How to Train a Goldfish

Training a goldfish is simple! You only need a few tools to get you started.

1. A feeding stick: this lets you deliver food anywhere in your goldfish’s tank.
2. Fish food: use this as a reward but be careful not to give too much!

It is really important to remember not to overfeed your goldfish so make sure that you work training into your feeding routine and only give your fish the amount of food recommended to keep them healthy.

Follow the Leader

A great first trick to teach your fish is to teach your fish to follow your training stick.

1. First put a small piece of food on your training stick and let your fish eat it.
2. Offer your fish food on your training stick again but this time move it very slowly away from your fish.
3. Practice each day moving the training stick more and more before your fish gets the food. Soon your fish will follow the training stick anywhere!

Obstacle course

A great trick to teach your fish once he/ she has clued into what the training stick means is to swim through an obstacle course.

1. You can use any fish safe objects that are clean and soap free, or simply move your fish tank plants around, to create obstacles for your fish to swim over or between.
2. Simply lead your fish through the obstacle course to complete the challenge.
3. Experiments by moving or adding obstacles.

Swim through a hoop

Teaching your fish to swim through a hoop is easier than it sounds! All you need is your trusty training stick, some food, and a hoop. You can buy kits to train this trick and more!

1. Place the hoop in your fish’s tank.
2. Watch your fish as he/ she checks out the hoop.
3. Wait until your fish swims through the hoop (if your fish isn’t interested in the hoop at all you can try and coax him/ her through with some food)
4. When your fish swims through the hoop give him/ her a treat.
5. Repeat each day!

Play with a ball

You can either purchase a kit to do this trick or use another lightweight ball, just make sure it is a safe material for your fish tank and it is clean without and soap on it.

1. Place the ball in your fish tank.
2. Give your fish a treat for touching the ball.
3. Next wait until your fish pushes the ball a little bit before giving a treat.
4. Each day wait until the fish pushes the ball farther before giving a treat.

Like this article? Check out How Smart is a Goldfish!