Help with Black Moor Goldfish

[skimpy]

Hi everyone,

I'm in this section which hopefully is the correct place to ask a question for a friend.

She has 3 x black moor goldfish in a tank approximately 25 litre tank. She has had them for about 2 years and six months ago two of them came down with cloudy eye. She transferred them to a different tank (20 litres) and medicated them and they have been in their ever since (6 months).

Just lately one has turned completely orange and the other one is turning (about 1/2 way so far). The orange kicks in from the underside of the fish, working its way up the sides and eventually the top turns orange. The one that is left in the original tank is still black.

Her question is: is this normal for a black moor or is there something wrong with the fish. They are definately 2years old and depending on what the fish shop had them for or at what age they are sold, possibly a little older. She guessed they were 6months old when bought.

Does anyone have any clues or knowledge that could help, is this normal to change colour. Otherwise the fish seem perfectly well.

Thanks

 

[black angel]

hi
when you say orange is it a goldfish orange or more of a dull orange. if its a dull colour then some black moores do turn this colour. its a result of poor quality than anything wrong with the fish. if its a real golden colour then i have no idea, maybe the food or light is changing the coulour,especially if its in the sun.
just as a side note, can she test her water for the ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate sometimes this can affect them too.
fancy goldfish need at least 8 (uk) gallons when small to live in.

 

[skimpy]

Hi black angle

It is definately a light colour orange, she brought in a photo to work for me to see, but it was a print so I can't post it on here.

If it is a result of poor water quality, I can find out what she does, test her water and give her some tips on how to improve her quality. If she takes this on board would the fish turn black again with the improvement or will they stay the colour they are.

Thanks

 

[black angel]

the colour change is because the fish is from poor stock,it wont turn to black again

 

[ryan]

Nothing to worry about at all. Black Moors were originally off casts from Fancy Goldfish breeding that stayed Black, over time they have been breed into their own breed but they still carry the same gold colour trait and alot of fish will either turn gold or gain some colouring on the fins or stomach area. Show winning Moors are ones that stay a deep black.

The tanks they are being kept in are way to small, a full grown Black Moor needs at least 15-20gallons with 10g being a minimum size for a grow out tank. If they continue to be kept in these size tanks their life span will be considerable reduced. In good conditions such a fish should easily reach 20-25 years of age.

 

[skimpy]

Sorry black angle, just re-read your previous post. I realise now you mean poor quality stock, not poor quality water conditions.

It's either I am so used to it being water conditions in the tropical section, or I can't read any longer

Thanks

 

[skimpy]

Thank also to you ryan, I'll pass that information on.