Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus

The fair-ground goldfish that grows far bigger than its bowl. Comets are cold-water speedsters with sweeping tails.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 25 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 12–23 °C, pH 6.5–8.2 and an aquarium of at least 200 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

12–23 °C (54–73 °F)

pH

6.5–8.2

Adult size

25 cm (10 in)

Aquarium

200 L or bigger (53 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Ponds worldwide

Good to know

• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Axolotl, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Bristlenose Pleco, Corydoras, Fancy Goldfish, Mystery Snail, Nerite Snail, Rosy Barb, Swordtail.

Will eat: Amano Shrimp, Celestial Pearl Danio, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Ghost Shrimp, Marbled Hatchetfish, Neocaridina Shrimp, Neon Tetra, Pea Puffer.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana.

Attacked by: Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Angelfish, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid and 27 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Black Ghost Knifefish, Electric Blue Acara, Firemouth Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar and 3 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Orange common
• Sarasa common
• Lucky Red rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.6 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.