Sam - 2010-05-10 Hi, my tank is now about 5 months old, with only six comets in it. I saw about a week ago that one of my fav, tails is totally off. I don't know what happened. Also noticed that the fin on the back is not as usual. Now one of the others are also losing his tail. Noticed tonight that 3 of them stays at the top above the filter. What's going on. Please HELP!
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-Tia - 2010-05-19 In general, this sounds like it may be fin rot. Not sure what your tank conditions are - 6 comets: how big, in what sized tank, with what sized filter, how frequent are the water changes, and have you checked the water levels for pH / ammonia? Comets put out a lot of waste so if you don't have a big enough tank, perform regular water changes, have the right sized filter (twice the capacity of the tank size), and check the water for pH / ammonia levels it can cause problems pretty fast. The bit about your fish being by the filter might indicate they're trying to get more oxygen, or that the cleaner water coming out of the filter might just feel better.
Chris - 2010-06-05 It's a condition called "Fin Rot." I had the same problem when my tank was about 5 moths old as well. Unfortunately I didn't find the solution in time to save the little guy. But since then I've been cleaning the power filter once a week and I bought a more powerful pump for my sand stone. On top of that I put in Aquarium salt about twice a month and the biggest help has been this product called Tetra "EasyBalance" you put it in once a week and it keeps everything balanced and stabilized. It's about $4 for a months supply. The only drawback is that it builds algae on the glass really quickly, of course the light being on for about 8-10 hours a day probably adds to that, but it didn't build up nearly as fast before I started using this stuff. In any event I can live with the algae as it's easily removed! It says on the bottle that with this stuff, being used every week, you only have to do water changes once 6 months... Yeah, I don't trust that so I do a 40% once a month, which is down from 20% every week! Remember it's a bad idea to do more then 40% and never clean your filter at the same time! Along with the above clean the gravel when you do the water change and about once a week take a net and stir it around the tank, just enough to create a current that brings the fish's waste and uneaten food to the surface so you can scoop it with the net. I really had no idea when I got into this that it would be so much work but it's getting easier as I learn more tricks!
Linda - 2010-04-22 We've had 2 comet goldfish for almost a year. And I am wondering why our smallest one seems to have turned somewhat pinkish to a white color? It seems to be acting like it usually does.
Hanna - 2010-04-12 Just noticed that my comet is more rosy colour on her belly and at the roots of her tail fin, also noticed some visible veins. Her behavior is very normal, still digging up the gravel and begs for food, plays with her mate. I did water change today.
Sandra - 2010-04-04 I have a comet goldfish and its at least 17 years old. He loves to play with the stones and move them around the tank. I know they do this for food but I am sure he likes to move them to keep his pad nice and neat?
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-Tia - 2010-05-19 Just caught your post and I had to reply - 17 years is AMAZING! My 3 babies are only about 5 yrs old, I hope I can keep them as long as you've kept yours! Bravo! Oh, and all of mine like to garden too. Maybe it's a nesting behavior...
davis - 2010-03-04 i just got my comet goldfish today and he won't eat. I hope that's natural.
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Ivy - 2010-03-16 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.
Dana - 2010-03-16 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.
stephen - 2010-03-17 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.
Jessica M - 2010-03-10 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!
wheng - 2010-02-22 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.
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catella - 2010-03-09 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?
rohan - 2009-12-27 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.
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Katie - 2010-03-04 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.
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!
Hi, my tank is now about 5 months old, with only six comets in it. I saw about a week ago that one of my fav, tails is totally off. I don't know what happened. Also noticed that the fin on the back is not as usual. Now one of the others are also losing his tail. Noticed tonight that 3 of them stays at the top above the filter. What's going on. Please HELP!
In general, this sounds like it may be fin rot. Not sure what your tank conditions are - 6 comets: how big, in what sized tank, with what sized filter, how frequent are the water changes, and have you checked the water levels for pH / ammonia? Comets put out a lot of waste so if you don't have a big enough tank, perform regular water changes, have the right sized filter (twice the capacity of the tank size), and check the water for pH / ammonia levels it can cause problems pretty fast. The bit about your fish being by the filter might indicate they're trying to get more oxygen, or that the cleaner water coming out of the filter might just feel better.
It's a condition called "Fin Rot." I had the same problem when my tank was about 5 moths old as well. Unfortunately I didn't find the solution in time to save the little guy. But since then I've been cleaning the power filter once a week and I bought a more powerful pump for my sand stone. On top of that I put in Aquarium salt about twice a month and the biggest help has been this product called Tetra "EasyBalance" you put it in once a week and it keeps everything balanced and stabilized. It's about $4 for a months supply. The only drawback is that it builds algae on the glass really quickly, of course the light being on for about 8-10 hours a day probably adds to that, but it didn't build up nearly as fast before I started using this stuff. In any event I can live with the algae as it's easily removed! It says on the bottle that with this stuff, being used every week, you only have to do water changes once 6 months... Yeah, I don't trust that so I do a 40% once a month, which is down from 20% every week! Remember it's a bad idea to do more then 40% and never clean your filter at the same time! Along with the above clean the gravel when you do the water change and about once a week take a net and stir it around the tank, just enough to create a current that brings the fish's waste and uneaten food to the surface so you can scoop it with the net.
I really had no idea when I got into this that it would be so much work but it's getting easier as I learn more tricks!
Good Luck
All the best!
I have two comet goldfish and I woke up this morning and they have black streaks across their fins. Is this normal?
We've had 2 comet goldfish for almost a year. And I am wondering why our smallest one seems to have turned somewhat pinkish to a white color? It seems to be acting like it usually does.
Just noticed that my comet is more rosy colour on her belly and at the roots of her tail fin, also noticed some visible veins.
Her behavior is very normal, still digging up the gravel and begs for food, plays with her mate.
I did water change today.
It is fine it is just the new home jitters they will start to eat sooner or later.
I have a comet goldfish and its at least 17 years old. He loves to play with the stones and move them around the tank. I know they do this for food but I am sure he likes to move them to keep his pad nice and neat?
Just caught your post and I had to reply - 17 years is AMAZING! My 3 babies are only about 5 yrs old, I hope I can keep them as long as you've kept yours! Bravo!
Oh, and all of mine like to garden too. Maybe it's a nesting behavior...
i just got my comet goldfish today and he won't eat. I hope that's natural.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.