Goldfish sex and pregnancy

Question
QUESTION: HI
I have a 4 yr old goldfish who recently got very fat. Her scales do not lay against her body and I assume that she is filled with eggs.
I have her in a 50 gal tank with 2 smaller goldfish and a snail. She is @ 6 inches long.
How can I tell if she has eggs or bloat? How can I tell if I have a male to frtilise the eggs? And what do I do to insure the eggs safety?
Thanks
Lisa

ANSWER: Hi Lisa,

It is very unlikely that your goldfish is pregnant. Goldfish can be difficult to get breeding and even then they are notorious egg eaters. If they weren't in a breeding tank it is likely that:

A) they haven't breed
B) if she had the young they would have been eaten pretty quickly

If Goldfisha aren't in season it's virtually impossible to sex them. Males are distinguishable by mating tubercules on the head and gills when in season.

The fact you mention that her scales are sticking out leads me to suggest that your fish is probably suffering from Dropsy. Dropsy is caused by a number of internal-infections. It is also caused by poor water quality and a poor diet. If the disease has caused damage to the kidneys then the symptoms are irreversible.

To treat the disease there are a number of prescription and on-the-shelf remedies that can make a difference. Salt can also be used in the solution of 1 teaspoon to 1 gallon.

Although Dropsy itself is not contagious the core bacteria responsible may well be water-bourne spores that can infect other fish so it may be an idea to move her into a hospital tank for the duration of treatment.

To prevent future occurrences improve water quality. By this I mean keep an eye on pH, Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia. With Goldfish you will need to make a huge emphasis on Ammonia as their urine is virtually pure ammonia.
Also improve their diet so include things such as bloodworm, daphnia, pond weed, good quality flake. Really keep the emphasis on green foods though as Goldfish are mainly veggies in the wild.

Good Luck!

mail me if you have any problems, or she begins to get worse.

Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HI Tom
Thanks for the advise. I am treating the tank with prime which lowers th eamonia inthe water and Maracyn-two. I was instructed by the fish store person to remove the carbon filer during treatment, which I did, and as well, to treat the entire tank with everyone in it. WHich I am doing. Today 9 is day 4. The fish with dropsy is sluggish and fat. I see no change. In order to continue the treatment, I will have to purchase antoher pack of madicine, sa I am treating 50 galons! It is quite expensive.
Any observations?
Thanks again!

Answer
Hi Lisa,

Dropsy is encouraged by poor quality conditions so the water may be at fault for the current state of the fish.

A variety of bacteria are responsible for Dropsy. However, Aeromonas sp. is usually the cause. Dropsy can cause damage to the blood vessels and the heart, however if this happens the affected fish usually dies within a couple of days.

Treatment is uncertain but baths containing antibacterials can be effective. Food containing oxolinic acid is also worth a try. Modern internal treatments are usually good along with supportive salt baths.

(prepared food should be treated as: 5gm per kg of food. Feed 1% of body weight for 10 days)

Tom