Skinny, Hyper, BrokenFin and Leo

These are the names of my 4 goldfishes ... My lovely wife had the honours of naming them :) (Gave her the privilage as she was initially not very fond of my idea of keeping fishes) Of the lot, Leo was the cutest as he had the biggest head and big mouth ... unfortunately, he was also the one that started having swimming bladder problems. According to a number of articles I have read, it is most likely due to the numerous cross-breeding that have significantly changed the internal structure of its body (less fish like apparently - e.g. too cramp in certain areas, tails are not as agile as normal slim fish etc)

Anyway, it was a pretty much a slow death for him despite our best efforts to save him and to nurse him back to health. Initially, he just floats at the top of the aquarium and fail to eat as he can't swim very well floating up there. Usually, I had to spoon feed him in order to get him to eat.. After a while, he developed ulcers on his pectorial fins and later also on his sides as he can't stay upright very well either. I tried many of the suggestions given by many websites and people such as feeding him peas, increase salt in water (separate tank). After battling the swimming bladder problem for almost 1.5 month, Leo finally gave up and went to heaven ... :( :(

So, the learning here is ... hmm don't really know. Swimming bladder problems are really hard to cure .. thus avoiding it in the first place would be ideal by NOT over feeding them and DO give them only food that sinks so that they don't gulp down extra air while eating stuff on the water surface. Peas and greens would probably be their best diet with the occasional high protein pellet(sinking) thrown in.