As an aquarist, discovering your goldfish stomach getting so big may raise several questions in your mind. Goldfish’s big belly indicates several health issues that require your immediate attention for their well-being.
So, why is my goldfish stomach so big? Is it normal? Let us find out.
Dropsy is the root cause behind your goldfish’s big stomach. However, other factors like constipation or your fish carrying eggs also explain a big belly in goldfish. Consider providing good water conditions and high-quality food to prevent constipation and dropsy in your goldfish.
The below article will discuss the reasons and prevention behind your goldfish’s big stomach.
Contents
My goldfish stomach is so big.
The primary reason behind your goldfish’s big stomach is dropsy.
However, there can be many other reasons like constipation, or your female goldfish is about to lay eggs.
Your female goldfish’s stomach getting big during the breeding season is not a matter of concern as it is normal for females to have a bigger belly while they are about to lay their eggs.
But, if your goldfish’s stomach is getting bigger due to dropsy or constipation, it is an alarming situation that requires your immediate attention for the well-being of your fish.
Is it normal for your goldfish to have a big stomach?
Your female goldfish having a big stomach while they are about to lay eggs is entirely normal.
However, if other factors like dropsy and constipation are responsible for such a change in your goldfish, it is a matter of concern.
Ignoring such a situation can lead to significant health issues in your goldfish, eventually leading to the passing away of your goldfish.
What are the reasons behind your goldfish big stomach?
Here are the reasons behind your goldfish’s big stomach
- Dropsy
- Constipation
- Your fish is about to lay eggs.
Dropsy
Dropsy is not a disease but a condition in which your goldfish cannot eliminate the excess fluid from its body tissues.
Swelling in the abdomen, bulging eyes, and loss of appetite are some signs of dropsy in your goldfish.
Poor water quality is the leading cause of dropsy in your goldfish.
Dropsy caused due to bacterial infections have no hopes of recovery. In such a case euthanizing your goldfish will be an excellent option to avoid making your goldfish suffer more.
However, dropsy caused due to other factors like aggressive tankmates or contamination has a hope of recovery.
In such a case providing antibiotic treatment will help your goldfish heal.
Also read: Dropsy In Goldfish
Constipation
Constipation can also be a reason behind your goldfish’s big stomach.
It is a condition in which your goldfish cannot digest their food, eventually leading to belly enlargement.
Your goldfish being lethargic, clamping their fins, and refusing their food are some signs of constipation in your goldfish.
Poor water quality and overfeeding are the root cause of constipation in your goldfish.
You can treat constipation in your goldfish with proper medication.
However, ignoring such a situation can make your goldfish suffer from many other severe health issues, eventually making them weak and prone to several diseases and parasites.
To know about the treatment of constipation in your goldish, you can read my article on How To Treat Constipation In Goldfish?
Your fish is about to lay eggs.
Your goldfish’s big stomach can also indicate that your fish is about to lay eggs.
Although female goldfish usually appear broader than males, they get bigger when carrying eggs in their bellies.
Your female goldfish stomach getting bigger than usual due to eggs is normal and does not indicate any health issues.
Once they release their eggs, the female goldfish will return to their original shape.
Also read: Can Goldfish Get Pregnant?
How can you prevent such issues in your fish?
Your goldfish having a swollen belly due to eggs is entirely normal.
However, other constipation and dropouts can lead to significant health issues in your goldfish, eventually making your goldfish pass away. Here are how you can prevent such problems in your goldfish.
- Avoid Overfeeding your goldfish.
- Provide high-quality food to your goldfish.
- Provide good water conditions
- Provide a stress-free environment
Avoid Overfeeding
You should avoid overfeeding your goldfish to prevent such issues in your fish.
Overfeeding can cause severe health issues like stress, loss of appetite, and constipation in your goldfish, eventually leading to belly enlargement.
To avoid overfeeding, you should always provide the quantity your goldfish can consume in under 2 minutes.
Also read: Can Goldfish Die From Overfeeding?
Provide high-quality food
Provide high-grade food to your goldfish to prevent such issues in your goldfish.
Providing low-grade food can lead to blockage in your fish leading to significant health issues.
Goldfish are omnivore species that require meat and plant matter food for healthy growth and development.
Here are some best food options for your goldfish.
| Goldfish Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of times | Advisable for proper growth of your fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veggie Pellets | One small pinch | 2 times a day | HIKARI SINKING FISH FOOD |
| Blood Worms | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED BLOODWORMS |
| Tubifex Worms | One small pinch | 1 times a week | HIKARI FREEZE DRIED TUBIFEX WORMS |
| Brine Shrimp | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | HIKARI BRINE SHRIMP CUBES |
| Mosquito Larvae | 12-15 | 2-3 times a week | Feed Live |
| Blanched zucchini | One small slice | 3-4 times a week | Feed Fresh |
| Blanched Cucumber | 1-2 small slice | 3-4 times a week | Feed Fresh |
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
Provide good water conditions
You should provide good water conditions to your goldfish to prevent such health issues in your fish.
Contaminated water is the root cause of several health issues like constipation, swim bladder disorder, and dropsy in your goldfish.
Perform a 30% weekly water change to maintain the tank’s water quality.
You should also add a filter to your goldfish tank as it helps to eliminate the harmful chemicals from the tank and provide a healthy environment for your fish.
We advise you to buy Fluval High-Performance Aquarium Filter as it helps to maintain the tank’s water quality.
You can purchase it from Amazon Fluval High Performance Aquarium Filter.
Also read: Do Goldfish Need Filters?
In addition, you should keep eyeing the tank’s ammonia level, as excessive ammonia in the tank can lead to severe health issues like ammonia poisoning in your goldfish.
| Particular | Goldfish |
|---|---|
| Ammonia Levels | 0-0.25ppm |
| Nitrate | Below 40ppm |
| Nitrite Levels | 0ppm |
Also read: Ammonia Poisoning In Goldfish
We advise to check the tank’s ammonia level with the help of an API test kit as it provide accurate results.
You can purchase it from Amazon API TEST KIT.
Therefore, always provide good water conditions in the tank to ensure your fish’s healthy growth and development.
Provide stress-free environment
You should always provide a stress-free environment in the tank to prevent such health issues in your goldfish.
Here are the ways to give a stress-free environment to your goldfish
- Provide good water conditions in your goldfish tank.
- Avoid overcrowding your goldfish tank.
- Provide high-quality food to your goldfish.
- Avoid placing your goldfish with aggressive tankmates.
- Add a lot of hiding spots in the tank.
- Avoid overfeeding your goldfish by providing the amount your goldfish can consume in under 2 minutes.
- Ensure to treat the freshwater with the help of a water conditioner before adding it directly to your tank.
- Provide a balance of light and dark periods in the tank to avoid stress in your goldfish.
- Perform a 30% water change weekly to maintain the tank’s water quality.
- Maintain adequate water temperature (68-74°F) in your goldfish tank.
The above are the ways to provide a stress-free environment for your goldfish.
Also read: What To Do If My Goldfish Is Stressed?
Conclusion:
- Dropsy is the primary cause behind your goldfish’s big stomach. However, other factors like constipation and your fish about to lay eggs can also explain your goldfish belly enlargement.
- Your goldfish having a big stomach due to constipation or dropsy is not normal and requires immediate attention.
- Ignoring such a situation can lead to significant health issues in your goldfish, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
- You can prevent such health issues in your goldfish by providing good water conditions, high-grade food, and a stress-free environment for your fish.
- Always provide a healthy environment in your goldfish tank to ensure your fish’s proper growth and development.
Reference: ResearchGate