Pet Forum / Aquaria / Goldfish / January 2005

I've had my lionhad, Bob, since September '04. He was a wal*mart fish,
a gift from my girlfriend.

I've heard lots about people's fish growing 2-3 inches within the first
6 months or so, and I'm concerned about Bob, because he is an inch long
and hasn't grown at all. My water parameters are excellent, he shares a
30+ gallon tank with one other 2" oranda. I feed him a variety of
foods, including high protein ones.

Is there a chance his growth was stunted by ammonia in his time at
WalMart? He seems to be an otherwise healthy fish, although he did have
flukes when I got him. He has a very round belly, and I was concerned
that he was actually a pregnant she, although I believe s/he is too
young to get pregnant. But it really looks as though the little guy has
swallowed a marble. He eats and swims normally though. I think he may
have gourged himself on my plants, before I figured out which ones
goldfish don't find tasty.

Ammonia/Nitrite are both 0 in my tank and I keep my nitrates below
10ppm.

Any suggestions?