Other name: Water-Bubble Eye Goldfish;
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Color varieties: The Bubble Eye Goldfish comes in color variations that include gold, red, blue, chocolate, calico, black, silver-white, red/white, orange/yellow, and red/black. They may be self-colored or variegated in a pleasing pattern. Calico Bubble Eye Goldfish usually have a blue background with patches of violet, red, orange, yellow, and brown, spotted with black.
The drooping bubbles give this fish an almost puppy-like appearance and as they grow with the fish, they sometimes occlude vision. The drooping bubbles jiggle as the fish swims. In the Far East, the Bubble Eye Goldfish with small bubbles and celestial type eyes are known as ‘frogheads’ or ‘toadheads.’
There is also a type of Bubble Eye Goldfish with double bubbles, one just under the eye on each side and one just below and to the rear of the mouth on each side.
The eyes of the Bubble Eye Goldfish are normal when the eggs hatch, but they start to develop eye bladders 3 months after hatching, which fully develop in 6-9 months. Except for the absent dorsal fins all other fins are paired. The caudal fins are divided and forked. They have metallic scales.
Size: up to 6 inches
Gender: It is impossible to determine the sex of Goldfish when they are young. They become sexually mature at 1 year of age and during the breeding season, the male is usually smaller and more slender than the female. In the breeding season, the male also has white prickles or ‘breeding tubercles’ on the gill covers and head. Females also have a larger vent than the males.
Aquarium maintenance
Lifespan: up to 30 years
Temperature: 65 - 75°F
pH balance: 6.5 - 7.6
Aquarium specifications: These Goldfish require a lot of swimming space, so a 10 to 50-gallon tank is ideal. Bubble Eye Goldfish that are kept in a fish bowl have stunted growth (due to the high nitrate level) and a reduced lifespan. The protruding eyes of the Bubble Eye Goldfish have to be considered when decorating an aquarium. Soft and silky cold-water plants grafted onto rocks or wood (e.g. Anubias, Java Fern, Anacharis, etc.) are good choices to prevent injury. Natural leaves that are pointed, or even plastic plants, may hurt these delicate fish. The substrate should be smooth because the fish have a tendency to swallow particles; rough and large ones could lodge in their mouths. They prefer tanks with little or no current.
Bubble Eye Goldfish require optimum water conditions. They require very well-aerated water and an efficiently filtered tank. They should be fed in moderation because excess food pollutes the tank and disturbs aeration.
Water hardness: 50 - 190 mg/L
Behavior
Temperament:
These Goldfish are social, peaceful, and will flourish in a community. They may form schools with other Goldfish. They prefer to be in a community with less boisterous types such as Tetras. A tank with only their own species is ideal because they are unable to compete for food with more agile fish such as Cichlids, Comet Goldfish, or Koi.
The Bubble Eye Goldfish's agility is further limited due to their heavy eye sacs. Bubble Eye Goldfish are vulnerable to injury due to the fragile eye sacs and bad eyesight. When housed with other species, special attention is paid to make sure other fish are not pecking at the eye bubbles. It is best to keep them with other fish with visual handicaps, such as the Telescope Goldfish and Celestial Goldfish. These fish are very good scavengers.
When the Bubble Eye Goldfish start aging or suffer from illness, they tend to slow down. They start resting a lot and they seem disoriented in the tank. They often just float around in the aquarium without being able to struggle against the current.
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