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Comet Goldfish

Family: Cyprinidae

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Carassius auratus auratusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     The Comet Goldfish is much like the common goldfish, but is a more reddish orange color and has a much longer, deeper forked tail fin!

     The Comet Goldfish, also called the Comet-tail Goldfish, are a 'reddish orange' colored goldfish that are inexpensive and readily available. This fish was the first variety of the single-tail goldfish to be developed with a long caudal (tail) fin. It was developed in the United States from the Common Goldfish in the early 19th century, presumably by Hugo Mullert of Philadelphia who then introduced them in quantity into the market. Though they are a bit smaller goldfish than the Common Goldfish, they are every bit as durable and can be kept in either an aquarium or in an outdoor pond.

   These fish can be quite personable and are delightful to watch. One of the hardiest of the gold fish varieties, the Comet Goldfish are recommended for beginners. They are an easy fish to keep as they are not picky and will readily eat what is offered. These are some of the most graceful of the elongated goldfish, emphasized by their long tail. They are active, rapid swimmers and will sometimes tend to leap out of the water, so having a lid on an aquarium is good idea. They are also very social and thrive well in a community.

Common Goldfish Comet Goldfish

     The Comet Goldfish is very similar to, and sometimes confused with, the Common Goldfish. The Comet Goldfish is a further development of the Common Goldfish. Both these fish have an almost identical body shape but the fins on the Comet are much longer, especially the caudal (tail) fin, and it is more deeply forked. Also, the Comet is generally a more reddish orange while the Common Goldfish is more orangish. The adult size of the Comet Goldfish is smaller too. On both these fish the caudal (tail) fin is held fully erect.

    Comet Goldfish, often called the Pond Comet, are primarily a reddish orange color, but they are also available in yellow, orange, white, and red. There is also a bi-color red/white combination and occasionally they are available with nacreous (pearly) scales, giving them a variegated color.

     Other types of Comet include the Sarasa Comet. This variety has long flowing fins and is characterized by a red-and-white coloration that holds a resemblance to a koi color pattern called 'Kohaku'. The Tancho Single-tail Comet is a silver colored variety with a red patch on its head.

     Along with the other elongated goldfish, such as the Common Goldfish and the Shubunkin Goldfish, the Comet varieties make good pond fish. They are hardy and can tolerate cold water temperatures. They are moderate in size but are active and fast, so will get along well with Koi. Also Comets usually won't uproot plants, but they will readily spawn so can quickly overpopulate your pond.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:      The Goldfish, a wild carp originally known by such names as the Crucian Carp, Gibel Carp, or Golden Carp, was described by Linnaeus in 1758. They originated in Asia; Central Asia and China. Today domesticated goldfish are distributed world-wide. These fish inhabit the slow moving and stagnant waters of rivers, lakes, ponds, and ditches feeding on plants, detritus, small crustaceans, and insects.
     In the early 1600's these fish were exported first to Japan and then to Europe and were developed into the wonderful colors and forms of gold fish we see today. The Comet Goldfish was the first variety of the single-tail goldfish to be developed with a long caudal (tail) fin. It was developed in the United States from the Common Goldfish in the early 19th century, presumably by Hugo Mullert of Philadelphia who then introduced them in quantity into the market. It is one of the more than 125 captive bred varieties of goldfish that have been developed.

Status:      This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List, and presumably there are no wild populations of this captive bred variety.

Description:      The Comet Goldfish is an elongated, flat-bodied variety of goldfish. The head is wide but short and it has a smoothly tapering body shape, from its back and belly to the base of its caudal fin (tail fin). The caudal fin is long, deeply forked and generally stands fully erect. They are primarily a reddish orange color, but they are also available in yellow, orange, white, and red. There are also a bi-color red/white combination and occasionally they are available with nacreous (pearly) scales, giving them a variegated color.
     Other types of Comet Goldfish include the Sarasa Comet. This variety has long flowing fins and is characterized by a red-and-white coloration that holds a resemblance to a koi color pattern called 'Kohaku'. The Tancho Single-tail Comet is a silver colored variety with a red patch on its head. Comets have a natural life span of up to 14 years, though possibly longer if kept in optimal conditions.

Size - Weight:      The Comet Goldfish is a bit smaller than the Common Goldfish, but even so, the environment it is kept in is a determining factor on whether your pet grows to its full potential size or is somewhat smaller. In an average 10 gallon tank, if well cared for and not crowded, they can grow up to about 4 inches (10 cm), while in a larger uncrowded tank they can grow larger generally reaching about 7 or 8 inches (17.78 - 20.32 cm). If kept in a spacious pond they can reach over 12 inches (30+ cm).

Care and feeding:      Since they are omnivorous, the Comet Goldfish will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. To care for your goldfish, feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), blood worms, Daphnia, or tubifex worms as a treat. It is usually better to feed freeze-dried foods as opposed to live foods to avoid parasites and bacterial infections that could be present in live foods.
     Comet Goldfish are some of the hardier species of goldfish. They are very undemanding of water quality and temperature. Many people try to keep goldfish in small one or two gallon bowls with no heater or filtration. But for the best success in keeping goldfish, provide them the same filtration, especially biological filtration, that other aquarium residents enjoy.
     The shape and size of the aquarium is important and depends upon the number of fish you are going to keep. Goldfish need a lot of oxygen and produce a lot of waste.

• A large surface area of water will help minimize goldfish suffering from an oxygen shortage. Surface area is determined by the shape of the tank. For the same volume of water, an elongated tank offers more surface area (and oxygen) than a tall tank. In a fish bowl, filling the bowl to the middle offers more surface area (and oxygen) than filling the bowl to the top. Always provide the maximum amount of surface area.
• Providing a large amount of water per fish will help dilute the amount of waste and reduce the number of water changes needed.
• A general rule of thumb for young fish only is: 1 inch of fish (2.54 cm) per 1 gallon of water. This rule applies only to young fish and is not adequate as they grow. Larger gold fish consume much more oxygen than young fish so maintaining this formula for growing fish will stunt them, and can contribute to disease and even death.
• Keep the tank size and shape in mind when you are buying your fish. To allow for growth, either buy fewer fish than the maximum number of fish (based on the above formula) or be prepared to get a larger tank.

     Because goldfish produce a lot of waste, good filtration is very helpful in maintaining the water quality of the aquarium. Regular weekly water changes of 1/4 to 1/3 is strongly recommended to keep these fish healthy.
     Use a gravel substrate and add some decorations that provide shelter for your pet goldfish. Driftwood and smooth rocks make good, safe decorations; and plants are especially appreciated, either live or plastic. A cover for the tank is desirable as it reduces evaporation and though they are not prone to jumping, on occasion some gold fish will jump out. Most aquariums come with a cover that includes lighting and will help if you have live plants.
     Comet Goldfish can and do naturally change color, but color changes are also believed to be influenced by diet and the amount of light. Aquarists often report the reds and oranges of their goldfish changing to white. A fresh diet, along with good lighting but with shaded areas are suggested as the best way to maintain the original coloration, but are not always successful.
     Goldfish are subject to the same diseases as tropical fish. A couple of the more common problems are Ich, Swim Bladder disease, and external parasites including flukes, lice and anchor worms. To learn about these and other diseases and how to treat them see: Aquarim Fish  Diseases & Treatments.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:      These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:      The Comet Goldfish is one of the most hardy varieties of goldfish and can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day. A quick temperature drop can kill them, so if you live in a very cold climate a heater is advisable.
     Temp: Goldfish are a cold water fish and will do best at temperatures between 65 - 72 ° F (18 °- 22 ° C)
     Hardness: 5 - 19 ° dGH
     Ph: 6.0 to 8.0

Social Behaviors:      Goldfish are very social animals and thrive in a community. Not only are they a great community fish but they are great scavengers as well. It is really not necessary to add other scavengers or other bottom feeders to the aquarium when you have goldfish.
     Most fancy goldfish will thrive in both freshwater and tropical aquariums as long as there are no aggressive or territorial fish in the tank. Some good tank mates for fancy goldfish are the Chinese Blue Bitterling and the Northern Redbelly Dace. Comet Goldfish can be kept with other varieties of elongated goldfish, such as the Common Goldfish and the Shubunkin, and they also do fine with Koi.

Sexual Differences:      Although is it impossible to sex Goldfish when they are young and not in breeding season, the male is usually smaller and more slender that the female. In the breeding season the male has white prickles, called breeding tubercles, on its gill covers and head. Seen from above the female will have a fatter appearance as she is carrying eggs.

Breeding/Reproduction:      Comet Goldfish are egg layers that spawn readily in the right conditions. See Breeding Freshwater Fish - Goldfish for more information on breeding Goldfish.

Availability:      The Comet Goldfish is readily available and is inexpensive.

Author: David Brough. CFS.

• Comet Goldfish: $0.27
• Comet Goldfish: $5.99

Comet Goldfish Offered By: PetsMart Price: $0.27

Sarasa Comet Goldfish Offered By: PetsMart Price: $5.99

Comments
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Latest Comments
i just got my comet goldfish today and he won't eat. I hope that's natural. Reply davis 2010-03-04
Replies (3) My comet goldfish didn't eat until they were adapted to their environment. I believe it's very normal. They started nibbling about 24 hours after, and eating very heartily after about 2 days.... Ivy The fish just went through a very stressful ordeal, and it is freaked out, and even if it did eat the food, it's just spit it back up, it should be fine the day after that.... Dana How's he doing now? Water quality all good? The first thing Goldfish will do when not feeling tip-top is to stop eating. Although they will sometimes not eat for the first few days. ... stephen
My comet isn't very well, she has black spots on her mouth and various parts of the body, she just lies on the bottom of the tank and isn't eating.... can anyone help.. I have had her nearly 5 years and normally she is so active.. Thanks Donna Reply donna 2010-01-31
Replies (2) Did you change anything? Like her surroundings or add more or less water, different tank?... Samantha This isn't a good thing, try to find a website with good medical information, pictures to match etc. Goldfish are hardy but once they turn the corner it is an uphill battle to get them back. You can do it though, just make sure you take any carbon in your filter out while you medicate. Adjust water and filter flow so he doesn't get sucked up or damaged. You might even want to think about a hanging basket type thing so he can't hurt himself on the bottom. Above all check your water quality, although this sounds like a fungus to me water quality issues can do some really weird things. Good luck!... stephen
Comet goldfish have a very long life span. Mine is 9 inches and is 10 years old. I have him in a 55 gallon aquarium all by himself (the other 2 calico'c died 2 years before his 10th year in my tank). The fish has great character and I am still trying to find another 7 inch goldfish. They are great pets! Reply paul richards 2009-07-31
I won my goldfish at a county at 2 inches also, I had my goldfish for 5 years and he is now 7 inches long. Reply Emily 2009-07-15
I won a comet goldfish at my county fair, she was only 2inch then and now she is 7 1/2 inches. I first had her in a 2gallon fish tank but upgraded her to a 5 gallon and she is still growing. She is constantly active but fun to watch. Reply Erin 2009-03-29
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Some of the bestest comments - here's the beef!
Just as this website explains above, comet goldfish require filtration and aeration just like other aquarium fish. They shouldn't be kept in bowls. A full grown comet will require a minimum of a 30 gallon tank. Even a small 1 inch goldfish shouldn't be kept in anything smaller than 2 gallons, and that's for only one comet TEMPORARILY! If you're really wanting to keep a fish in a bowl, I would recommend a betta. Although they actually prefer a warmer temperature (78-82 degrees F), they usually live at room temperature with no problem. They will not require filtration as long as you change out the water once weekly (make sure you are using "conditioned" tap or well water or spring water, and make sure it is at about room temperature so as too not shock the fish). Bettas are also different from most fish in that they do not require aeration. Bettas actually breathe from the air/water surface. Keep in mind, however, that you can only have one betta per bowl/tank. *If you get a female betta (shorter fins), you can sometimes keep more than one per bowl/tank, but keep in mind that should the fish begin to fight, you will have to have a second container to separate them. Reply Katie 2010-03-04
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Questions - Answers
I got my fish yesterday but it just swims into the wall of the bowl. Is it just lonely because I only got one? Reply Sam Tebi 2010-03-14
I bought this comet goldfish for my 3 yr old girl last weekend, but it's too sad. After we transfer them into the fish bowl, like 3 gallons, they died 2 hrs after we came home. Anybody know if we need a small pump to give them oxygen? Thanks a lot and hoping to hear from you soon, so I know if I can get a new comet goldfish again. Thanks. Reply wheng 2010-02-22
Replies (1) comet gold fish are very social fish when you buy you should at least buy 2 and yes just like any other fish you should have a air pump and filter depending on the size of your fish it could have died because of suffocation , poor water quality, and or stress. did you just dump him in or did you let the bag sit in the water for at least 20 min before you let him out? ... catella
My comet fish is not moving. I bought 2 comet fish today, and they are not moving in the tank when light is on, after switching off the light they start move around the tank. What's wrong with them? I think they love dark. After they came, it is about 1 day, and they dont eat anything. Why they don't eating? Can anyone help me please. Reply rohan 2009-12-27
Replies (1) The fish are probably just stressed. Keeping the light off for 24 hours or so actually helps stressed fish. Sometimes fish won't eat for a few days or so when they have recently moved tanks also. It's also possible if the tank that you have moved the fish too is significantly smaller than the one they were previously in, that the fish are stressed and confused. Just make sure that your tank is large enough and your water quality stays good, and I'm sure the fish will come around in a day or so.... Katie
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Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I LOVE THIS SITE! I have had comets for a while, and I love them to their intestines! they are the coolest fish! This site has made me the best fish taker carer of person I can be! Thanks Dr. Jungle! Reply Jessica M 2010-03-10
If only I had read this webstie before hand. New comet has jumped out of the bowl in the middle of the night, and my son so sad. Reply Anonymous 2010-02-16

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