My black cap oranda is losing the black on his cap. Not the cap itself, and no fungus (I know bad water conditions can cause fungus). Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are zero, pH is 6.8, temp in the unheated tank stays about 70 degrees F.

He stills swims and eats normally and does not seem to be in any distress. There are no wounds to the cap (he shares a tank with three other fancies, but he's the only oranda). The only thing I can think of is that I do feed the sinking goldfish pellets that support the brilliant gold and orange colors. Could that cause him to lose the black color on the cap?

Any other goldfish keepers out there with some insight?

Black is an extremely unstable colour in goldfish, and it is not uncommon for goldfish that display black colouration to turn white or orange. I once bought two beautiful panda (black/white) orandas, only to end up with two white orandas within a few months.

Your fish is likely going through a natural colour change, and their isn't much you can do about it. It really is too bad, because the black/white colouration is so striking

Hi,
Wow! I have only seen photos of black caps.

Like touchofsky says, black is a unstable color with goldfish--mainly indoor aquarium goldfish. Pond fish have a better chance of keeping their blacks. I have learned from others on this board that it is the light that determines it--artificial light and the black will fade but sunlight will keep it.

But then we all know if your aquarium is in a window with sun coming in, algae will grow like crazy.

Nancy is right–sunlight is the only thing that will keep that nice dark black. Theres a post I put up the other day about my calicoes losing their black too. Unfortunately there is nothing you can really do to keep the black. Black is the least stable color in goldfish. Calicoes keep it better than any others but even not always. Black and white coloration is still relatively new with goldfish and breeders are trying to figure out how to keep it but so far no luck. Im sorry to say you'll probably end up with an all white oranda (which actually sounds so beautiful to me!). I try to warn people that black will always fade so they wont be disappointed.

Here is a good example of a fish that changed color

Well, I'm glad it's not anything I'm doing then. I've read so much about the care and feeding of goldies, but very little about what to expect as they mature. You can find average life expectancies, but so far, I haven't found anything like I have for bettas, i.e., they usually only live for a couple of years, as they age, you can lower the tank water so it's not so much of an effort for them to get to the top to breathe, etc.

Anyone found a good website about"mature" goldfish - or even a book or magazine article? TIA

Mr T is sooo cuteeeeee ..

my red cap lost his color.. in the front its red and from the middle on back his wen is a whitish color. I was told mine was possibly from lack of sunlight