How do you stop a fish headbutting container walls?

Question

We recently got a new fish, it is the first one we have bought and so we have little experience but we are doing all we can.

We brought it home yesterday evening and we have needed to put it into a plastic box which appears big enough to hold it and give it plenty of space to swim, we have also given it plenty of oxygen and some food. Today we put some disinfectant in so we can introduce it to our larger pond with some other fish, however it isn't very happy.

We are doing ok so far, but there is a big problem, it keeps head butting the corners of the container walls.

We believe it could be because it was used to large pond and probably hasn't been in a tank/box before and I am worried that it may kill itself while attempting to get out! But we can't give it a larger container because it is the largest we have!

Is there anything we can do to stop it head butting the walls or will it eventually give up?

(It is some kind of carp and is approx 6-7 inches long)

Answer 1

my goldfish does this to usually to tell us that it is hungry maybe its the same or its just not use to the container yet

Answer 2

crash helmut

Answer 3

its something your not able to stop yourself as they will have to learn for themselves. fish cant see glass just like birds cant either. i have 20 fish and they all do it.

Answer 4

prescription glasses.

Answer 5

It probably just misses its freedom!

If you can afford it get it a bigger tank or give it a pond!!??

Try it out in one of those kiddie plastic paddling pools affordable and bigger than a tank. Than go smaller once its used to it plus rubber doesn't hurt.I know this is a stupid answer, try asking a pet shop owner.

Answer 6

Check with the place you got it from or your local pet shop.

Answer 7

I'm kind of confused; you've bought a new fish and you think it is a carp, (for a pond it will be most likely).

Why have you put it in a plastic box and not straight into your pond? Disinfecting a fish that isn't infected does the fish no good, it also removes oxygen from the water.

Keeping it the way it is it will either jump or die, the reason it is butting the tank wall is acute stress.

Only thing you can do is put it in your pond quick, it has no chance in a box with disinfectant.

Answer 8

Loool.