Goldfish Poop: Understanding The Colors Behind Their Wastes

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 by Flora Gibbins

If you were to ask a majority of goldfish owners about the ideal tank conditions for a goldfish, they would correctly list everything needed. But if you posed a question about goldfish poop, most would be speechless.

You might be wondering, what is there to know about fish poop? For starters, goldfish poop can tell you whether your fish are healthy or not.

And that’s not all. This article discusses everything you need to know about goldfish poop.

Do Goldfish Poop?

Yes. Like other animals, goldfish poop. Goldfish do not have a stomach. Instead, the digestion process takes place in the intestinal tract. The intestines absorb nutrients from food.

When the nutrients are absorbed, what’s left is fish waste or poop. Goldfish’s poop is usually excreted through the anus, an opening below the abdomen close to the back of the tail.

Goldfish Poop Colors

Same Color As Consumed Food

Healthy goldfish poop should look like the food your goldfish has eaten. If your goldfish is on a pellet diet, their poop will be pellet-like. Goldfish that eat plant matter will have green poop, while those eating a meaty diet will have pinkish poop.

In terms of texture, the poop should be small and chunky. The poop should also sink to the bottom of the tank.

White Poop

A common question among aquarists is, ‘Why is my goldfish poop white?’ It turns out that it’s due to a poor diet. A goldfish’s diet should feature a mix of tropical flakes, live food, and vegetation.

Brown Or Red Goldfish Poop

Goldfish with internal bacterial infection have brown or red poop. The poop is solid and sinks to the substrate. Vets recommend using fish antibiotics to remedy the infection.

Black Goldfish Poop

The most common reasons for black poop are medication or eating dead worms. If your fish are on medication, it could explain the color change. Also, if you feed them worms, the black poop is proof that worms have undergone digestion and are out of the intestines.

Green Poop

Green poop is a result of feeding green pellets or vegetation. Keep in mind that a goldfish’s poop has a similar color to the consumed food.

Different Types Of Goldfish Poop Textures

1. White And Stringy Goldfish Poop

The most common causes of white, stringy goldfish poop are poor diet, internal bacterial infection, and parasitic infections.

If your fish are not eating a mixture of tropical flakes, meat, live foods, and plant matter, they will excrete white poop.

Also, white poop is a sign that your goldfish have internal parasites. Your fish could be infested with tapeworms, roundworms, and Hexamita in rare cases.

Other signs of a bacterial infection are loss of appetite, lethargy, and bloat. Fortunately, you can treat this with fish antibiotics.

Contact your vet if you are uncertain about the cause of white poop.

2. Pale And Transparent Goldfish Poop

Pale and transparent poop is a sign of underfeeding. Underfeeding means your goldfish are not getting enough food and nutrients. But, you can correct this by adding more food with high proteins and plant matter.

3. Long And Stringy Goldfish Poop

Long and stringy poop is a sign of overfeeding. Overfeeding can lead to other health complications like improper digestion and constipation. In addition, the uneaten food leads to toxic ammonia levels in the tank.

Other causes of long, stringy goldfish’s feces are bacterial infection, parasitic infection, or flagellates.

Bacterial infections are caused by poor water quality, poor diet, and injuries. With parasitic infection, check whether the sick goldfish have an inflamed anus. If they do, they possibly have a roundworm infestation.

However, if the anus is not inflamed, your goldfish likely have flagellates. These parasites live in the intestines and can be fatal if left untreated.

4. Long And Thin Goldfish Poop

Long, thin, and transparent poop could be a sign your fish are not eating properly. So, feed high-quality fish flakes and pellets, more live food, and vegetation.

Poor water conditions can also result in long poop. Therefore, check whether the goldfish tank has good water quality.

5. Long And Thick Goldfish Poop

Long, thick poop could be a sign of goldfish constipation. Goldfish suffer from constipation when their diet is dehydrated or has no fiber. You can treat goldfish constipation by feeding a cooked deshelled pea, fasting your fish, or adding Epsom salt to the aquarium.

Apart from constipation, thick and long goldfish poop could be a sign of limited oxygen levels in the fish tank. An air bubbler or an air stone can help aerate the water. Alternatively, check whether the water temperature is high as warm water has low oxygen levels.

Why Goldfish Poop Hangs Out

If you notice goldfish poop hanging out of your goldfish’s body, it could be due to overfeeding. Fast your goldfish for two days to clear the digestive system, and once a day every few weeks.

Why Goldfish Poop Has Multiple Strands

When goldfish poop has multiple strands, they are likely infested with Carnallanus worms. Goldfish with these parasitic worms have red or brown poop. If you suspect your goldfish have Carnallanus worms, take them to the vet.

Why Goldfish Poop Have Air Bubbles

If you notice air bubbles in your fish’s poop, your goldfish is suffering from reduced oxygen levels in the tank. This could be due to overstocking or keeping the temperature on the higher end.

You could rectify this by moving your goldfish to a larger tank. Also, add an air bubbler to aerate the water. On the other hand, try reducing the tank temperature since cold water has higher oxygen levels.

Why Your Goldfish Are Not Pooping

If your goldfish is not pooping, they could be constipated. Goldfish get constipated if they can’t pass poop from their intestines.

Overfeeding, an imbalanced diet, inadequate swimming space, poor water quality, and cold water can lead to constipated goldfish.

Other symptoms of constipated goldfish are bloat, reduced appetite, lethargy, and clamped fins. If you suspect your fish are not pooping because they are constipated, do the following:

• Feed a cooked deshelled pea as it contains high fiber
• Fast them a day or two
• Reduce feedings to twice a day
• Feed a varied diet
• Maintain good water quality
• Provide a larger aquarium
• Ensure the temperature does not fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit

You may fail to notice goldfish poop sometimes. So, take time to inspect the tank before concluding your fish are constipated.

Why Goldfish Poop A Lot

If your goldfish poop gang is constantly filling the tank with fish waste, it could be a sign you are overfeeding them. Reduce their feeding to twice a day. Also, ensure meal times last for two minutes.

Excessive poop could also be a sign of poor aquarium water.

Maintaining water quality is essential as this water serves as their drinking water and living environment. Wrong water parameters can lead to bacterial infections and excessive poop.

Why And When Goldfish Eat Their Poop

Goldfish poop does not make part of a goldfish’s diet. But, there are times when goldfish consume their own poop. If a goldfish is extremely hungry and has nothing to eat, it will eat its own poop.

This negligence can lead to other health problems and even death. Therefore, always have a routine to feed your goldfish twice a day.

These fish will only eat their poop when they are too hungry. But, there are other incidences where you may see these fish eat their poop. The only difference is that they spit it out immediately.

For instance, when their poop has the same color as their food, they can mistakenly grab it. Or, they may eat poop while exploring the aquarium. In both scenarios, these fish throw the poop out immediately when they bite it.

If you are looking for aquarium fish that eat poop, here is a helpful YouTube video on that:

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should Goldfish Poop?

This depends on how much food they eat. When goldfish eat the same amount of food daily, they should poop once or twice every 48 hours.

Why Is There Tinged Brown Water Behind Your Fish?

If there is tinged brown water behind your fish when it swims, it could have diarrhea. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for loose stool. But there are preventative measures.

The most effective ways to prevent diarrhea are:

• Provide high-quality diet
• Avoid overstocking
• Regularly clean the aquarium
• Maintain water chemistry

What Should You Do With Goldfish Poop?

Goldfish poop is unhygienic for your fish. It causes a buildup of ammonia, nitrites, and harmful bacteria.

This is why you should vacuum the substrate to remove goldfish poop and make frequent water changes.

Have a weekly maintenance routine to clean the goldfish aquarium. Also, perform a 20% water change and clean the filters every two weeks.

What Is The Normal Goldfish Poop Color?

It depends on what you feed your goldfish. Whether you own a fantail goldfish, a fancy goldfish, or a common goldfish, their poop will have the same color as their food.

Do Goldfish Pee?

Yes, goldfish pee, but in a much different way from mammals. Our kidneys excrete toxins from the body through urine.

However, goldfish use their gills (teleost gills) to filter ammonia and nitrates. Due to this, some people argue that goldfish do not pee.

Conclusion

I believe you now have an insight into goldfish poop. It is normal for healthy goldfish poop to have a similar color to their diet. The poop will also have a chunky texture.

If you notice white poop, your fish could be suffering from an infection. Long, thin, stringy, and hanging poop are more signs that your goldfish are unwell.

Maintaining a clean aquarium, feeding varied foods, and keeping the right number of goldfish can help keep your fish healthy.