|Scientific Name||-||Carassius auratus|
|Size||-||larger than 12"|
|Favourite Food||-||can be fed pellets and flakes|
The comet goldfish is the only breed of goldfish that was developed in America. First bred and introduced into the commercial aquarium market in the late 1800s, the comet gets its name due to its long, flowing tail fins that give it the appearance of a comet burning a trail through the sky.
The comet goldfish is very similar to the common goldfish, and the two are often confused. The difference is that the comet goldfish has a longer body and longer, flowing fins.
Comet goldfish are usually reddish-orange in color but also come in red, orange, yellow, white and bi-color varieties like the Sarasa Comet, which is a red and white bi-color variety.
The comet goldfish variety is thought to have originated from the United States around the 1800s. It is a single-tail long bodied goldfish. It is a hardy strain that can be kept in an outdoor pond or aquarium.
The comet looks a lot like the common goldfish in appearance, except that its fins are longer and sleeker. The caudal fin on the comet is almost as long as the its body in a good specimen, but it can still be held erect. The caudal fin is deeply forked, and the lobes are sharply pointed. A large specimen with a twelve-plus inch body and tail of greater or equal length makes for an impressive sight. In the best specimens, the tips of the tail are almost clear, which produces a beautiful effect against the background color of the fish and fins. Comets come in a variety of colors including silver and yellow, as well as a combination of these colors. While they are often metallic in color, nacreous comets are not all uncommon. Much like the common goldfish, comet goldfish are fast and agile swimmers. Comets are smaller than the common goldfish and only grow to a length of about 6 to 10 inches in an aquarium, but they can reach a length exceeding 12 inches in a large pond.
Comets are prolific breeders and are bred commercially for sale to pet shops throughout the United States and elsewhere in the world. The most popular comet variety is known as the Sarasa, which can be recognized by the white patterning and deep red extending over the fins and body. Comets will often thrive in outdoor ponds but can be susceptible to fin congestions during long periods of cold weather.
The body shape is identical to that of the Common Goldfish for all intents and purposes. The main differences are in the fin length and shape. Comets do tend towards slightly longer bodies though.
All fins should be single except the Pectoral and Pelvic fins. The Caudal fin should be pointed, long (3/4 the length of the body or more), and deeply forked, like an open pair of scissors. All other fins are longer than the Common Goldfish and should be pointed. Fins should be erect, without folding over or overlapping.Feeding
Feeding comet goldfish is by no means a complicated task as they will eat almost anything and everything that they can fit in their mouths. Comets, like all goldfish are omnivores and can be fed regularly on a diet of flakes or pellets available at pet stores. The comet goldfish diet can also be supplemented with pieces of cucumber, zucchini, broccoli, shelled peas and clippings from certain aquatic plants.Breeding comet goldfish
The comet goldfish is as prolific a breeder as the common goldfish, and given adequate space and plant cover can quickly populate an outdoor pond. Comet goldfish can be bred in the same way as common goldfish.