Hi Everyone,
Today's topic is about the black metallic comet "goldfish" from China, which I manage to buy one in Australia before they are banned here.
Australian Quarantine originally allowed shipments of black comets until 2010, then they realised that they are koi hybrids when they tested their genetic make up in their labs and banned them in Australia since. Many black comet shipments were destroyed. Some Australian river systems are plagued by European carps, so kois are banned in quite a few Australian states.
However, being koi/goldfish hybrids, they are generally sterile (barring the few exceptional cases).
My black comet appears to be a female, which helps, as hybrid koi/goldfish hybrids have greater chance of being fertile than their male coundeterparts (easier to obtain viable eggs than viable sperms from such hybrids). If it is fertile and able to produce viable eggs, I will try crossing it with a goldfish in time. The chance of fertilisation is greater than crossing it with another black commet male, assuming it is acutally fertile.
My black comet hasn't grown much at all, but has darken over the year since I bought it. It does not appear to have a barbel.
It also appears my black comet is very tough healthwise. It is also very active, and exceptionally inquisitive when compared to either the goldfish or koi.
Kind regards,
Bill
Text and photos copyright Bill L 2011
Hi Everyone,
Today's topic is about the black metallic comet "goldfish" from China, which I manage to buy one in Australia before they are banned here.
Australian Quarantine originally allowed shipments of black comets until 2010, then they realised that they are koi hybrids when they tested their genetic make up in their labs and banned them in Australia since. Many black comet shipments were destroyed. Some Australian river systems are plagued by European carps, so kois are banned in quite a few Australian states.
However, being koi/goldfish hybrids, they are generally sterile (barring the few exceptional cases).
My black comet appears to be a female, which helps, as hybrid koi/goldfish hybrids have greater chance of being fertile than their male coundeterparts (easier to obtain viable eggs than viable sperms from such hybrids). If it is fertile and able to produce viable eggs, I will try crossing it with a goldfish in time. The chance of fertilisation is greater than crossing it with another black commet male, assuming it is acutally fertile.
My black comet hasn't grown much at all, but has darken over the year since I bought it. It does not appear to have a barbel.
It also appears my black comet is very tough healthwise. It is also very active, and exceptionally inquisitive when compared to either the goldfish or koi.
Kind regards,
Bill
Text and photos copyright Bill L 2011
