Diet for goldfish

Question
QUESTION: I have been feeding my goldfish Wardley fish flakes and giving them frozen peas once a week.  Is that adequate nutrition for them?

ANSWER: Hi Liz;

I like to give my goldfish some kind of vegetables at least three times a week. Some good examples are; Peas, cooked shredded carrots, romaine lettuce, cooked green beans, sliced cucumbers and spirulina algae.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, I will start giving them vegetables three times a week.  Two more questions...Should I soak the flakes before feeding?  Also, my fish have been lying on the bottom of the tank in the corner off and on. I thought it was constipation (one of my fish had trailing white feces yesterday) which is why I was inquiring about a more varied diet for them.  I have also added Quickcure, aquarium salt, and slightly raised the temperature.  Are they just bored and resting, or are they sick. (The ammonia levels, pH, and nitrite levels are all fine).

Answer
Hi Liz;

Flakes take up moisture so quickly that it really isn't necessary to pre-soak them. As soon as they hit the water they get pretty saturated. If you were to feed pellets I would recommend soaking. Since there were some abnormal feces in one of your fish, it wouldn't be a bad idea to give your fishes' digestive systems a rest from regular food. Feed only the veggies and no flakes for a few days.

If the water quality is good they might just be resting. Fish do that from time to time. Look for signs of ich on them such as little white salt-specks. Watch for "flashing",  meaning the fish are rubbing their bodies on the gravel or objects in the tank. It means something itches and it can be parasites or toxins. If they don't have any signs of ich at all it isn't a good idea to treat for it. Quick Cure and other medicine can actually make them uncomfortable because it burns a bit. Keep monitoring the water chemistry and keep feeding veggies and see how it goes.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins