Look at this fish

[clark kent]

The fish in the center of the shot was all gold a week ago, just like the one in the lower left. This color change happened within a period of two to three days. I thought it might have cotton fungus, I've dealt with that before, but this white coloration is not fluffy like the cotton fungus I had to treat on another of my fish. This fish appears and acts quite healthy. (The fish in the upper left edge has been that light color ever since I've had the pond.)

The pond gets full sunlight all day. Water chemistry is excellent, (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates practically nil, pH steady at 8.5) You can see how clear it is. The fish survive well on bugs and algae, I don't feed them.

Is this normal?

 

[Lisak1]

Fish can and do change colors rapidly and sometimes repeatedly. I have one comet that has changed from bright orange to almost white and back again several times in a number of years. He seems to have settled on a color now, but who knows! And when he does change it happens in a day or two, just like you mentioned.

Some people say it's a result of water quality or other factors, but if they fish appears healthy, I wouldn't worry about it.

Not that you should worry about it, but the bit of foaming you have could be the result of DOCs. It's not harmful, but you may want to make sure you don't have any organic material decaying in the pond. Spawning can also cause it, as can heavy rainfall, so it's just one thing to be aware of!

 

[clark kent]

There is a large waterfall not visible in the picture. I think that's where the foaming comes from.

 

[Mmathis]

Goldfish, especially, can and will change colors. I see it more in my younger fish. As long as the fish don’t appear I’ll and their behavior is normal, it’s nothing to worry about.

 

[Lisak1]

I think that's where the foaming comes from.

The waterfall does create the foam, but it's foaming from the excess phosphates in the water. Normal agitation from the waterfall should dissipate very quickly. When it holds together like that and floats across the water, that's more than just agitation. Like I said, yours is minor - just something to watch!

 

[clark kent]

I am a noob to water chemistry. Are phosphates something that can be tested for, and maybe I should be testing for?

 

[clark kent]

Sooo, it turns out that the municipal water I use has phosphates in it. I ordered a phosphate test kit to find out just how much is in the water. Then I'll decide if I need to do anything about it.

 

[GBBUDD]

I believe your thinking of proteins forsurface foam and phosphates are a contributer to algae growth Poteins are usually death from something

 

[clark kent]

I regularly vacuum the bottom of the pond. There is very little dead/decaying matter in the pond.

 

[Lisak1]

I believe your thinking of proteins forsurface foam and phosphates are a contributer to algae growth

Yup. The proteins create the foam, but the phosphates play a part in keeping the foam together. That's why they removed the phosphates from laundry detergents years ago as they would make their way to natural waterways and you'd see streams and rivers full of foam.