Any Goldfish people out there?

[KringleCandleLover]

My goldfish(has a funny shaped head, looks like a brain) is upside down, head touching the bottom of the tank. Have fed him peas but he's still topsy turvy. He turns the correct way round to feed.
I went to petsathome and was told to feed nothing but bloodworm for a week. Is this correct?
Phillip is such a good little pet and I'd hate to think he is in pain.
He's gobbled the bloodworm a few hrs ago but is still sat on his head. He's 4.
Help.

Nothing but bloodworms for a week? Nope. Never listen to a word P@H say, they are plonkers. They are obviously thinking it's constipation but don't seem to know how to treat it properly.

Phillip (wonderful name for a goldfish!) is an oranda. Orandas have been selectively bred to have round bodies so their insides are all kind of squished up. This means that he's especially susceptible to constipation, but you've given him peas which is usually an effective treatment- has he he's pooped? I'd leave off the food for a day and see what happens. What does he normally eat?

It's quite common with fancy goldfish because they're bred to look a certain way at the expense of their health. It might get better as he grows. How big is he now? Has he got a nice big tank? Because orandas grow massive.

Thanks for the info, I shall starve him for a day. He's been fed flakes but will switch him to pellets when this has cleared. He's grown a lot in the last 2 years(we babysat him for my dm and never sent him back).
Size wise, when I clean him he just fits in a gravy jug and will be put in something bigger tomorrow! I'd say he's about 5 inches...
He is very round, and looks to be healthy apart from this headstand business.
I'm wondering if I didn't give him enough peas... Fed 5, all mushed up.
He was called Merv but we changed it. He looks like a Phillip!
His poos are really long. I haven't noticed if he's been to the toilet today though.
Phillip is so friendly, comes for a tickle (or is he being aggressive!) I just want him to swim like a fish and not like a brick!
Not sure on the size in litres of his tank but its big enough(for now).

Nah, he's being friendly :) Goldfish love company and will eat from your hand. 5 peas should be just fine.

I wouldn't remove him from the tank when you're cleaning, it increases the risk of injury. I usually remove about 40% of the water (but I have a small tank, only 60 litres) and then use that water to clean the filter. No need to remove the fish then and it's much less stressful for them.

This is a really good guide for goldfish tank sizes.

I used to use tetragold Japan pellets when I had fancy goldfish, and supplement with some greens to help move things along

How do you get rid off all the poo that sinks to the bottom if you don't empty it fully? I like to give it all a good slosh! I'm glad I know the type of fish he is, I thought he just had a deformed head!

You need a siphon tube with a gravel vac. They range from super-cheap to hi tech. My gravel vac is home made, so you don't need anything really fancy.

Are you using dechlorinater ? How are you cleaning the filter?

There is no chlorine in our water. 1 of only a few places in the UK where it isn't added. I clean the filter by pulling it apart, removing and cleaning(replacing every few weeks) the spongy bits and the plastic kidney shaped things that hold the stones. It is a new filter so I wander if that's the issue.. Hmm