Although the tumours were benign, Lucky's owners at Kellyville Pets volunteered him for the surgery when Melbourne vet Dr Jim Greenwood visited to train the staff in aspects of fish care.

This involved administering an anaesthetic through a tube in Lucky's mouth as water circulated through his gills, ensuring he was kept alive while out of the water.

The cosmetic procedure is so popular that Dr Greenwood performs up to 60 operations each year to fix aesthetic flaws on pet fish in Victoria and NSW.

"Performing operations in front of aquarium staff and veterinary science students helps to educate them about potential health problems and diseases of fish," Dr Greenwood said.

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