Frog Amplexing Goldfish: Misguided Mating Instinct

What's Happening

A male frog (likely a bullfrog or green frog) has mistaken your goldfish for a female frog. **Amplexus** (mating embrace) is a powerful instinct—he'll hold on for hours or days. The fish is stressed and exhausted.

How to Separate Them

1. Gently grasp the frog behind the front legs (thumb and forefinger).
2. Slowly peel his thumbs off the fish—don't pull the fish.
3. Place frog in a bucket with pond water and release far from pond (or in a frog-friendly area).
4. Check fish for injuries (skin abrasions, scale loss). Treat with MelaFix if needed.

Prevention

• Add more fish—frogs avoid ponds with fish for breeding.
• Reduce shoreline vegetation where frogs hide.
• If it's bullfrog season, this may recur. Be ready to intervene.

It's not "mating"—it's a case of mistaken identity. The frog isn't malicious, just hormonally driven.