Bloated fish

[TetburySue]

Hi Folks - I hope someone can help identify what is happening to some of my fish so that I can get it sorted out. We built a pond in 2020 - it's not large so we stocked it with four goldfish. One was immediately eaten by a heron but the other three surived and spawned, so we now have about 15-20 fish including two of the originals (the other one was also killed by a predator some time ago). Anyway, last summer we noticed that two of the fish were getting quite bloated. I thought they might be egg bound but they didn't have any obvious signs of this so we left them alone as they seemed quite happy and were still feeding and swimming around. However, towards the end of last year the bloating got to the point where they could hardly swim anymore. They then spent a few weeks at the bottom of the pond before dying within the last 10 days (we’ve been away so I’m not sure exactly when they died).

I have attached a number of pictures of one of the dead fish (sorry that these are quite shocking. It's only one of them as the other had disintegrated in the pond). It was huge! I weighed the corpse and it was 567 grams, which is ridiculous. I have also now quarantined one of our other fish that is begining to look bloated and have attached a picture of that one, too. The rest are fine.

My local aquatic centre has no idea what is going on and is sending these pictures to their fish expert, but in the meantime I'd like to know your opinions. We did wonder if it could be some form of birth defect, seeing as all our fish came from a very small original sample. I can’t believe it is an infection as the other fish are fine and have been in the pond with the bloated ones for months. Also my pond water quality is fine - I have checked it - and there is a pond filter and little waterfall in situ so they are getting plenty of oxygen. The only other thing I can add is that I occassionally see small black worm/leech creatures in the filter when I clean it out but I believe these are harmless.

Any light you can shed on this would be really helpful. Thank you.

 

[Tula]

Wow, you weren't kidding when you said they were bloated! The redness indicates a bacterial infection which can be related to poor water quality or secondary infections due to parasites. I'm sure there are others causes as well, but those two come to mind.

Have you tested your pond water? Very sorry this happened.

 

[TetburySue]

Wow, you weren't kidding when you said they were bloated! The redness indicates a bacterial infection which can be related to poor water quality or secondary infections due to parasites. I'm sure there are others causes as well, but those two come to mind.

Have you tested your pond water? Very sorry this happened.

Hi Tula - thanks for your help. The water quality is fine. I test it often and I don't think that's an issue as all the other fish are well. I also suspect parasites or some kind of tumour. I am not sure if there is anything I can put in the pond to kill potential parasites without harming the fish, but I will check wit my local acquatic centre and find out.

 

[Tula]

I know some parasite treatments are dependent on warmer water temperatures. I hope your aquatic center can be of help, keep us posted.

 

[TetburySue]

I know some parasite treatments are dependent on warmer water temperatures. I hope your aquatic center can be of help, keep us posted.

Thanks - I will. Poor fish. I felt so sorry for it. :-(

 

[Goldfishpond]

They have same disease several of my fish were born with. Most likely it’s Dropsy Sometimes called Pinecone. Through my 8 years of Pond keeping 3 of my fish have had it out of 40. Look up dropsy and most likely they won’t survive and will eventually die.
I’m so sorry I have dealt with that.
First 2 fish had pinecone skin where scales protruded. My last fish slowly got bigger last 3 years and knew it had similar disease or tumor. It didn’t have pinecone scales but super big just like your picture. They can live like that until they get so big and eventually die.

 

[Goldfishpond]

These are my 3 fish first one was orange
Second blonde, 3rd gray. All goldfish same family line probably from first original 8 Goldfish I bought at Pond place and had babies. So same genes. Out of my like 43 or so pond fish 3 have disease. They’re not koi and bread for good health so these type of fish have many health problems sadly I have 2 others with swim bladder issues and cyst like pimples.
But the worst is having them get this dropsy disease. i hate watching them suffer but if I can I let them live out their remaining last days in the pond where they’re comfortable. Since it’s not going to spread to other fish. They’re born with it or have something predisposed inside them.
i love my fish so much.

 

[Goldfishpond]

3 of my fish had similar issues. The orange fish. white and gray had it. 2 had pinecone scales that protruded the other did not. My first born baby “Sharkbait” I loved her she’s the orange one. I watched her for 3 years get bigger and bigger, please look up dropsy. I think genetics or are predisposed to disease. Sad to watch them get bigger and bigger through the years to finally get to where they die.