How can I tell if my goldfish is choking?

Question

I think my goldfish is choking. It's swimming around it's tank like crazy shaking it's head from side to side, flapping it's gills rapidly, and gasping for air (not just at the surface, but actually mostly way below water lines). I've tried to use a pen cap and a bobby pin to see if there was anything in there I could pry out but I couldn't find anything. How would I know forsure if something was in it's mouth? Would I be able to see it, because I cant seem to see anything in it's mouth when it's open? Please write back and what I should do. I don't want to go in with the sharp tweezers (it's very tricky and painfull) untill I know forsure there is something in there. Please help! I dont wanna lose the guy.

Answer 1

some goldfish can pick up gravel and sometime they would try to eat it and end's up choking

Answer 2

Usually you would see if something was stuck in their mouth.

Try doing a water change and see if he calms down.  He may be reacting to something toxic in the water, like high ammonia or nitrite levels.  

Another possibility, he may have a parasite infection like gill flukes or ich in his gills.  

Answer 3

umm..I dont know if you wud be able to see if he has something stuck in his mouth...gently pick him and bring him a little above the water line...he will open his mouth wide..usually they spit  out watever they have in their mouth when you do this...dont hold him out for a long time...just his mouth for a couple of seconds...I have done this when my oranda had a piece of water melon stuck and was trying to take it out...