Blackmoor goldfish are known for turning in to gold or orange colour, But is this something you need to worry about? Why is my Black Moor Turning Gold Orange Color?
It is very common for a black moor goldfish to turn orange colour, Most of the time it does not necessarily mean that there is a problem. Sometimes they change colors due to something in their environment.
Why is my Black Moor Turning Gold Orange Color?
All black moor goldfish will turn gold or orange color as it is part of the aging process. They will start as silver or metallic when they are young, then will turn black then will slowly fade to gold or orange over time.
Sometimes before fading to gold or orange they might develop white spots which will make you think they are suffering with a disease when the fact is this is normal for a black moor.
The color of the black moor will change as per below through its lifetime
- 0 – 3 Months : Silver
- 3 Months – 1 Year : Black
- 1 Year + : Will start to slowely fade to gold or orange colour
Why Do Black Moor Goldfish Change Color?
It is quite surprising and could be a cause for concern when you wake up one morning to see your matte black moor spotting a gold-orange color. While your fish might be healthy and bumbling with life, we are never restless when it begins to change colors.
The most common reasons for your blackmoor goldfish changing color includes
- Velvet Disease
- Demelanization
- Bad Water Quality
- Temperature of the Tank
Lets take a deeper dive in to the reasons below.
1. Velvet Disease
Do not be fooled by the fancy name. Velvet disease is one of the most common diseases most fishes experience. This happens too fast for aquarists to spot and remedy on time. It is often characterized by a dusty, yellowish speck on the skin of the black moor. It also appears as a gray-yellow tinge on the skin; a reason why it is also called gold-dust or rust disease.
Velvet diseases manifest when a dreadful parasite, Oödinium, swims with the aid of the flagella and attaches itself to the unsuspecting black moor. It penetrates the skin of the fish and gets into the cells of the fish and begins to feasts on the nutrients inside.
After maturing for a while, it begins to form a reproductive cyst, which multiplies in hundreds and released inside the water in search of new hosts. If they don’t find a host within a 24-hour window, they wither off and die. Oödinium manifests by producing golden spots on the fish, almost similar to Ich, but much finer.
The fact is that Oödinium may already be present in most commercial aquariums.
Velvet disease is extremely contagious, as it could a couple of fishes in less than 3 days. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to carry out treatment plans as soon as you’re sure it’s velvet disease.
- Raise the temperature of the water in the tank (This can be achieved by using an aquarium heater). Expert studies suggest that the parasite’s life cycle is accelerated due to heat. You’re expected to increase the tank temperature to 80° Fahrenheit.
- Treat your affected fish with copper sulfate. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions to treat the affected fish for a duration of 10 days. This ensures that the parasite is eliminated completely. Other medications include Quinine salts, methylene blue, and Atabrine.
- Oödinium is a parasite that manifests and is hugely dependent on light. Hence, it is recommended to dim the light for a couple of days, as this would lower the infestation.
- Remove carbon filtration from the tank during treatment. Filters are counterproductive when treating your black moor goldfish of velvet disease.
2. Demelanization
This is a natural occurrence that rarely happens with black moors. Some black moors are naturally predisposed to change their color after a while, as a result of hereditary and poorly maintained breeding lines.
Hence, regardless of the environment, they are bound to change their color at some point in their lives. If you notice that your fish isn’t lethargic or experiencing loss of appetite, then it could be this natural occurrence. Nothing to be worried about.
3. Bad Water Quality
Another reason why black moor turn gold-orange is due to the bad chemistry of the water as a result of overfeeding. When you overfeed your black moor, the tank will be filled with uneaten food. And coupled with released waste will make the water unbearable for the fish to thrive.
It is important, therefore to check and change the water regularly. You can also perform a nitrogen cycle to ensure that the levels of nitrates and ammonia remain at 0 ppm. At least 25% of the water should be changed on a weekly basis.
4. Temperature of the Tank
The temperature of the tank can, in several ways, affect the color of your black moor. Black moors thrive in temperature not higher than 72° Fahrenheit. If your tank is located beside a window, it might be advisable to move the tank to another location, especially during the summer.
This is to ensure that direct sunlight through the window doesn’t increase the temperature. It is also recommended that you move the tank away from any heating equipment such as microwaves, ovens and any electrical or mechanical appliance that generates heat.
Why is My Black Moor Goldfish Turning White?
If your gold moor goldfish has white spots on their body this is most likely caused by poor water conditions. If the spots look like little grans of sand then the spots will be ich.
If your fish is suffering from ich you will need to do the following
- Slowly raise the temperature of the tank to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Remove all live plants
- Clean the tank
- Change 50% of the tanks water
- Add Aquarium salt to the tank (Available on amazon)
Black moors also develop white spots at around 3 – 6 months which is an indication that they are about to change color from black to gold or orange.
Why My Black Moor Goldfish Turned Gold and Died?
The most likely reason why your black moor turned gold and died is because of a high amount of ammonia, nitrate or nitrite in your aquarium or the general water quality is bad.
If this is the case it is very important to fix the issue before it starts to affect other fish.
Test the water for the levels of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite by using a water tester kit (available on amazon)
Clean your tank and replace 50% of the water. Also check your filters to make sure they are clean and not being blocked
Conclusion
Black moors goldfish are delicate creatures that should be properly taken care of, so they can thrive and live healthy. Once you begin to spot gold orange tinges on their skin, carry out these treatment and preventive measures to save them.
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