
However, you can get around that by weighing down your aquarium plants with large rocks that the fish can’t easily move. That’s not a problem in a pond, but if you keep these fish in an aquarium, their digging can wreak havoc on your aquascape. Unfortunately, that can lead to the uprooting of aquatic plants and disturbance of the substrate. Like most goldfish species, Comets are incredibly food-oriented, spending much of their time foraging for tidbits. Generally, Comets kept in a larger fish pond live much longer than those kept in an aquarium. However, the typical lifespan for this fish species is 10 to 15 years. Sarasa Comets can live for up to 20 years when kept in a spacious habitat and fed a good diet.
#Comet goldfish size full#
The full variegated color of the Sarasa Comet doesn’t emerge until the fish are around eight months old. Juvenile Comets are a metallic brown color, harking back to their wild relatives and camouflaged to protect them from predators. Comets have a single caudal fin and erect dorsal, being slightly more slender-bodied than the common goldfish, although they are fundamentally the same shape.

So, that tiny 2-inch fish you brought home from the fish store will quickly grow to be a monster that’s too big for your 20-gallon tank! That’s because these fish can grow up to 14 inches in length! Contrary to popular fish myths, goldfish don’t grow according to the size of their tank. The Sarasa Comet fish is unsuitable for life in an aquarium unless you have an extensive setup. However, because they’re so brightly colored, these naturalized goldfish are quickly snatched by predators and don’t generally live for very long. These fish were most likely released into the wild environment by their owners because the fish outgrew their aquarium. That said, there are a few “wild” goldfish populations in various locations around the world. Unfortunately, that has led to the fish being kept in unsuitable conditions, such as fishbowls and small tanks, often with inadequate filtration. Since then, the goldfish has become the traditional child’s pet. From there, the fish were traded with Japan and later in the US and Europe. That’s because these fish are artificial! Goldfish originated in China, having been selectively bred during the Tang dynasty to create a brightly colored, ornamental pond fish.

Koi tend to grow bigger than Comets and have facial barbels that are lacking on the Comet.Ĭomets, like all species of regular goldfish, are not found in the wild environment. The Sarasa Comet is often confused with its close relative, the ornamental carp or Koi. So, the Comet is the perfect choice for the beginner or experienced aquarist alike. These fish are beautiful, easy to look after, and can be personable and interactive with their owners, too. One of our favorite goldfish varieties is the Sarasa Comet (Carassius auratus).

Goldfish are also less expensive than Koi, which are also not as easy to care for as traditional goldfish.īut with over 200 varieties of goldfish to choose from, which do you go for? Goldfish are the obvious choice! These fish are descended from wild carp, so they do very well in an outdoor pond setting. If you have a garden pond, you might be wondering what fish to stock.
