A family pet fish became famous on social media after viewers discovered it had some very peculiar facial markings.
Bob, a four-year-old koi carp from Leeds, has become an internet sensation after viewers noticed he had a strikingly human-like face.
Bob’s owner Malcolm Pawson, 48, brought the “friendly” koi carp to live in his garden pond three years ago after buying it for £150.
Little did he know that Bob would become quite the tourist attraction: Passersby would regularly stop to take a closer look at the human-faced fish, and fans on the Internet would be captivated by his unusual appearance.
Bob is a breed of kōhaku carp, known for its striking white and orange markings that can change over time.
A family pet fish has become famous on social media after viewers discovered it had some very peculiar facial markings.
A four-year-old koi carp. Bob, from Leeds, became an internet sensation after viewers noticed he had a strikingly human face (pictured).
Although he looked like any other normal fish when Malcom brought him home to join his pond of 11 fish, Bob’s markings have since transformed into something much more human.
Bob has since developed black spots on the top, middle and bottom of his head, making him look as if he has eyes, a nose and a mouth.
Sunlight, diet, and water conditions can all contribute to changes in a karp’s coloration, meaning its appearance can change quite drastically.
Malcom, a landscape gardener who lives with his wife and daughter, said Bob is easily the most popular fish among friends and family.
He said: ‘My friends and family love him. My daughter’s friends always ask to come see him and feed him.’
“Even people who pass by my house stop and look to see if I have the door open,” he explained.
Malcom wants Bob to have his moment in the spotlight, welcoming visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the famous fish.
“I welcome anyone who wants to see him, he gets all the attention, he’s incredible,” he insisted.
“I bought him three years ago because I saw him as the friendliest fish in the store.”
Although he looked like any other normal fish when Malcom brought him home to join his pond of 11 fish, Bob’s markings have since transformed into something much more human.
Malcom, a landscape gardener who lives with his wife and daughter, said Bob is easily the most popular fish among friends and family.
In a video that now has more than a million views on the social media app, hundreds took to the comments to comment on the carp’s anthropomorphic face.
‘It didn’t have the markings on its face when I first bought it, as Koi can change colour. Unusual brands have been growing gradually.’
Determined to make Bob more than just a local celebrity, Malcom even began uploading videos of him on TikTok.
In a video that now has more than a million views on the social media app, hundreds took to the comments to comment on the carp’s anthropomorphic face.
One joked: “I was wondering what Phil Mitchell was up to”, comparing Bob to the famous EastEnders character.
A second mocked: “That’s Uncle Vernon from Harry Potter,” while others compared him to Monty Python, Keith Lemon and Dr Phil.
Since purchasing Bob three years ago, he has grown in both size and character. Malcom is even considering getting a larger pond to accommodate his growing fish.
“I’m thinking about making the pond even bigger now that the fish have grown so much,” he said.
“Bob is very greedy, my partner calls me a feeder,” he joked cheekily.