Bubble Eye Goldfish

Bubble eye goldfish seems to have originated in China. It is believed that this fish is a result of mutation during breeding across various generations. The eyes of this fish are pointed towards the sky with two large fragile fluid sacs underneath them. These sacs are the reason for their name. It is one of the aquarium fish and is found in a variety of colors like red, chocolate, blue, white, calico and black.

The eyes of this goldfish are normal when they are small. The sacs start growing when the fry becomes three months old. Ideally, both these sacs should be opaque, of the same color and of uniform size. They are fragile, so this fish needs to be kept away from sharp objects and from other fierce fish. These eye sacs give the fish very poor eyesight. Due to these sacs, the head of the fish becomes heavy and hence this fish seems to wobble slowly. It cannot swim fast as the eye sacs don't facilitate quick movements. These sacs add weight to the fish and so you may find this fish floating at the bottom of the tank. They are easily swept away in the direction of the current due to their heavy bodies and their slow movements.

It has an egg-shaped body. It has an evenly curved back with metallic scales, from head to tail. It has a double tail and no dorsal fin. All the other fins like the ventral, anal and pectoral, are paired. They have less stability as they lack the dorsal fin. They can grow up to 6-8 inches lengthwise. The average life expectancy of bubble eye goldfish is 5-6 years. If the fish has been taken care of excellently, the life expectancy can go up to 10 years.

Remember that the goldfish is very fragile altogether due to these eye sacs. Once the eye sac bursts, the sac may regrow, but the size of this eye sac will be different. Also, when a goldfish loses the sac, the eye is prone to infection resulting in death of the fish. So, extra attention and care is required if you want a happy healthy fish in your aquarium. Read through the following instructions that are necessary for its care.

There are certain things that you should not forget if you want your goldfish to live a long and healthy life. Read the following points to understand how to care for your goldfish.

• The first thing that you need to do is fill up your aquarium with at least 10 gallons of water per goldfish. Don't reduce the water, as they need at least 8 gallons of water for proper growth and survival. This water needs to be at room temperature and should stand for at least 24 hours before you introduce the goldfish.
• Set up an aquarium filter and heater in the tank and maintain the temperature between 60 ºF to 75 ºF.
• Change half of the water weekly and maintain the pH level from 6.0 to 8.0.
• An important aquarium decoration tip is, do not add any sharp aquarium decorations in the tank, as they may pierce the sacs and open them. You can use live plants or silk plants to decorate your fish tank. Place a sponge over your filters so that the eye sacs don't get entangled with it and the fish is safe from any kind of injury and the infections that occur after the sacs break open.
• Bubble eye goldfish are omnivorous. They eat pallet eggs, leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach along with blood-worms and shrimp. You can introduce a food cone to feed the fish with this food. Always hang the food cone at the same position everyday to make it easier for the fish.
• The eyes of the bubble eye fish usually face upwards. They cannot see anything that is below them. When you feed them food, be sure that the fish can easily find the food in the water. Don't feed them anything that will sink in the water.
• Don't keep any other type of fish with the bubble eye goldfish. The other fishes may be aggressive in nature and may burst the eye sack and they may also eat up all the food.
• The eye sacs of the bubble eye goldfish become bigger and heavier with age. Hence, the fish tends to sink lower to the bottom of the tank. Ensure that they get enough food regularly, as their eyesight might deteriorate further due to aging. Also, clear the bottom off all the sharp objects.
• If you need to take out your bubble eye goldfish from the fish tank, make it a point to support its head and the sacs with your hands, as they are filled with liquid.
• If these fishes are properly cared for, they start breeding once they turn 2 years old. After the eggs are laid, immediately separate them as the bubble eye goldfish may eat its own eggs.
• Due to their peculiar body size and shape, they may suffer with the swim-bladder problems. Proper care needs to be taken when they are sick.

If you are a beginner, it is strongly recommended that you do not start your hobby with the bubble eye goldfish as your pet, because it requires extreme care. If you have good experience with delicate fishes, go get these exotic goldfish and turn your aquarium into a fish paradise!!