Comet Goldfish Care Guide
The comet is a long, slender single-tailed goldfish developed in the United States for fast swimming, best suited to ponds or very large tanks.
Overview
The comet is a single-tailed goldfish bred for a long, slender body and a deeply forked, single tail fin. It was developed in the United States from the common goldfish by Hugo Mulertt in the 1880s, first appearing in the ponds of the U.S. Government Fish Commission. Comets are hardy, fast swimmers.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Carassius
- Scientific name: Carassius auratus (Comet variety)
Origin
The comet is a selectively bred ornamental form of the goldfish, Carassius auratus, rather than a wild species. It is slightly smaller and slimmer than the common goldfish and is often kept alongside koi in outdoor ponds.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (a pond is preferable)
- Temperature: 10-22 °C (50-72 °F)
- pH: 6.5-8.0
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- Adult size: 20-30 cm
- Lifespan: 10-20 years
Diet
The comet is an omnivore. In aquaria and ponds it accepts prepared goldfish flakes and pellets, frozen and live foods, and blanched vegetables. Feeding roughly twice daily with portions the fish can consume quickly helps maintain water quality.
Compatibility
Comets are peaceful but very active and fast, so they are best kept with other single-tailed goldfish or koi in spacious systems. Slow-swimming fancy goldfish struggle to compete with them for food, and tropical species are unsuitable because comets prefer cool water. They are not reliably plant-safe and may uproot or nibble vegetation.