Aranda

Question
I have a lion head aranda that looks like she has swallowed two golf balls and is continuing to get bigger every day.  I am assuming that she is full of eggs because she is very heavy.  This is my first experience of this kind.  I have been told she will keep the eggs until Spring (?).  Can I keep her in the outside pond (Wisconsin) that has a heater that keeps the water at goes on when the water reaches 42 degrees, or should I put her in an indoor pond for the winter?  Also, there are times she is upside down now because of her size for a period of time.  Is this normal?  Can't be "air", she is so big.  Thank you.  Would appreciate an answer ASAP so that I don't harm her.  THANK YOU.

Answer
When a fish is egg-laden (full of eggs), she may appear slightly enlarged.  She will not appear grossly enlarged.  Gross enlargement may be due to tumors, internal bacterial infections, or kidney malfuction (retaining water).  I have a section entitled "Why is my fish fat?" at
http://fishpondinfo.com/health4.htm#fat

The fact that your goldfish is a lionhead oranda complicates matters because they are naturally fat bodied.  It can be hard to tell their natural shape from one that's not normal.

Once a goldfish is full of eggs, she must lay them within a week or so.  If there is no male around, or she can otherwise not lay the eggs, she will either reabsorb them or rarely become egg bound (infected).  She cannot hold her eggs until spring.

Lionheads are pretty sensitive and not strong fish.  I would not keep them outside even in summer.  Predators would get them pretty easily.

It's common for orandas, lionheads, and other fancy goldfish to have trouble swimming.  Their swim bladders are in the wrong place.  These fish are genetic mutations that aren't meant for survival of the fittest.  If she is also enlarged, then it seems likely she would have trouble with buoyancy and sometimes flip over.  She is probably full of fluid, not air.  Look up swim bladder disorder and disease as she may have a problem with that resulting from her shape and enlargement.  I suggest bringing her inside in at least a 20 gallon aquarium.  Add aquarium salt at a tablespoon per 5 gallons, add dechlorinator, add some antibiotics (I use Maracyn by Mardel), keep it around 75 degrees F, and try feeding pre-wetted food and some cooked, peeled peas.  That sometimes helps with buoyancy problems.
Good luck!