Pigmentation.

[grumpybum]

Amongst other fish I have several Comets. One of which has lost all its colour and is now totaly white.

Is there an underlying problem or is this normal?

[Steve Walker]

Goldfish do commonly change colour as they get older. I've got a couple which started off bronze (as usual), gradually turned orange, and are now white.

[UK-Fishing-Tackle.co.uk]

It happens I think. Shame because a nice sized comet is actually quite a good looking fish (compared to ugly Shubbis!!)

[grumpybum]

Thanks guys its put my mind to rest. Initialy I thought it was fungus as the head went white first. I have quite a few fry swimming round, and was worried about these.

[peter mccue]

Funny thing about Golfish pigmentation is that usually the books tell you that young Goldfish turn from brown to Gold within the first 3 years.

 

I had a Goldie for 10 years in my pond (born & bred in there). For some strange reason in it's tenth year it changed from it's Brown since hatching colour, to almost total Gold in the space of a couple of months.

 

The Heron got it very shortly afterwards, I was gutted. But why the sudden change after so long?