Puffy cheek fish are among the exotic species for you to choose from if you’re seeking a unique type with a chubby face and cute appearance. However, this fish type is complicated to understand with the great quantity and diversified distribution.
This article will give useful information about this fish’s appearance, size, lifespan, and habitat. Besides, you also know how to care for it properly. Keep reading for details!
Contents
What Fish Has Puffy Cheeks?
Bubble Eye Goldfish is a typical type with puffy cheeks. They are strange species with special-looking appearances.
Their attraction may originate from their chubby cheeks developing to a large size as they age. These sacs comprise lymph, the same as blood plasma or serum in composition
Puffy Cheek Fish – All You Need To Know
Description
The Bubble Eye, also called Water-Bubble Eye, is an egg-shaped goldfish type. These species are available in different colors, such as solid black, red, chocolate, and blue.
They come with the same size and body as the Celestial Goldfish, also a bit slimmer than the egg-shaped type with strange double tails.
The fluid-filled sacs start appearing at about 6-9 months, like bubbles under their eyes. These liquid-filled sachets help these species to be unique and whimsical for your home aquarium. When they are at the age of 2 years old, such bubbles become larger.
Size & Growth
They often grow to about 3 to 4 inches, but some puffy cheek fish, such as Bubble Eyes, can get much larger.
Although they can stay at 5 inches for a long time, they may grow a bit more in some exceptional cases. For some, once fully developed, they can even reach 6 inches long.
However, these types don’t continue to develop over this size as other Goldfish species. With this small size, they become manageable when living in small or medium tanks.
Habitat And Distribution
This type originates from the gable carp Carassius gibelio, silver Prussian, Prussian described by Bloch in 1782. These wild fish appear in Siberia and Central Asia. Their food is debris, insects, plants, or small crustaceans in the slow water of rivers, ditches, ponds, or lakes.
Another fish with puffy cheeks is Bubble Eye from China. This is one of the 125 captive-bred noble Goldfish species. They can live in groups or individually.
Lifespan
The normal lifespan of these species, including Bubble Eye, is about 10 to 15 years. Most of them may live longer than other freshwater types.
Yet, proper care will play an important role in allowing them to reach the best age. Besides, The lifespan of puffy cheek fish also depends on various factors, such as diet, food, or water conditions in your tank.
Species Summary
Puffy cheek fish, such as Bubble Eye, is the ever-growing family of “Fancy Goldfish” members.
You can not find these species living in the wild. Yet, most types are the ideal choices for new aquarists.
The Complete Guide to Proper Care For Puffy Cheek Fish
Proper preparation will make learning how to care for these special types easier.
You should note that these species need a special environment to grow and stay safe because of their delicate appearance and small shape. Besides, they also require a few strict water conditions to live and thrive.
Below all you must do is stick to giving them complete care.
Tank Size
You must prepare a tank with a standard size of at least 10 gallons.
Still, you should start with 20 gallons to get a larger space that helps them freely swim and grow. More room opening for them means that their fragile bubbles are less likely to be damaged.
Water Parameters
These fish, typically the Bubble Eye, love living in cold water. So, it is ideal for keeping them in proper temperatures, not too hot.
Besides, they also prefer neutral water with a balanced and clean quality. Thus, you need to change the water frequently to ensure the best environment for them to develop.
Below are several essential water parameters you must note when caring for them.
For water temperature, you should adjust it to about 65°F to 80°F (the best is 72°F). The most suitable pH levels are from 6.0 to 8.0, and water hardness is about 5 to 19 dKH.
Diet & Food
Remember that their diet is one of the most critical things you should consider. They will eat almost all kinds of food, such as plant matter, algae, vegetables, or meaty food. Thus, preparing and providing a proper diet will help them be depression-free and healthy.
You should give them freeze-dried food to avoid harmful bacteria and potential diseases.
FAQs
How To Choose The Best Tankmates For Puffy Cheek Fish?
Bubble-eye goldfish are peaceful, mellow, and slow. So aggressive, playful fish are a big no-no if you don’t want your little pets to be intimidated and stressed. Or worse, those energetic tankmates will pop their bubbles.
It’s best to pair them with other goldfish, namely telescope goldfish, celestial goldfish, ranchu goldfish, lionhead goldfish, or pearlscale goldfish.
Why Do Bubble Eye Goldfish Have Puffy Cheeks?
These bubbles have no special (or beneficial) function. This is just a deformity that the fish evolve since these cheeks are believed to be cute and attractive.
Worse yet, your fish might find it more difficult to swim due to these sacs.
Conclusion
The above is everything you need to know about puffy cheek fish that can give you a perfect home aquarium. They come from selective breeding in China and can live for 10 to 15 years with the standard size of 3-4 inches when growing in a tank.
With our guide in this article, you should remember some critical points when caring for this fish type. This proper care includes the right tank size, suitable water parameters, with healthy and fresh food and diet.
