Red & White Comet 5cm

Red and White Comet

Comet goldfish are usually the first fish an aquarist keeps when they enter this hobby and of that, 99% of the time they start with the red and white comet strain. Goldfish make for a fantastic ornamental fish and have such a rich history that they carry. The comet style of goldfish was developed in America and is now recognised worldwide for its elongated body shape, long tail, and stunning colours. The red and white comet is arguably one of the most classic strains of any goldfish.

Red and white comet goldfish as their name suggests sport a contrasting deep red and contrasting tone. The red colouration tends to be the most dominant and spans through the upper half of the body from head to tail. The white colour runs parallel through the belly area creating this fire and ice type look. What is great though is no two comets will look the same, minor changes in the level of red versus white, patterning, and colour positioning will change.

These would be a perfect pond addition and will really stand out with their vibrancy, especially under natural sunlight. Breeding these red and white comet goldfish is not common in the home aquarium but in an outdoor pond with plant cover, it should happen naturally. The females are egg scatterers and as long as there is enough cover and vegetation in the pond, there is a high chance that offspring will survive. Though there are not any immediate distinguishing factors between males and females, the females tend to be rounder.

Tank Recommendations for your Red and White Comet
As there is a colour variation of the standard comet which can easily reach an excess of 20 cm, it is best to keep these fish in a large aquarium. The minimum volume should be around 350 litres for a full-grown fish. This ensures that there is enough space for swimming and a large enough volume for this generally messy fish. A sandy substrate will be great as goldfish often sift through the sand in search of food, Fine-leafed plants will easily become a meal however species like Anubias will be fine to keep.

Suitable Tank Buddies
Comets are great fish because they are not aggressive in the slightest and can be kept with a range of tank mates. Common tank mates they can be kept with are active and small Coldwater tolerant fish. The goldfish however might eat fry produced by these smaller fish however they will be perfectly fine with adults. Fin-nipping species however should be avoided entirely as they will make short work on the flowing fins of the goldfish.

Usually Compatible
Other goldfish strains, danios, koi, and similar cold water species.

Sometimes Compatible
Very small and slow-moving fish may potentially become a meal such as white cloud minnows.

Rarely Compatible
Discus, neon Tetras, rams, oscars, and other high-end tropical or aggressive species.

Feeding your Red and White Comet
These goldfish would be incredibly fun fish to feed because they will really set off a feeding frenzy when in a school. Giving a good quality pellet food would be the easiest and most nutritional option for these goldfish. They can also be fed green matter like blanched vegetables for added variation to the diet.