Hi there

I have had my blackmoor for a year and a half, and lately these past month or so he's been losing its blackness (see photos attached)

He's going a more orange colour. Should I be concerned?

Regards
L.

Color changing is a typical process in gf. But if you want to keep the black, here is a good one for you.
http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=47896

Thats good to hear.

So cutting down artificial light time from 8 hours per day to 5 per day shd help get his blackness back?

I think you may also have a fish there that will end up mostly orange. It is quite normal for fish color to change dramatically and black is the least stable color. I've had a fish change from yellow and black to completely orange

I think Black in our goldfish is a very unstable color to maintain, some say putting them out in the sunlight will help keep the black, but it doesn't last if brought back in. But then there are some black goldfish that keep their black with any lighting that they are under.

I had a calicol fantal that lost all his black.

Its pretty normal. you can try different lights to keep the black. Here is a thread on the different lights you can use to keep the black--

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=47896

Agree. How long a fish retains its blackness greatly dependent on the genetics. However as vmlola said, sunlight is the best way to help your fish retain his blackness. Some lights suck as the Grolux tubes also helps (as my calico ryukin can testify).

Putting it in the darkness longer will NOT help his blackness back. It will make a drab-looking fish.

The "Black Moor" fish that is derived from the original "English Black Moor" goldfish were densely black fish that retained their black color through life. They are hardy pond fish that thrive in colder climates.

The English Black Moor is also a rather long bodied fish - one that is not, currently, in favor in the goldfish world. A number of years ago, they were crossed into the telescope/demekin/dragoneye fish that carry the deeper, more compact bodies that are the rage. This cross introduced a great many "orange" genes into the gene pool, making many blacks very unstable as a fish ages.

Some black moors have a more stable "black gene". Others do not. Within lines of black fish, you can get them that hold their color well, and ones that go to orange at a rather early age. Also of concern is the "bronzing" of the fish -typically in the belly - genetically driven, also....

If your fish is genetically inclined to become red/orange, it will, regardless of what lighting you use. In a fish such as the one you show here, you will have a red/orange fish within a year or two, most likely. Ones that carry a bronzish tinge or belly are more likely to be enhanced by the light spectrum.

That is a nice looking fish.

Black is one of my favorate goldfish colors. I have a large female orange telescope (I bought it big so I don't know if it was always orange or if it was a black moore that turned orange) that bred with a male black and orange shubunkin. Out of the babies my favorate one is a little black comet. It always had some bronzing and was never a solid black black like the black moore. I was hoping that it would turn blacker as it got bigger.



I had never heard of the "English Black Moor". Does anybody sell them? I'd like to get some for my pond.

usually goldfish can to change color as they mature i think your little guy is just fine. he looks soo cute! ive had some goldfish that where black change to orange. its typically normal. good luck with your fishy!

I have a Moor (Spook) who's black with an orange belly and orange eyes. The other Moor is solid black with just the barest hints of gold under the black.

Last true "Black Moor" from an English strain that I saw was at a show in .....1998 or 1999..... Nothing seen since then....

You can find the more compact bodied telescope fish that have good genetic stock for black - and they will display that dark velvety black for all their lives. The majority of these fish do a bit better in more temperate climates, though.....

Unless you are attempting to overwinter in subzero climes, you may be able to keep moors in a pond....