Fat fish!

[robin]

Hi,

I have moved into a house and inherited a garden pond, so forgive me, because I know very little about ponds and fish.

I've noticed one of the fish (looks a bit like a goldfish, but it's black) looks like he's swallowed a tennis ball (see the photo attached). I don't think it is pregnant because I know it has been like this for about a year.

What's wrong with it... and is there anything I can do to bring it back to normality?

Also, I could do with some advice regarding pond plants. I'd like nice, but cheap (I'm on a very tight budget). What would you suggest?

 

[koiguy1969]

are its scales sticking out? if so its maybe dropsy....go to the illness and disease section theres a thread or 2 on the subject. altho, i dont know the life expectancy of a dropsy victim. but it doesnt seem that over a year is the case tho..eggbound? probably wouldnt last long either. without releasing them.

 

[sissy]

hi robyn and welcome at least you came to the right place to get info and help

 

[evesta]

If the fish has been like that for a year I wonder if it some sort of tumor? Dropsy would of killed by now.

 

[DrDave]

Welcome to the Forum
Please introduce yourself and add your location in the UserCP.
Can you take a better photo? Are the eyes bulging/popping out?
How clean is the bottom of this pond?

 

[Shdwdrgn]

Are you sure its not one of the oddball breeds of goldfish like below? There's a lot of varieties that are (un)naturally very round, perhaps the previous owners had one of them? Definitely need a better picture, something up close so we can see the details...

 

[j.w]

robin

 

[evesta]

Hmmmm....it does have that pearlscale golfball look. Maybe it is just a mutation. Has anyone seen those odd piggy fish Steve at raingarden is selling? They have the round bellies too.

 

[Bart]

Yes! I have one just like that in my new pond. It was like that when I bought them. I purchased mine at a bait store so I didn't individually pick them out, I just bought them as a bunch. I noticed that one shortly after. I have only had them for about 2 months but it seems to be doing fine.

 

[lee]

i have a black gold fish wicth is also like that as well a dont fink thay is anyfing rong with it tho

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our group.

 

[DrCase]

Welcome to the forum !!
Your fish looks like he ate a ping pong ball

 

[lee]

yer or a golf ball its ok tho swims about like all the ova fish so a dont fink thay ewt rong with it

 

[HARO]

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