A pet owner paid hundreds to save his cancer-stricken goldfish when he developed a stomach tumour.
Michael Dare set up a home for Bubbles in an outdoor pond at his acupuncture business eight years ago, after paying $30 (around £16.50) for the fish.
But around six months ago he grew concerned over Bubbles’ health, when he noticed a tumour growing from the fish’s belly.
Worried for the little fish’s life, Michael sought help from a specialist vet who could operate on Bubbles.
He was told the operation would only take 10 minutes but would cost him $300 (about £165).
Michael told Daily Mail Australia he didn’t mind about the price, adding: ‘If we can have the choice to help or destroy, I’d rather help.’
Avian and exotic vet Ingrid Danylyk-Huisman said it was a fairly routine operation and that goldfish surgery is becoming increasingly common.
Before starting surgery – which is performed out of the water – the vet poured anaesthetic in the fish’s water.
The vet said the trickiest part is administering the anaesthesia, as it’s ‘quite easy to give them too much’.
She then placed Bubbles on the operating table, laid on a sponge, and kept him anaesthetised by running the medicated water through his gills and mouth.
The little fish survived the surgery and was placed in a tank with oxygenated water to recover.
He is now back at Michael’s office swimming freely in his own pond, along with Michael’s three other fish.
Michael said he was glad he paid for the surgery to save Bubbles as he feels connected to all four of his fish.
He said: ‘You put your hand in there and the fish will swim over your hand so there’s obviously a connection here with the fish.
‘They’re not just some mindless creatures. They acknowledge who you are and we acknowledge who they are.’
