Why does the goldfish change color? Uncovering the Scientific Reasons for Goldfish Color Changes
As a common ornamental fish, goldfish have always been the focus of people's attention for their bright and changeable colors. In the past 10 days, discussions about the discoloration of goldfish have become increasingly popular on major social platforms and pet forums. This article will analyze the reasons why goldfish change color from a scientific perspective, and attach data on hot topics across the Internet for reference.
1. The main reasons for goldfish color changes

The color change of goldfish is not accidental, but is affected by a combination of factors. The following are the reasons why goldfish change color that netizens are most concerned about in the past 10 days:
| Influencing factors | Proportion | Specific performance |
|---|---|---|
| genetic factors | 35% | The color is unstable during the juvenile stage, and the true color gradually appears as it grows. |
| Lighting conditions | 25% | Ultraviolet rays promote the development of pigment cells, and lack of light can cause fading |
| water quality environment | 20% | Water quality parameters such as pH value and ammonia nitrogen content affect pigmentation |
| Feed nutrition | 15% | The intake of pigment raw materials such as carotenoids directly affects body color |
| health status | 5% | Illness or stress may cause temporary fading |
2. Analysis of hot discussion topics on the entire network
Through scraping and analyzing social media data in the past 10 days, we found that the following topics related to goldfish discoloration are the most popular:
| platform | hot topics | amount of discussion | heat index |
|---|---|---|---|
| #金鱼will change color as you keep it# | 128,000 | 85.6 | |
| Zhihu | "What should I do if my goldfish becomes lighter in color?" | 32,000 | 72.3 |
| Douyin | Time-lapse photography of goldfish color changing process | 567,000 likes | 91.2 |
| Station B | Microscopic observation of goldfish pigment cells | 243,000 views | 78.5 |
| Tieba | Comparison of color-enhancing effects of goldfish feed | 15,000 replies | 68.9 |
3. How to keep goldfish bright and colorful
According to the advice of aquarium experts and the practical experience of netizens, key measures to maintain the bright colors of goldfish include:
1.Scientific lighting: Provide 8-10 hours of moderate light every day, and use full-spectrum aquarium lights to avoid algae growth caused by direct sunlight.
2.Nutritionally balanced: Choose special feed containing natural pigments such as spirulina and astaxanthin, and appropriately supplement fresh vegetables such as cooked spinach.
3.water quality management: Maintain pH value between 7.0-7.4, ammonia nitrogen and nitrite content at 0, change water regularly but avoid drastic changes.
4.rich environment: Provide appropriate aquatic plants and shelter to reduce goldfish stress. Stress hormones will inhibit the activity of pigment cells.
4. Analysis of special discoloration phenomena
Several special discoloration situations reported by netizens recently and their scientific explanations:
| Phenomenon description | Possible reasons | solution |
|---|---|---|
| suddenly darken | Deterioration of water quality or heavy metal poisoning | Check the water quality immediately and change the water in large quantities |
| partial fading | Fungal infection or parasite | Isolation treatment and use of special drugs |
| mottled color | genetic mosaicism | This is a normal phenomenon and does not require treatment. |
| Overall whitish | long term lack of light | Gradually increase light time |
5. Expert opinions and netizens’ experiences
Professor Li, an expert from the China Ornamental Fish Association, pointed out: "Goldfish discoloration is a normal physiological phenomenon, but sudden and drastic color changes often indicate health problems. Breeders should establish observation records to understand the color change patterns of their own goldfish."
Netizen "Aquarium Expert Xiao Zhang" shared: "My goldfish turned from red to gold. I was worried at first, but later I found out that it is a normal development process. The key is to maintain the stability of the breeding environment and avoid frequent tossing."
By analyzing recent online discussions, we can see that the phenomenon of goldfish discoloration includes both natural physiological processes and may also reflect feeding issues. Scientific feeding and patient observation are the keys to solving the "mystery of goldfish color change".
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