Do you have any other gold fish? It is a miracle if you don't. Maybe someone in your neighborhood decided to quit taking care of their fish and slipped him into your pond.

Cooper's hawk! In a tree...looking over the pond. Beautiful bird, but probably the culprit in the disappearance of Kimono, the koi. No explanation for the appearance of the skinny comet, though. My son reminded me that there were once four comets. The first one disappeared over a year ago. I found its skeletal remains in the skimmer. I have no idea when the second one disappeared, although it was several months ago when I inventoried the fish and there were only two comets. The prodigal fish is gaining weight and looking healthy. He's probably mine and not a gift from the neighbors.

Coloration in comets is quite variable. Several of mine have gone through several changes. My comet population increased by seven this spring. I didn't catch a glimpse of them until they were 3 to 4 inches long and only see them when they are getting fed. They are now almost six inches. The only colors that have remained stable have been of their fins and tails.

I had a comet disappear for an entire summer then re-appear in the fall. I think he was injured by a bird who got one of my other comets and hid till he recovered enough to come out and hang with the other fish.