Bubble Cheeks- Gold fish

Question
I have a 10 gal. aquarium. Has been going now for a few weeks. I have 2 young bubble cheek gold fish. Not sure about the pH levels. My filter is in the water. I make small water changes 2 x's a week as my tank is in cycling mode. About 25%.
My question is... The gold fish look like they have extra big bellies. Not sure if this is normal. They look young so not sure if one may be pregnant. Do not know what the sex is. Was told they can't be sexed externally.(unless male is in season).
Do you think they have simply been overfed? Thank you. Tammy

Answer
Hi Tammy;

They are probably being overfed. Goldfish are natural-born gluttons so it is pretty common. Overfeeding also leads to water quality problems.  Cut back on feeding and see how it goes. Feed them once per day and only enough that they finish all their food in less than 5 minutes from all areas of the tank. If there are leftovers after 5 minutes, it's too much. They also need some veggies in their diet to help them thrive and avoid constipation. Goldfish are mostly vegetarian and the regular foods we buy have far too much protein and not enough fiber. Replace at least 3 feedings a week with cooked peeled green peas, or shredded cooked carrots, or romaine lettuce, or even a cucumber slice. Veggies can be left in the tank to nibble for several hours, unlike regular food that decays and makes fish sick.

It is okay to make a 25% water change in your tank every couple of days during the break-in if it needs it. Two goldfish is a lot to have in a new ten gallon and waste toxins could get to lethal levels very quickly so you could monitor them with test kits. You want them for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I know it is common advice to tell new tank owners to leave it alone or only replace a tiny amount of water during the break-in but it really is okay to do more. There is still plenty of waste toxin in there for the bacteria to thrive on. The whole idea is to keep your fish from dying while allowing the process to move forward. It may take a few more days, but it will get done.

You will find that your bubble-eye goldfish will outgrow your little ten gallon in a few months. Each one needs at least ten gallons all to itself. So, shop for a 20 or 30 gallon for those guys soon and they will love you for it!

Here are some web pages for you to see that will help you know more about your fish, including breeding;

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

http://tinyurl.com/zyu3j

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/gfish3.htm#sex

http://thegab.org/Articles/SexingGoldfish.html

Have fun with your new friends!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins