Hi I'm just bumping this up as I've been reading a lot of misinformation about the black "comet" goldfish which I wish to correct.
Firstly they're not a hybrid between any other species of fish, hundred percent all goldfish. They were produced using black moors, selecting away from telescope eyes, short bodies and double tail. This was a relatively easy process as in any moor fry batch there are fish like these. The Moor's or black telescope's characteristics are quite obvious in the finnage. They have a high dorsal and enlarged rounded pectorals and a longish tail fin but by no means as long as that of a comet. They also do not have barbels, none at all not even tiny ones. This is a unique fertile breed of goldfish. I find the finnage and look of them highly attractive.
Secondly they don't change colour, at least nor do most black moors. Black Moors have a very stable black colouration, they may get slightly silvery when very old but usually they keep that terrific velvet black over their entire bodies. When selecting these to purchase a couple will have silver bellies, these are inferior fish but not unattractive. They do not change to red if they ever change but to plain silver. You do get the occasional telescope type eye unfortunately but this is not very pronounced when you do.
Thirdly they do not grow huge, nothing vaguely carp like, they grow about the same size as a large common goldfish. They appear quite streamline as youngsters but when well fed develop sturdy bodies like other goldfish.
Lastly they're not called black comets, they have a name in Chinese, they come from China. Unfortunately I cannot translate the name as the seller says there is no direct translation to English. I have five of these fish in my ponds, I bought them in Hong Kong from this man who knows their history and provenance. I have been seeing them around for at least four years now at the pet fish market. All have been highly active fish as are mine. I expect mine to spawn this summer as they are jut now coming into breeding age and size.
There is a truly interesting thing going on with my fish. In the small lake where they live there are at least three hundred common goldfish all red but for a dozen or so hand picked London shubunkin (I am breeding towards a very dark red strain of common goldfish) and the five blacks. The interesting thing is the blacks all keep together in their own shoal. Why this should be I have no idea. Feeding time all the fish go nuts for the pellets freely mixing in one big jumble but not the blacks they circle and take food off the edges together in their own shoal. I've not seen this before except in younger blackish olive fish that are still to colour up, however they do it because they are still small and easy prey, often chased so stick together, safety in numbers. Why the blacks do it I have no clue but they do!
Hope that helps anyone thinking of getting any of these. They are fantastic fish extremely agile and lovely to watch with their rounded fins and high dorsal, very expressive and animated. Pure black wonders I just wonder why no one made them before quite frankly when they had the material all along in the Moor. Certainly remiss. It's a sort of much improved garden worthy moor.
