George, goldfish can change colour all through their lives.
Turning white is quite common and normal.
"Horton"

George, remember this post on the subject of goldfish colour changing?
"Horton"

Here is a link that might be useful: Colour changes in goldfish.

I had one 26 cent feeder goldfish bought from PetSmart as a test fish who started off all black, but then developed beautiful orange flashed down either side. The orange and black alternate making his quite striking looking. He's one of my rescue fish I keep as I never planned what I'd do with my test fish if they lived (so now I have mostly comets).

I had to change his name from "Blackie" to "Darth Maul."

Hi

Thanks to all for the info! Especially you Horton. I remembered that I posed the question that you linked, but it had to do with color change from dark to gold. In your answer then was the fact that they can go from gold to white or other colors. I forgot that tidbit of info. I was just worried that "Big Daddy" as we call him was sick. I'll stop worrying now and just enjoy my 1600 gallon aquarium.

Thanks

George

Arn't they interesting. One of my fish =Black-> Gold -> White -> now White with Gold spots.

In 1997 I bought 'Goldie' for my son. Goldie is now still called Goldey but Whitey would be more appropriate. Oh, and she is a he. I like white goldfish.

I would like a yellow goldfish but from what I gather reading the the link above there is no guarantee that it will stay yellow, correct? Does the color changing slow down as they age?

Most of my "Gold" fish are still gold and seem to be staying that way. However nothing is definate.

One of my comet babies from last summer started fading this spring. I immediately thought fatal disease, before reading about color changes. This forum is so helpful. The youngster is now a beautiful yellow, almost like a butterfly koi.

Rosemary

I have 5 gold fish in a 20 gallon tank there about 1-3 inches a peice... they are all turning WHITE... i can see the orange pigment under their scales but even my black, orange, red one is starting to turn white how do i get there color back? There water levels are all good and i keep the tank circlating and i have a light i turn on for about 8-12 hours a day... they swim around and seem fine and i'm feeding them goldfish pellets