the real problem is either a fungal infection sealing its mouth or something similar
things to try to help fix:
--->you can try using anti-fungal medicine such as Fungus Eliminator as recommended on this site Veterinarian Help & Pet Health Questions > Our Goldfish seems that the mouth is sealed shut with some ... > Goldfish
----other more crude and not recommended way is to very carefully, probably by a vet, surgicly open the mouth with a procedure found at: Goldfish
... for those without the time to search the page, here is the excerpt
7. Fused Mouth!! Yes sometimes a) a fungus, or b) eating too much hard food (which will scrape the skin on a goldfish's mouth) will cause the fish's mouth to fuse -- partially or FULLY shut !! It will easily cause death, because the fish cannot breathe! (they bring the water through their mouths and it filters oxygen through the gills that's how they breathe. If their mouths are fused shut, they die). This is what I have done to save them and it must be done CAREFULLY and respectfully. Sterilize and then wash off an exacto or small sharp knife, get some salt (table, kosher or aquarium). Take the afflicted fish out of the water, secure it gently and carefully with gloved hands or something just as gentle, and cut open its mouth (to its original, natural size) along the natural mouth lines. You can determine the natural mouth lines by gently squeezing its jaws to open the mouth if it is capable of opening, even a little bit. Then when you have cut open the mouth to its natural size, rub some salt on it, to keep the cut from healing. If you are lucky, you will be able to do this on the first try. Once you finish this operation, observe the fish carefully for the next 24 to 48 hours sometimes the mouth closes up again, and you have to re-cut and re-salt it. Ugh! This is the only thing I find that works. I was hurting, the fish were hurting, but it had to be done (or they would die) Once they totally healed from this, their lives were saved and their little mouths were able to open fully again! Miss Moustache, and Mr Bee all had to go through this, sometimes more than once, when they were very small fish. So, if you keep the hard food away from your fish, they will run less risk of fused mouth.
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It is a normal goldfish action, provided that it's not in a fast continuous motion which can be described as looking like a pant. If they are 'panting' then you may need to do a 50% water change, and also take a close look at their gills to see if they have any sort of inflammation or infection as this can mean gill flukes.
This is common for some fish to do as a type of breathing. A fish that does this naturally will look calm and open the mouth in a similar repeat fashion.
If your fish does not look relaxed and looks like it is 'panting' or 'gasping' intermittently this can be a sign of infection, low oxygen levels, high ammonia levels, something stuck in the mouth of the fish, or just that your fish likes to exercise its mouth.
To breath
It cold be time to get a new fish. I'm sorry for your loss
No the male will eat them keep them separate them until they can't fit in the mouth of the goldfish.
No,they are to small and not strong enough.
You mean when its mouth is opening and closing fast?If he does that, make sure you have a water filter in your tank (and its working). Fish don't hyperventilate. It means he needs oxygen in the water or fresh, new, clean water.
Yes
It is important to remember to put things in a goldfish tank, even goldfish get bored. Some of my suggestions for tank decor are artificial plants and a "hidey hole" for your goldfish.
almost any other type of fish just make sure their bigger than the gold fishes mouth or the goldfish will eat it
You should not have goldfish and platies in the same tank ever.
I used to have snails with my goldfish and they got along swimmingly!
depends, can a ten gallon tank live in a goldfish
getting more goldfish in your tank
Get a separate tank for the goldfish (or swordtail either or) these fish are naturally not compatible and putting them together endangers the lives and overall well-being of both fish. If you keep them together much longer the goldfish will probably be wounded by the swordtail, get an infection, and die. Hope this helps