How to Make a Goldfish Sling

Many of the fancy goldfish strains are bred with egg-shaped bodies. This unnatural body shape predisposes them to buoyancy problems. Goldfish that experience buoyancy problems are not able to control their position in the water correctly. These cold-water fish often flip into an upside-down position and may float at the water surface. Individual fish are forced into a head- or tail-standing position and select goldfish sink to the bottom of the aquarium. The aquarist can assist goldfish that have sunk and remain on the substrate by making a buoyant sling for these fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Sheet of drawing paper
  • Sharp scissors
  • Piece of 100 percent cotton flannel
  • 6-inch-long pieces of thin string, 4
  • Fishing bobbers
  • 4-inch pieces of thin string, 2
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw a rough sketch of the affected goldfish's shape, paying very careful attention to the position and number of fins. Make the drawing life size and as accurate as possible.

    • 2

      Cut out the outline of the goldfish you have just drawn and place it on a piece of 100 percent cotton flannel.

    • 3

      Cut out a piece of 100 percent cotton flannel in the shape of the goldfish outline. Cut the piece large enough so it can fold over the back of your fish.

    • 4

      Examine your living goldfish very carefully and use this image, together with the drawing, to cut out sections of the flannel that coincide with the position of the fish's fins.

    • 5

      Cut out a section that coincides with the position of the vent of the fish.

    • 6

      Use the tip of the scissors to make a small hole in each of the four corners of the piece of flannel.

    • 7

      Thread a 6-inch piece of string through each hole and tie a knot in the string to secure each piece to the flannel.

    • 8

      Tie a small fish bobber to the free end of each of the four pieces of string.

    • 9

      Use the tip of the scissors to make a small hole on the right hand side of the flannel, at a point approximately one-quarter down the length of this side. Make a second small hole, approximately three-quarters down the length of this side.

    • 10

      Repeat this process on the left hand side of piece of flannel.

    • 11

      Rinse your hands to remove any traces of soap or hand cream, which is detrimental to the water and the populations of beneficial bacteria.

    • 12

      Wet the flannel sling.

    • 13

      Retrieve your goldfish from the bottom of the aquarium, either with an aquarium net, or with your hand.

    • 14

      Place the goldfish carefully into the sling and request an assistant to fold the right and left sides over the back of the fish.

    • 15

      Request the assistant to thread a 4-inch piece of string through the holes closest to the fish's head and to tie a knot. The assistant needs to thread a 4-inch-long piece of string through the holes toward the piece of flannel as well.

    • 16

      Gently release the fish in the aquarium. The weight of the fish will allow it to sink into the water, but the fishing bobbers will keep it afloat.