Is it normal for a once orange gold fish to turn completley white?

Question

i've watched my goldfish turn a gradual white... is this normal or could there be something wrong with him/her?!?!?!

Answer 1

This is perfectly natural. My chocolate fan tails (which I loved their copper color) turned silver white in the outside pond. Lighting on gold fish, as well as breeding plays a large roll in color (especially in their first two years). If gold fish are kept in a deep pond where very little ambient daylight reach, they will revert to a white or light color.
Select breeding makes different colors possiable. Since all gold fish are of the same "species" breeding especially in an outside pond can lead to many varieties of color. Some gold fish, like the chocolates are bread strickly for color. comets and shabunkins are also bread this way. Tail types etc. However, diet light and size can change these colors and the fish can resort back to the color of one or more of the parents.

The goldfish, Carassius auratus, was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is still one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish. A relatively small member of the carp family (which also includes the koi carp and the crucian carp), the goldfish is a domesticated version of a dark-gray/olive/brown carp native to east Asia (first domesticated in China) that was introduced to Europe in the late 17th century. The mutation that gave rise to the goldfish is also known from other cyprinid species, such as common carp and tench.

To make these hearty pond fish more appealing to the eye color breeding was also introduced in the late 17th century.
If you need more information, check out "breeding gold fish for color"

Answer 2

Yes and no. All goldfish change color over time, but loss of all pigmentation can also be a sign of poor water or lighting quality or of disease. If the change was gradual over a few months you have nothing to worry about, but if it was a fast change something could be wrong.

This is NOT ick. Yes, many fish get ick, but you people need to stop using ick as a diagnosis for everything that goes wrong with fish. Ick is a parasite that does not cause loss of color, frayed fins, or anything of the sort.

Answer 3

I have had some of my gold fish change colour and i read somewhere that it is a sign of
1) reaching sexual maturity
2) old age
it is natural don't fret over it but if you are still worried just call a vet and they can help you

Answer 4

completely normal, it's a bit like us getting grey hair!

there's an article in this months Practical Fishkeeping magazine (UK) in the questions part with someone asking the exact same thing.

now if it was a very sudden change of colour, or was combined with other symptoms such as lethargy, bloating, sunken stomach, external oddness, then it would be something to worry about.

Answer 5

I have seen white goldfish in petshops so i have to say yes

Answer 6

no it's not normal. You may want to talk to an aquarium about your fish, it sounds like it has some kind of ick disease or something. Most fish get ick. A disease that causes infections in fish and they can get it from their water. Also you might try allowing the water to sit for 24 hours before putting the fish in it once you've changed the water in it's bowl. Some fish get bleached out from the chlorine in the water we drink.

Answer 7

it's normal, lots of goldfish change colors

Answer 8

That sounds like a Bad thing

you should talk to a vet ar resersh it online

Answer 9

It is normal.

Answer 10

yes