Why Does a Goldfish Have a Big Belly? An Analysis of Common Causes
Goldfish are ornamental fish that evolved from crucian carp (Carassius auratus), the earliest breed in the history of ornamental fish worldwide, originating in China. They have accompanied human life for more than a dozen centuries in the history of civilization, with peculiar postures, brilliant colors, graceful shapes, and ease of keeping. They can beautify the environment and are much loved by people. Let us take a look below at why a goldfish has a big belly!
A big belly caused by goldfish reaching maturity
When a goldfish matures and reaches spawning time, it will have a big belly. At this time the keeper should prepare bundles of aquatic plants for its use. Generally, if there is no male fish to stimulate it, the goldfish will also absorb the eggs on its own, but if they are not absorbed, it is recommended to induce ovulation manually to help it recover, that is, use a finger to gently rub the goldfish's vent, then press lightly from top to bottom to squeeze out the eggs, paying attention to moderate pressure. The squeezed-out eggs need not be discarded, because the goldfish will eat them itself.
A big belly caused by disease
In most cases, a goldfish's big belly is a symptom of illness, mostly enteritis causing fluid accumulation in the belly or a large number of parasites in the belly. If this is really the case, the keeper need not panic. At this time, use salt plus nitrofurazone or nitrofurantoin dissolved in water for a medicated bath, or add fleroxacin to the goldfish's feed for treatment until full recovery.
How should goldfish be kept so they are not easy to kill?
1. Choosing fish: A good goldfish looks plump, with rounded tips on all fins, a body symmetrical left and right, complete scales, and rich, vivid colors. The ancients said, “A body thick and even, a tail large and straight, eyes even and matching, a body upright and round, a mouth closed and broad.” Then choose according to the characteristics of the breed.
2. Equipment: Keeping goldfish calls for a shallow basin with a wide mouth, so if an aquarium is used to keep goldfish, generally the aquarium for keeping large fish is best with a water depth between 25 and 30 cm, and for keeping fry between 20 and 25 cm. Other hardware includes a siphon tube, an oxygen pump and lighting equipment.
3. Cultivating water: Before keeping goldfish, the water must first be properly cultivated; the water for keeping goldfish is extremely crucial. The most suitable temperature for keeping goldfish is 20 to 28 degrees, the best pH range is 7.5 to 8.5, and tap water should be used after about 24 hours of sun exposure or after being left to stand for 2 to 3 days.
4. Feeding: Feeding is the key to keeping goldfish well. When feeding, you must know what goldfish eat and how to feed them. A regular diet is directly related to the healthy growth of goldfish. Although goldfish are omnivorous animals, attention must be paid to a reasonable nutritional mix, and feeding should not be too monotonous.
5. Water quality: Water quality is the key to keeping goldfish well. Change the water and clean the filter cotton in a timely manner. Generally, in summer change it once every three or four days, in spring and autumn once a week, and in winter once every half month. Each time, changing 1/3 is enough. Scoop out excess bait and excrement to reduce pollution of the water quality.