Black goldfish????

[codswallop]

We have a pond with goldfish in it.Up to about 2years ago they re-produced quite naturally,and now they won't show themselves only when they are fed,and all the babies are black which is natural.But they never turned to "gold". any ideas please,is there any connection with them rarely coming to the surface???? Thanks!!!!

[snags]

Heron?

[rowanwitch]

reversion to dominant wild forms or not maturing enough to take on gold tones... is the pond overcrowded as this seems to slow growth and maturation rates

[codswallop]

Hi snags are you suggesting "heron"because it's scaring them so as to not show themselves or keeping their numbers down?As to the numbers rowanwitch has probably touched on the answer because there are quite a few in a comparatively small pond.Thanks!!!!

[snags]

My mum has a large pond housing approx 100 goldfish, both adult and their offspring of past years. Many of the young from the last couple of years have not turned gold, possibly as rowan has suggested because of overcrowding/competition for food and space and therefore slower growth/maturation. They used to regularly show at the surface at all times but now only rise at feeding time due to Herons feeding on them early in the morning...

[rowanwitch]

I gave some black youngsters to a friend for her 'designer fish tank' pink gravel orange weed so she wanted black fish.... they went gold in about 6 weeks

[codswallop]

Thanks to you both!!

[SlackAlice]

Some of my goldfish don't change from black to gold for about 3-5yrs.