BUBBLE HEAD FISH

Question
Hi Chris
  Finally a sight that may be able to help me.I bought a rather strange fish at my local pet store.He, the sales clerk is c alling it a bubble head.
  This is undoubtly the most bizarre fish I hav ever seen, he or she is about 3 to 4 inches long,it is black with gold flecks.Its tail fins are very big and very pretty, if I might say the only pretty part of the fish at all.It is by far the ugliest fish I have ever seen.
   Iwas told that this is a man made fish, from what I understand it has been cross breeded, the unique characteristic about my fish is its cheeks.
   right below its eyes it has huge bubbles for cheeks on either side, the fish does not seem all that comfortable, he is off balance and spends a great deal of time with his head down and his tail up, i think his bubble cheeks might weigh it down.
   My question is for 2 nights now, my fish has produced a thin string of mucous about an inch maybe inch and a hlf long.This mucous has bubbles holding it together.At first it is just a mucous, then it mutates and turns into 2 mucous strings, but they are still attached.After these strings swim around for a while,going back and forth, they deposit very small flakes or eggs of some sort ino the water, the flakes then make there way into the breeding grass.They look some what like very tiny babies, but by morning the fish has done ate up all flakes and mucuos strings.
   Can my fish be reproducing by itself? Or does it have a parasite? If it does what in the world is a fish parasite and how do they get them?Is there a way to get rid of them?Anyways thankw for listening.I hope to hear back from you soon-kelly

Answer
Hi Kelly;

You have a "Bubble-Eye Goldfish". They are one of the fancy varieties of goldfish that needs a bit of special care to stay healthy. The stringy poop you are seeing is from digestive trouble. The bubbles are just gas. Sorry to disappoint you that it isn't eggs. **smiling sheepishly**

Fancy goldfish have sensitive digestive systems. They get constipated and gassy very easily. Feed him green peas every couple of days. This will keep him "regular" and help him to pass the gas easily. Give him chopped spinach and maybe romaine lettuce occasionally too.

Goldfish are very messy fish by nature too. He needs a tank of at least 10 gallons and larger ones as he grows. 25% water changes will need to be made every week while vacuuming the gravel. Water changes need to be done 2 or 3 times a week if the tank is new (set up 8 weeks or less).

His cheeks are filled with fluid and can weigh him down, but it may be that he is trying to see past the bubbles. Some get quite big and block their eyes. Be sure there is nothing sharp in the tank for them to get punctured or torn on. Keep them alone if other fish pick at them. Bubble-eyes are pretty slow and can't defend themselves.

Here are some site links to help you know more about their care and keeping;

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i4/seems_fishy2/seems_fish2.htm
http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/allpets/fish/bubbleeye.htm
http://madhunag.tripod.com/goldfish.html

Have fun with him!

Followups Welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

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