I just brought a 16 gallon tank and I set it up about four weeks ago. Anyway, I got 4 small/med. size comet goldfish and I wanted to know how can I tell how old are they.THANKS!!!!
2007-08-14 10:58:39 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
As others have said, your goldfish are very young, probably around 4-6 weeks old. They are fine in your tank for now, BUT they will become way too crowded in the near future. Your comets common get to be over a foot long each and 4 of them would need about a 150 gallon tank to swim comfortably. Your tank would be a great home for a single fancy goldfish, like an Oranda. Once they get to be around 4" long, you need to return them and trade them in on a different fish so they won't be harmed by the crowding.
MM
2007-08-14 11:21:22 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The other answers are basically correct, but your question gives rise to a more cosmic issue: how do you tell the age in years of ANY fish?
The most reliable method, if you don't know for a fact when the fish was born, is to remove the otolith -a bone in the fish's ear. This, unfortunately, kills the fish. You slice up this bone and put it under a microscope; it has rings, like a tree. Count 'em -and that's how many "winters" the fish has been through.
The average life expectancy of your basic Comet is 20+ years, but some have been known to get up to 45 or so. You'll know they are that old when you see them on little rocking chairs with blankets around them.
2007-08-15 12:06:52 · answer #2 · answered by JSGeare 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they're probably just weeks old. Anyways those 4 comets will grow very large within a short amount of time. Your 16 Gal will soon be too small. Comets are pond fish.
2007-08-14 18:04:44 · answer #3 · answered by Malvin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are probably very young. Be warned however that there is a reason they are pond fish and feeder fish. They can grow very large and they create A LOT of waste. They poop more than any fish I have ever owned. I had to clean my aquarium once a week or more to keep the filter working and clean.
They are fun fish to watch and they are cheap at pet stores, but you'll need to get a bigger tank or a pond to keep them alive.
2007-08-14 18:08:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably between 6 months and a year if they are under 3" and have color. They won't live long in that tank, too much ammonia.
2007-08-14 18:06:36 · answer #5 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
MM said everything, and I ditto it, but, I just want to clarify that the near future is about 6 months. 1 year at best.
2007-08-14 18:59:33 · answer #6 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask them
2007-08-16 16:56:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋