How do you take care of a Comet Goldfish?

Answer 1

COMET GOLDFISH

If you want an elegant goldfish that's as tough as it is pretty, the Comet Goldfish is for you. Sort of a halfway house between the Common goldfish and the Fantail, the Comet has a sleek, elongated body that ends in a single scissor-like tail.

Indeed, it's called the Swallowtail goldfish in the Far East, which we think really suits it.

Comets come in several different colours, with gold and metallic fish and the orange-and-red Sarasa Comet amongst the most popular. In prize-winning fish, the colour of the body extends right into the tail; even everyday specimens in the pet shop should show deep, rich colours over most of the body. All Comets start life silvery green, however, which makes buying very young fish rather hit-and-miss.

In ideal conditions Comets can reach nearly a foot in length. Although their growth will be restricted in smaller quarters, it's only right to give them as much space as you can spare.

Comet goldfish tips:

• As ever when buying goldfish, look for bright, clear-eyed specimens that take an interest in their surroundings.
• The tail shouldn't droop at all.
• Comets are fast-moving fish that need a large indoor aquarium (ideally at least four-foot in length), or better yet a pond.
• They are pretty hardy fellows, and will happily live outside in most regions, provided their pond is deep enough for over-wintering.
• Comets love to shoal, so try to keep 4-6 fish together.

Comet goldfish seem to have been rather overshadowed in recent years by their fancier counterparts, which is a shame. Even purists who worry that man has tampered too much with some varieties of goldfish have to admit that the comet is a splendid creation.