Depending on one’s point of view, the bubble eye goldfish is either a freakish mutant, or one for the connoisseurs.  One thing everybody agrees on is that it is a very unusual goldfish.

Bubble eye goldfish are thought to originate in China a long, long time ago as the result of a mutation being bred into other forms of large-eyed goldfish.  One possible reason for such a mutation being encouraged is that in ancient China, goldfish were kept in jars (aquariums hadn’t been invented).  Therefore the only way to view the goldfish was from above.  This could also explain why, in common with other “fantail” goldfish, there is no dorsal fin, and a split tail fin.

Bubble eye goldfish are available in all the colours any other goldfish is available in: red, yellow, orange, brown, black, blue, white, silver or calico.  (For a full explanation of goldfish colouring see Goldfish Colouring Explained).

Naturally enough, all the major problems associated with bubble eye goldfish are because of the bubbles.

1. They can only see food that is above them.  There are a few ways to get round this problem.  Use slow-sinking food, clip fast-sinking food up the side of the tank, and always put food in the same location.  However, the best way to ensure bubble eye goldfish get proper nutrition is to train them to hand feed.

2. They are extremely poor swimmers.  Even relatively slow swimming goldfish varieties such as the black moor or oranda will beat a bubble eye to food every time.  They are so slow because the bubbles make the fish front-heavy, turning swimming into a real effort.  To make matters worse, the bubbles jiggle up and down, and left to right as the fish swims.  It’s like trying to keep one’s head still while walking with a large plastic bag full of water tied to each ear.  To top it all off, having no dorsal fin reduces stability even more.  As a result of all this, bubble eye goldfish will spend a lot of time resting on the bottom of the tank.  Older bubble eye goldfish will very often give up on swimming altogether, preferring to float around on the current provided by the pump.

3. The bubbles burst easily.  Sharp gravel, pointy plants, ornaments and filters/pumps all present a danger to the bubble eye goldfish’s bubbles.  Make sure there is nothing in the tank that can cause such an injury.  If a pump or filter intake is capable of snaring a bubble, it probably will.  Cover any such hazards with sponge.  If a bubble does get burst, it will likely grow back.  However, it will not be the same size and shape as the one on the other side.  There is also the risk of bacterial infection after a bursting incident.

4. Bad eyesight is widesread in bubble eye goldfish.  It isn’t great to start with, and will probably get worse.

As with all fancy goldfish, the bubble eye can be susceptible to swim bladder problems because of their more rounded body shape.

Overall, the bubble eye goldfish is a delicate fish that is definitely not for beginners.  However, they are happy when healthy and cared for, and although an aquarium will have to be stripped of many decorations that other goldfish can negotiate quite safely, bubble eye goldfish provide their own decoration in sparsely furnished tanks.

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