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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Anti-social goldfish?

16 years ago

I have 5 comets. All were bought last July as "feeder fish". The first 4 were the survivors from a batch of 10. The last was the sole survivor of a batch of 5 bought about 2 weeks later. They are now all fat and happy adults about 5 inches long.

Almost from the beginning four of the fish would stay together and one would be separate. Considering the first batch was about twice as big as the second batch back in July, I thought that was the reason. But it went on all summer, even when the fish were the same size. It is *still* happening now! I will see four fish together and then, at the other end of the pond, there will be one lonely stragler. Sometimes they are all together or in groups of 3 and 2, but most of the time it's 4 and 1!

Of the five fish, there is only one I can identify. "Spot" has white markings. The others are all orange. I suppose it's possible that the "lone" fish I see is a different fish each time but I've always thought it was the same one.

Would a two week age difference cause a fish to be ostricized by it's older cousins?

BasilB

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Comments (2)

pikecoe
16 years ago
I have added new fish to my pond and never noticed anyone being ostricized by another. Every time I have added a new fish, after a few minutes of swimming around checking out the new surroundings, they just started swimming and acting just like all the others. I removed babies from my bog filter last year that came from my pond. Then when they were about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long returned them to the pond and never had a problem. I don't think you have anything to be concerned about. Does the lone fish come up with the others when you feed them? Glenda
basilbird
Original Author
16 years ago
I don't feed my fish. I tried when they were little but they just ignored me! They seem to have enough algae and bugs to be happy. The lone fish is active and sometime joins in with the others but usually it's the "Gang of Four" plus one.

There had been 2 survivors from the second batch of 5 but "Goldie" was slow to develop and eventually died when she was about 3 inches long (all the others were over 4 inches by then).

I'm not really worried. Like I said, it's possible I see a different "lone" fish each time. It's just sort of odd.

"Spot" (the only one I can identify) is very social and always with another. I thought it was a female since it's so big, but it's been chasing the others so.... I'm hoping if there are babies in the offing this year, the increased numbers will make for more groupings.
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