Goldfish are a popular household pet and yet, despite their name, many of them are not gold at all. In fact, one of the most common colors for these fish is a deep orange. So, if your beautiful orange fish suddenly begins turning a worrying shade of white, we could understand that you would be concerned.
There are several reasons that a goldfish might turn white. One of the main problems is not enough sunlight, but this color change could also be related to other environmental factors. Moreover, it is not uncommon for goldfish to lose their color as they age or because of genetic reasons.
If you have noticed a color change in your goldfish, the chances are that this is something which can easily be rectified. That said, sickness can sometimes cause a color change so it is important to monitor the health of your fish at all times.
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The Main Reasons That Goldfish Turn White
The number of reasons that a goldfish might turn white are vast. However, we have listed some of the most common.
Not Enough Sunlight
If humans sit out in the sun for long periods of time, their skin will change color; the lighter your skin, the more obvious this change will be. The same can be said for the reverse process. White people and those with lighter skin will notice that this ‘tan’ fades very quickly when exposure to sunlight isn’t given. Fish are no different.
If your goldfish isn’t getting enough natural light exposure then this will cause his color to fade and a fish that was once a vibrant orange will soon turn completely white. This can be alarming but the good news is that it won’t do the animal much harm.
However, if you want your goldfish to retain their bright natural color then you might want to consider keeping them in an outdoor pond rather than an indoor aquarium. If you are using an indoor fish tank then it is important to install a full spectrum LED light system as regardless of sun exposure, this is still something the fish will benefit from.
That said, these lights still won’t produce such impressive results as the sun since the UV light is lacking and this is what causes color changes in the skin, or scales in fish. It is not unheard of for fish keepers to allow their fish some sunbathing time in order to intensify their coloring but if you do this, you must monitor the water temperature. Leaving the fish tank in direct sunlight will alter the temperature and this could be detrimental to the fish.
With all of this in mind, you should remember that goldfish who have turned totally white won’t benefit from UV exposure.
Diet
In order for a goldfish to retain its vibrant colors, it must have the right nutrients in its diet. If it does not, its colors may quickly fade. However, this is reversible and by changing the diet of the fish, you may notice that the colors begin to return to normal, over time.
Depending on the color of your goldfish, there may be certain ingredients that encourage its colors to be more vibrant. For example, there is a type of algae known as spirulina which is praised for its ability to encourage a more bright color in goldfish. According to fish food suppliers, this is a key ingredient in many products owing to the fact that it is a full protein. It will work particularly well for goldfish with red markings.
Old Age
Humans are not the only ones whose pigmentation changes as they age. When we get older, our hair may turn grey and we may develop small brown spots on the skin often referred to as age spots or liver spots. This is completely normal and happens to most of us, except the lucky few.
In goldfish, the pigmentation may naturally begin to change as they get older. Goldfish can live for up to 15 years when they receive proper care, and in some cases will last as long as 30 years. That’s a pretty decent lifespan for such a small creature. So, as your goldfish reaches his, well, golden years, don’t be surprised if he begins to change or dull in color. In some cases, the fish may completely change color to white.
Moreover, much of this change depends on the genetics of the fish. Goldfish can be selectively bred if you want to create a particular color but this doesn’t happen very often in the commercial trade. For this reason, you will find that the colors of a goldfish are naturally unstable. Blackfish tend to be the most delicate with their colors fading very easily.
Water Quality
As with all types of fish, your goldfish needs to have a good balance in the water in order to thrive. In the wild, goldfish are native to parts of Asia but since they were domesticated by the Chinese over a thousand years ago, their spread across the globe in freshwater bodies is vast. They can now be found across parts of Africa, Europe, Oceania, and America. (source)
In any case, when kept in captivity, goldfish require fresh, clean water and in some cases, ammonia can cause problems. Ammonia is a chemical that is naturally produced in waste and while some levels of it in your tank are normal, too much can cause serious issues.
It is important to monitor your tank water and use chemical testing kits to ensure that the balance is just right. If your goldfish has lost its color or started to turn white, this is one of the first things you should test for.
If the ammonia levels in the water are too high then you will need to make it a priority to rectify this. By adding half a teaspoon of vinegar for every ten gallons of water, you should be able to restore the balance. However, we should warn you that the vinegar must be diluted prior to being added to the tank. If it is not, this could drastically affect the fish, causing them to go into shock before dying.
Sickness
If any of the things that we have already discussed don’t seem to be a problem then it could be that the color change in your fish is related to poor health. However, when goldfish are sick, they tend to turn a little more pale than usual rather than turning completely white.
An example of this would be a goldfish with dark black markings may begin to look a little more muted and brown than normal. When this happens, the color of the fish will normally return once the sickness has passed.
It is worth keeping an eye on your goldfish and if their health doesn’t appear to return to normal, you may wish to explore this and find a suitable treatment. Some of the most common health problems are listed below:
- When the goldfish loses its color and spends a lot of time gasping for breath at the surface, this could indicate that it is having breathing difficulties and not getting enough oxygen.
- It is not uncommon for goldfish to fall victim to parasites. While internal parasites may require veterinary assistance, external parasites can be removed using a pair of tweezers.
- Fin rot can cause a fish to change color and is often the result of an unclean tank, so be sure to keep the water well maintained. This is a fungal disease but is just one of many that can affect goldfish.
- Goldfish that have lost their color but also appear to be swimming erratically could be suffering with swim bladder disease.
Conclusion
Goldfish are usually bright with very vibrant colors but from time to time, they may begin to change. Most commonly, fish owners may notice that their pet is turning white but in most cases, this isn’t anything too serious. Goldfish can change color as they get older but environmental factors can also play a part. In some situations, the color change could be due to illness so it is important to monitor your goldfish’s health.
