Goldfish abnormality

Question
My (lone) goldfish has a mysterious raised lump right between his eyes. The fish is rather red around the base of the lump and around it. The lump itself is cloudy in color, or slightly pinkish. I'm sorry to say the fish lives in a fishbowl - but I KNOW that this is not why he has this lump because I have had him for almost 9 months in this bowl and he has been perfectly happy so far. For the record, I woke up a week ago to find my fish out of the bowl and flailing on the countertop. I don't know how he got out, but I have a feeling that this lump is because of that event. Other than the lump, he seems fine (although his fins are a bit shorn). I change the water completely every 1-2 weeks and scrub the bowl and rocks thoroughly with soap. I also add in an allantoin solution that conditions the water and removes cholorine and chloramine. I have no idea what the pH, ammonia, or nitrite levels are (sorry). What should I do (besides make sure he doesn't fall out of his bowl again)? Is there any sort of medicine or anything I could give him? Is it serious? Any info would be great. Thanks!

PS - I know its best to have the fish in a bigger tank, but the bowl is much more convenient for me (besides, I don't think its the tank/bowl that is the problem).


Answer
Hi David;

I'm going to be very blunt here but I do hope you will take my advice in same spirit it is given; out of concern for your fish. I sincerely hope you will hear me out. Your fish is 'flirting with disaster' on many levels here...

He needs a tank with a good filter and get rid of that bowl. It is convenient, true, but it is not a good environment for your fish. I know that you don't believe the bowl is the problem, but I know for sure it definitely is. It just hasn't been obvious until now and he has been a very strong little fish so far considering what he has had to deal with. Most fish will not survive even a couple of weeks under the same conditions your fish is now in. In some places, fishbowls are actually illegal to sell because they are cruel homes. Ask other people that have kept them how many goldfish they have had in bowls. How big did they get? How long did they live? Goldfish have a lifespan of over 10 years and grow to be over 6 inches long when properly cared for. When goldfish are kept in a fish bowl and survive for a while, their immune system degrades so it is not strong enough to fight off infection or other illnesses that may come about. They stop growing and they stop thriving. It just takes some longer than others. Unless your fish has what is needed to keep him healthy he isn't going to heal. He may have a bacterial infection that needs medication, but unless his situation changes it isn't going to help, at least not for long. At the very least, please change his water 3 or 4 times a week until you can get a new tank in order to help keep ammonia low. You can even test for ammonia to see how high it is getting before his water is changed. I am certain it is very high before you eventually change it. Ammonia burns the gills, eyes and skin and it comes from fish waste. It may even be why he jumped out. Fish often do that to try to escape water that is harming them. It happens in the wild too. It is an instinct so they can hopefully "leapfrog" their way to a larger space where the water is less toxic.

Please don't use soap to clean anything that touches the water in your fish bowl or tank. In fishkeeping, soap and detergent is a serious threat and a definite NO-NO! Even a slight trace can cause irritation and even death. It also kills off beneficial bacteria that lives in your tank gravel, decorations and other surfaces. This "good bacteria" consumes ammonia in bigger sized tanks with filters, even to a small extent in bowls. In a bowl it can't be efficient, especially without the addition of air bubbles to give the bacteria the oxygen it needs. It does help a little though. Just rinse the gravel gently in cool water, wipe the bowl and refill using a water conditioner. No soap and not hot water.

Tanks with filters are actually pretty simple to clean. You just wipe out algae, siphon out 25% of the water once a week from the gravel area with a gravel vac, and refill with water of the same temperature. Use a water conditioner. Filters may need to be rinsed out every so often but if you don't overfeed and have no more than one goldfish for every ten gallons it should be very easy to keep clean.

Again, I do hope that you will take my advice and get your fish a proper home. It really is for his benefit. If our "convenience" means the suffering of any living being, it isn't worth it. Not at all.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins