excessive (part per million). A testing kit is required to determine the level of ammonia in the tank. Aquarium water test kits can be used to determine the amount of unionized ammonia in the tank.

If you don’t have a testing kit, the only way to find out is when your fish starts to exhibit ammonia poisoning signs. It’s possible that it’ll be too late by then, therefore having a testing kit is essential.

Now that you know the amount of excess ammonia in your fish tank, you can start curing the fish and removing the ammonia from the fish tank.

2. Determining The Cause Of Excess Ammonia

The first step to solving the problem is identifying what caused it in the first place. As there is little point in trying to treat ammonia poisoning while the underlying problem persists.

The next thing, obviously, is solving the core issue first so that this problem does not come up in the future. For example, adding a second fish tank or extending the current one if ammonia poisoning was caused by overcrowding.

3. Moving Your Fish To A Quarantine Or Hospital Tank

Transferring the sick fish to a quarantine tank while you iron out the problems in the main tank is a great idea.

If you have two goldfish in a 10-gallon tank and realize it’s too small for them (which it is! ), upgrading to a larger tank and separating the fish is an excellent idea. One fish may remain in your 10-gallon aquarium while the other is transferred to a 30-gallon aquarium. The 30 gallons may become their primary house when they’re ready.

Keep in mind, though, that ammonia can accumulate in quarantine tanks as well. You’ll need to cycle and test both tanks to keep the water conditions safe.

4. Control Your Goldfish’s Food

Goldfish can go for lengthy periods of time without eating. As a result, it’s okay to stop feeding your goldfish or simply feed them a small amount while you strive to reduce ammonia levels.

Reducing feeding will result in less rotten food and fish waste, resulting in lower ammonia levels.

5. Change Water Regularly And Test It Every Day

You’ll have to reduce ammonia levels manually because the nitrogen cycle isn’t doing it for you.

When the ammonia levels reach a high level, get a test kit and do a significant water change.

You’ll want to check for nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels. Your tank is cycled when the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are all zero.

6. Filter The Water

Unfiltered water has its own set of issues, but when ammonia is added to the mix, the problem multiplies tenfold. We cannot use any water flow accelerators because goldfish love calm waters, and doing so will simply induce tension and maybe make the condition worse. Filtration is critical because we want to treat the water rather than the fish.

Cleaner water parameters will also help your fish stay healthy as many diseases are caused due to the weakening of the goldfish’s immune system due to dirty water parameters.

7. Using Plants That Do Not Die Quick

Having aquatic plant life might seem like a great idea, for all the right reasons; it not only looks amazing but also provides a safe haven for small fish.

However, if the wrong plants are used, the ammonia problem can become worse. This is owing to the fact that when certain plant species, such as algae, die, they produce more ammonia!

Therefore, you should remove the plants that die quickly and replace them with the ones that have a long aquatic life.

How to Prevent and Treat Ammonia Poisoning in Goldfish?

Prevention of any disease or condition or disorder is always better than finding a remedy and treating it. So you should kill the chances of ammonia poisoning before you have to deal with it.

1. Quarantining New Fish

It’s critical to keep your new goldfish away from your other goldfish when you first get them. Because the tank from which you obtained them may have had ammonia buildup issues, we want to segregate them for the first two weeks to ensure they are healthy enough to join the community tank.

Simply ensure that they are in their ideal environments to avoid adding to the stress of the situation. This is something we recommend doing with any fish you own, not just Goldfish. This ensures that if the Goldfish develops any problems that you are unaware of, they will not infect your tank or other fish.

2. Do NOT Overfeed Your Fish

We now know that overfeeding might result in residue remaining in the tank, which is bad. Goldfish love to eat, yet there is always too much food when it comes to them. You not only want to keep your fish at a healthy weight, but you also don’t want them to live in hazy, foul water.

To avoid the problem, we recommend that we follow the strategy of “only feeding your Goldfish what they can ingest in 5 minutes.” You could assume your Goldfish would eat it later, but they probably won’t!

If you encounter this issue, clean your tank of any leftover food to prevent the rotting process from starting and to ensure that no harm is done. The sooner you do it, the better; but, with the feeding approach, you should try to prevent it as much as possible.

3. Filter

Although goldfish can survive without a filter, it is not in their best interests. Because goldfish create a lot of waste, installing a filter in your tank provides a lot of advantages.

Ammonia accumulation is slowed by filters. We are aware that we must clean and inspect our fish tanks on a regular basis, and that by not having a filter; we are hastening the spread of toxins. A filter is required for a growing goldfish tank since we want to ensure a buildup of good bacteria in our goldfish tanks.

4. Plant Life

To avoid ammonia poisoning, it’s important to choose the proper plants for the right fish. We want to make sure we’re just placing plants in the tank that won’t contaminate the water. Java Ferns, Anubias, Cabomba, Pennywort, or Hornwort are the greatest living plants for your Goldfish tank. These plants will have no effect on the pH level or the purity of the water.

5. Collect Gravel From An Already Healthy Fish Tank

There will be a lot of anaerobic bacteria in the gravel at the bottom of an established tank. These microorganisms aid in the nitrogen cycle’s completion. The cycle keeps the ammonia and nitrite levels in the tank in check.

Put a cup of this unwashed gravel at the bottom of a new tank when you set it up. For the best results, cover it with at least two inches of new aquarium gravel and fill it with older water.

The nitrogen cycle in the tank will take up to four months if the new gravel is used. However, this strategy can complete the assignment in just three weeks.

6. Change The Water Regularly

Partial water changes are required to avoid ammonia poisoning. The ammonia level in the tank will be reset, as you can see. This should be done every two weeks at the absolute least.

If the tank is small or overfilled, however, it should be done more frequently. Double-check that the new water parameters match those of the leftover water in the tank after changing the water.

The formation of ammonia is caused by the accumulation of degraded components in the tank. Purifying the water of the fish tank on a regular basis can help prevent this. When you’re cleaning, make sure to get rid of any dead plants or other debris.

7. Avoid Overcrowding

Even if the tank has enough space, it’s often best to keep the number of fish in a single tank to a minimum. Fish are more susceptible to New Tank Syndrome. It takes time for the nitrogen cycle to acclimatize to the increased ammonia levels.

As a result, it’s preferable not to add more than a few fish to a new tank until the nitrogen cycle is well established. Even if you have a well-established tank, you should avoid overstocking. The greater the number of fish, the more ammonia is created.

The Bottom Line on Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish

Ammonia poisoning is dangerous and can have adverse effects on your goldfish. However, removing it from your fish tank is easier.

I have mentioned a lot of different ways in which ammonia poisoning can be fixed. One important thing to note here is that quarantining new fish is always recommended, as apart from ammonia poisoning, your fish might be suffering from other diseases, like tuberculosis, which is contagious and thus can affect other fish in your tank as well. So I would recommend you quarantine your new fish for about a week before transferring them to the main fish tank.

Also, remember; always keep the fish tank clean as a clean environment makes for healthy fish.