I've had Goldie for about 4 1/2 years, but she'd been with only one other gf (presumably, also a female) until about 6 months ago when I moved up to a larger tank and added 3 more gf. I noticed in the past week or so that one of the 'new' fish was butt-bumping Goldie alot and wondered if that was a breeding sign or not.

Well, yesterday I noticed that she had something that didn't quite look like poop protruding from her anal port. It was still there this morning so I did some searches here and found that this is a sign of eggs, and to also look to see if her belly was swollen more on one side then the other.

I looked. It is. Ack!

I am a total newbie to this and, while I read through 5 pages on this forum, all that info is a bit overwhelming me at the moment. So, I have one major question at this time: how long is too long to wait for her to drop her eggs? What signs should I be looking for to determine if she developes a problem with egg binding?

Oh, one more! Is there anything 'special' I should be feeding her now? More veggies or more protein, perhaps?

TIA! This is so exciting! If all goes well, this will also be an awesome adventure/lesson/project for our homeschooling.

Lisa

PS: This is a pic of Goldie taken a few months ago. She's grown a little since, and is now about 5-5 1/2 inches in body length:

Am I on some kind of 'black ball' list or something? No one wants to help me out with this?

I apologize if I've done something to torque anyone off. I never meant to.



Lisa

Well, thanks anyway. Guess I'm off to find a new site that's a bit more helpful.



Lisa

I'm sorry you feel that way Lisa A lot of people may not know about egg impaction although I can share a very recent experience with you. I just lost my girl to this very thing and the signs to watch out for are increased distension of the abdomen and laboured breathing. I did some research on this but i was unfortunately too late. Is her poop squiggly? Is she sluggish at all? Has she dropped any eggs before?

My girl was swelling for a total of 2 weeks and I tried everything from changing the temp, placing her fella in the tank with her but to no avail. There's no cure for egg impaction but while researching this, I did find a site of 'die-hard' ranchu breeders and one in particular (who seems to have the respect of his fellow site members) states that when you see them gasping and swollen, place them in a tub with salt at 0.7% and stop feeding. If I ever have to go through this again, I will definitely try it because the alternative is far worse

Does she still look similar to the pic? Or would you be able to take a more recent one?

How long iis the gestation?

My Blue Oranda,Tamal, apears to have died of this. I had no idea she was holding eggs, as I had had her only a couple of weeks. I posted a request for info in the Goldfish Discussion but nobody really answered any questions re her holding eggs.

And if a fish is "impacted," what do you do?

Thx

Im sorry Lisa, I don't know the answers either. I have 2 fish with the same problem. One is absolutely fine with it- does huge upward pointing lines of egg trailing (is it called poop anyway?) and eats well, is not swollen and has been this way (with a proven male in there bumping her) for ever and ever. My other egg impacted - a pearlscale -is not so lucky. She suffersbadly. Is still eating but sits upside down all day between feeds and sometimes gasps. But she is not sick. She is impacted.

I suppose what Lisa is seeing is the beginning of one or other or maybe just a one off thing...mmmm.