A really silly gold fish question...

[Hissy Missy]

Hi all, I keep reps, but have no experience with fish lol, so if this seem like a really soppy question, please dont slate me My little boy has a fancy gold fish, we picked it up a week ago. its being kept in a medium sized bio-ube with 3 others...when i picked it up "fish" (my littlens name for it) looked just like the other 3, only maybe a bit fatter, now, fishes' belly is well, its really quite huge compared to the rest...She eats normally, just like the rest and they are fed once a day. Live bacteria has been added to the water and they are all lively...im not sure if maybe its a case of somthing being wrong or the possibility of maybe being pregnant? I have absolutly no idea what to look for in a pregnant fish (besides being podgy) or what to do about it, and some help would be much appreciated....thankies

[clairethorn]

Hi
it might be full of eggs or poo? Have you seen it go to the loo lately?
you could try feeding some live food, that should shift a blockage if there is one. i use cut up earthworms for mine.
if it is swimming normally , eating and pooing then i guess babies may be expected??

[Sega]

Constipation is quite a common thing in fanceys, feed it a shelled pea or some Daphina.
If you suspect pregnancey look at the vent, males are quite prominantly inward and females stick out slightly.
Your Bio-ube is also not a suitable long term home for Goldfish of any kind, they will need a 120L tank that is long rather than high to allow your Goldfish to have a long and health life.

[Hissy Missy]

this is why i hate pet shops. they told me the goldfish would be perfectly happy

[Grond]

How big are your goldfish? If they are small, then they are unlikely to be pregnant. It's often said they won't breed under 6 inches, but I have had them breed smaller than thhis in the past.

[Sega]

I think they are ready at 1 or 2 years of age, dependant on type depends on their size. Id say around 4-6 inchs would be able to breed.
As with Pet shops, dont belive a word they tell you as you are to them just more money in the till. Part of the problem with the Bio-ubes and orbs isnt just the size, its the filtration. Whilst its adiquite for many other species of fish it just doesnt handle the level of waste output from a Goldfish as they are far messier than your average aquarium fish.
Ideally you need a tank of around 120l (Length not depth for Fancy Goldfish) and either a large internal filter or a exsternal canister for when they reach adult size. Ebay, Freecycle and locals papers are best bet for this as it will set you back £100's in a pet store, my tank which is 170l, 2 large exsternal filters and a ton of other useful kit set me back about £140 which sounds alot but when it was new it would total around the £800 mark easiley.

[Hissy Missy]

thanlkyou for the info, i new about the filteration and i brought some other stuff, it looks like the ruber at the end of a pencil that the bacteria can grow inside, i broke a load of it with a hammer and replaced the stuff that came with it, plus a little more.

[Hissy Missy]

Originally Posted by Grond

How big are your goldfish? If they are small, then they are unlikely to be pregnant. It's often said they won't breed under 6 inches, but I have had them breed smaller than thhis in the past.

about 3 inches...i tried to take a photo, but would you believe it, she wouldnt stay still