TERRIFIED GOLDFISH

[Mmathis]

We know that our pond fish have their own personalities, and are very social. But has anyone ever had a goldfish that seemed, well, psychotic? Behavior that was out of proportion to the situation?

I have one that is extremely seclusive and impossible to catch. My pond is just over a year old, and this fish was one of the original crew. He's been this way, consistently, at least since the latter part of last year (and maybe even from the beginning, but I honestly don't recall.....). None of the other fish are like this. They all school together and come to feed, but the only times I see this guy was feeding time. He'd show up, grab a few bites, then disappear. In fact, there were times when I thought he had died since I NEVER saw him.

Oh, and he's just a normal fantail goldfish, body about 3" not including tail. Have never seen him being bullied or chased....

Anyone have insight? I'm guessing he'll always be this way, but I worry about him (his safety).

 

[shakaho]

Yes, there are fish like that, just like there are people like that. Sometimes fish act scared and hide because they are ill, injured, or suffering from parasites. But that's just until they recover (or die). What you see is a personality characteristic. I had one fish that finally tamed after a year. That one is Wonder, named for the fact that she is the only fry that has survived in the front pond in three years, and there has been a lot of spawning going on there. She's still a little nervous about taking food from my hand a year and a half since I discovered her.

 

[HARO]

I have a cousin with the same problem. As a kid, he would wake up in the middle of the night and go running through the house, yelling "They're coming, they're coming!" He's 64 now, and still hasn't changed, so I don't hold out much hope for your goldfish!! I guess what I'm saying is, psychoses exist in humans, so why not fish?
John

 

[Mmathis]

Well, at least he's [the goldfish, that is] isn't rubbing off on the other fish What about your cousin, HARO?

I have a cousin with the same problem. As a kid, he would wake up in the middle of the night and go running through the house, yelling "They're coming, they're coming!" He's 64 now, and still hasn't changed, so I don't hold out much hope for your goldfish!! I guess what I'm saying is, psychoses exist in humans, so why not fish?John

 

[HARO]

He certainly never rubbed off on ME,TM! In his case, the psychiatrists blamed the problem on too many late night horror shows. Do you let your fish watch TV? Or maybe just too many late night heron fly-overs! Damn, this thing won't let me use the smilies!!!
John

 

[fishin4cars]

TM, Do you remember the celestrial eye in my pond? It NEVER swims with any of the rest of the fish and never comes up to eat. It's so weird as I have never had one do that at all. The small Koi I got from Purdin farms for the tampa grow out rarely comes up with herd either, It's a spookie fish. Don't know why some are like that and some are like Shamu, always wanting attention. LOL

 

[Dave 54]

I've a feeling that this goldfish is in contact with his original side , meaning from before goldfish were caught and tamed by us humans so lets say his wild side is showing through.
Whilst the others see you as the hand that feeds them , he couldnt give a monkeys that your feeding him and is out on his own to survive.
From the sounds of it he must be doing a good job of it, if you dont see him feeding that often.
Hows about naming him something befiting of a "survivalist mountain man of old", like Wild Bill

rgrds

Dave