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You can just choose whichever lights you prefer.
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LightingĬomet goldfish do not have any particular needs when it comes to lighting. Comets will be fine with sand, gravel or a bare bottom tank, whichever you prefer. This species does not require a particular kind of substrate. Water ParametersĬomet goldfish prefer harder water with a pH over 7.0.Ĭomets, like all goldfish, are cold water fish that do not require a heater at room temperature. For more information about it, please see this article. This transformation of fish wastes into less toxic byproducts is known as the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle and is the most important concept in fish keeping. Nitrate is much less toxic than ammonia or nitrite, so it can be allowed to build up in the tank between weekly water changes. These bacteria eat up ammonia in the water column and transform it to nitrite (NO 2 -1) and then to nitrate (NO 3-). On top of that, there are beneficial bacteria that grow in filters that help to detoxify wastes. Without filtration, fish waste would build up, putting out more and more ammonia, until the tank water became completely unlivable.įilters help to pump water around the aquarium and keep it from becoming stagnant. This is a major concern because ammonia is highly toxic.Īll it takes is one part per million of ammonia in the water to stress and kill many kinds of fish. These active fish are eating machines that put out a huge amount of waste.Īs that waste accumulates in the aquarium, it will break down and begin to put off ammonia (NH 3). You may want to look into getting a canister filter. Good filtration is absolutely critical when you’re keeping comet goldfish. Please, keep goldfish in an appropriately sized tank with a filter. THERE IS NO SPECIES OF GOLDFISH THAT CAN SURVIVE LONG TERM IN A GOLDFISH BOWL. I’m not saying it’s impossible to keep them in a tank, I just think it’s easier to have them in a good sized pond outside instead of maintaining a massive tank in your living room that can only house three or four fish.Īll species of goldfish get fairly large and need a lot of tank space and filtration. In fact, if at all possible, I would recommend keeping comets in a medium to large pond instead of an aquarium. I know, that seems an awful lot of tank space for just a few fish, but they really do need that much room. So, two comets should be kept in a 125 gallon (473 liter), three should be in a 175 gallon (662 liter), and so on. I recommend keeping a single comet goldfish in a 75 gallon (284 liter) tank.Īnd if you want to keep a group, you need to add another 50 gallons (190 liters) per fish. Not only are they large, but they are also very active fish that puts off a lot of waste.Ĭomets swim almost constantly and so they need a large area to move around in. They can easily reach lengths of 12 inches (30 centimeters). These fish are very large when they reach adulthood. The most important thing to consider when it comes to comet goldfish is space.
STARTING A GOLDFISH AQUARIUM HOW TO
How to Set Up a Comet Goldfish Tank Tank Size The common goldfish was originally bred from the Prussion carp ( Carassius gibelio). Murlett selectively bred common goldfish to create this special breed of goldfish that is slimmer and has a large, deeply forked, single tail.
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They were first bred by Hugo Mulertt, a government worker in Washington, D.C. Comet-tailed goldfish first appeared in the aquarium trade in the late 19th Century. The comet goldfish is not a naturally occurring species. A comet’s tail is usually the same length as its body. They have a large, flowing tail that really stands out compared to a common goldfish. And the most noticeable difference, comets have much larger, showier fins. How many can be kept together: as many as the tank/pond will allowĬomet goldfish look fairly similar to their ancestor, the common goldfish, but with some differences.Ĭomets have a slightly slimmer, more sleek body type than common goldfish.A comet’s tail usually takes up half its body length! This breed of goldfish comes in a variety of colors, like yellow, orange, red, white or bi-color.
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Appearance: sleek, slim-bodied goldfish with a long, flowy tail that is deeply forked.In this guide, you’ll learn how to care for comet goldfish, set up your own aquarium, and provide them with an optimal diet for a long and healthy life. Comet goldfish ( Carassius auratus) are a hardy species of fish whom is able to handle a wide variety of water conditions.Īctive and fun to watch, caring for comet goldfish does come with some absolute musts.
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