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I have a Fantail gold fish that I keep along with about 30 other fish in an outside fishpond that holds around 1000 gallons of water. This fish has shown signs of being pregnant for the last several months. She has grown in size to where she looks like she has swallowed a tennis ball. She swims well and tends to eat well also. I have had the fish in this same pound for over 3 years. The pound does have a lot of plants growing in it and in addition I have put several containers of sands in the bottom of the pound in hopes that this would help. Do I need to do something different with her?

Submitted: 450 days and 8 hours ago.
Category: Pet
Value: $15
Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION
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Posted by TROPICAL FISH AFICIONADO 450 days and 4 hours ago.

Info Request

You wrote that the fish "has shown signs of being pregnant" and "looks like she has swallowed a tenns ball". Based on this appearance does she also have her scales sticking out giving her a pinecone look?

436 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

No, she continues to grow. She is almost round and appears to be having trouble staying under water. She has swollen so much that her skin is stretched to the point that it is almost transparent. She continues to swim and eat but it is obvious that she is uncomfortable. She is the size of softball.

Answer

Your goldfish is egg bound which essentially means she is full of eggs but unable or unwanting to release them. This is not uncommon in goldfish.

The recommended way to treat this is too isolate the affected fish in a hospital/quarantine tank. Add epsom salts to the water.
Add 1/4 teaspoon per every 5 gallons of water and maintain a water temperature of 72f degrees if possible.

To avoid the eggs that are internally enlodged in the fish from becoming infected you could add a medicine called
erythromycin (generic). Listed below is a link to a brand name product, Maracyn, which contains erythromycin.

The goal here is too assist the fish in either reabsorbing the eggs or expelling them. Usually the fish will reabsorb them.

Some goldfish experts feel that the presence of a male goldfish will help stimulate the female to expel her eggs but the problem is knowing how to identify a male goldfish which is difficult under normal circumstances and even more difficult in a pond situation.

 

So add the epsom salt as mentioned prior, begin treating with erythromycin, keep the water quality good, provide a varied diet and the fish's chances will be greatly increased to reabsorb or expel her eggs.

Good luck!

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4838

 

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Expert: TROPICAL FISH AFICIONADO
Pos. Feedback: 99.4 %
Accepts: 1290
Answered: 8/29/2008

YOUR TROPICAL FISH RESOURCE

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE W/TROPICAL FISH---BREEDING, MAINTAINING, CURING

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