The Ultimate Bubble Eye Goldfish Care Guide (Lifespan, Diet, Tank Needs)

Some goldfish even have bubble sacks on their chins – giving them 4 total!

This is considered more of an unintentional mutation.

Other breeds of goldfish occasionally develop a bubble on their chin too, but they don’t seem to be as prone to it.

Questions of Ethics: Should Bubble Eyes be Banned?

It’s probably one of the most heavily hybridized goldfish.

Ever.

The freakish highly unusual appearance of this fish has raised some serious questions in the minds of some:

“Is this animal cruelty to breed fish that look so weird?”

I think a lot of people picture them to be miserably laying at the bottom of the tank all the time, unable to move much.

But watch them in action and you’ll learn how spunky they really are. 😉

Their activity level doesn’t seem to be any lower than other goldfish breeds.

Many owners attest that they are used to their eye protrusions and don’t believe they experience any discomfort from them as they swim normally.

Granted:

There are some Bubble Eyes – usually older ones – with eye sacks so large that they have difficulty swimming and it does seem to impair their quality of life.

All goldfish… even single tailed goldfish… have been selectively bred to some extent.

I personally think they are not over-bred.

Take good care of them and they will live just as long as the other breeds.

But I understand where others are coming from who see it differently.

Breeding Bubble Eye Goldfish

Breeding Bubble Eyes can be a challenge due to their eyes getting in the way.

But they can still lay over 1,000 eggs at a time!

Males will show breeding stars on their fins and gill plates during breeding season.

A period of cold weather followed by warmer water can help get them to spawn.

How to Properly Take Care of Your Bubble Eye

Bubbles eyes are prone to injury and eye infection.

An infected eye sack may become cloudy or discolored.

This can lead to blindness if it progresses too far, which is why prevention is very important.

The first step?

Proper care.

Because they are more fragile, they are not recommended as a beginner fish.

Make sure the tank has no sharp objects that could pop the sacks and that the filter is not too strong, which could suck up the sack as the fish swims by (yikes!).

Even artificial plants can be pokey, so try to go for silk plants or live ones without pointy protrusions.

But be sure that the fish has enough room to grow to its full potential!

That’s why each one needs 10 – 20 gallons of space to itself.

A bowl is probably the worst home you could put your fish in, so please don’t do that.

Why?

For starters:

They don’t allow the fish to get enough oxygen because of the small surface area.

And they also get dirty so fast that they make your fish get sick 🙁

Bubble Eyes prefer a range between 70-80 degrees F.

This ensures that their immune systems are not stressed by too much cold, but not overheated either.

They are sensitive to the temperature being too cold, so you may want to have a heater for the water.

Proper feeding plays a very important role in goldfish health.

It’s very important to make sure they are able to do what they love to do best:

Forage!

Make sure there are always lots of fresh veggies in the tank.

Veggies also provide the fiber that keeps their digestive tract functioning properly.

In addition, they will need a high quality staple diet.

Live foods are always a great, healthy treat too 🙂

You can learn more about goldfish food in our feeding article.

Let’s be clear about something:

You should only keep goldfish with other goldfish, no other kinds of fish.

Not even algae eaters (especially not algae eaters)!

They aren’t a good mix at all and can end up stressing and even hurting your goldfish.

Now:

Because Bubble Eyes are not the strongest of swimmers…

… It’s a good idea not to keep them with the more competitive breeds of goldfish like the slim-bodied fish or fancies like the Ryukin or Fantail.

Instead, other Bubble Eyes make the best companions.

But clumsier Pearlscales and Ranchus might also work well for friends.

And There’s More…

We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to caring for your Bubble Eye goldfish.

There just isn’t enough time to go into all the detail!

But don’t worry – I wrote a complete care guide called “The Truth About Goldfish.”

It contains ALL the information you will ever need to make sure your fish doesn’t just survive, but THRIVES.

I’m sure you want yours to reach its full potential, right? ?

You can take a peek at it here.

Wrapping it All Up

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this amazing fish.

So, what do you think?

Is the Bubble Eye YOUR favorite, or maybe you happen to own one?

Feel free to leave your comment below.

I’d love hearing from you 🙂