Double tailed commet (uh I mean interesting feeder fish)

[Bearb]

I was at the PetSmart today and (as usual) was looking at the feeders to see if there were any interesting fish. In the $0.27 take I spotted a beauty that was too nice to resist (especially for $0.27). I know he is not a true bread "named" fish but I was wondering if some of the goldfish folks might tell me if he is a certain variety or just a mutant comet/cull fish.

Oops, I just noticed that I don't have my camera cable. We got a new computer Friday and my wife set it up. I'll post a description until I can get the photos up.

This is a long bodied orange and white fish with long flowing white comet length fins. His tail section bends down a bit before the tail fin starts (kinda' like a wakin) but the tail is much longer than a wakin (I think, I have only seen wakin in pictures). The tail fin is actually two separate tails (not joined at all) exiting out of the tail/body of the fish.  When viewed from above the two tail fins spread out/apart just a bit not really far like fantails or what I think of when I think of wakin and watonai.

I am assuming that I was just lucky and found a nice looking mutt. Hopefully this little guy or gall will be involved in the inevitable spawning next year.

[Bearb]

Well the pictures didn't turn out very well and it is already released into the pond. I should have put some effort into getting good pictures but I didn't. . .

Fist is a picture taken from the top. I had to alter the color a bit because the white tail fins did not show well against the blue bucket. Hopefully you can see the "spread" compared to the fish next to him.

The second picture is from the side. Sorry about the back lighting, the body color is all distorted. You can see how the tail section turns down a bit.

[miguynmkoi]

Whatever it is it's a keeper!  I like fishies with butterfly-like fins.  Is that a pretty wakin I see next to mystery fish? 

[Bearb]

Yeah, I like him. Next to him is an orange and white fantail. I had a gruesome mishap that cost me several of my older fish so I am adding a few new ones. This year, I am working up the courage to try a few fantails. I am sure the black on his fins will go away soon; too bad too, he is a real looker with the black tips.

I noticed this morning that his tail fins are spread out more than before, but still not nearly as wide as the fantails. I wonder if they were a bit pinched from being shuffled around so much. I can't wait until he gets bigger! He sure is a fast swimmer. He zips around with no hint of the wobble that other double tailed fish show.

[Bearb]

So, first an update on this little guy. He is dong very well and growing at a good rate. His tail(s) have gotten longer. Once he got settled in the pond, the tails started to spread out further and he has taken on a more wobbley swimming pattern (think halfway between the streamlined moves of a comet and  the slow wobble of a fantail).

Now the  interesting part. At least I think it is interesting, maybe this is commonplace and I am getting excited about nothing. I was at the same PetSmart a few weeks ago and found two more of these in the $0.13 tank. Naturally they came home with me. One is orange with white fins. the other is all white with a small orange spot on his head. Their tails are already spread out quite a bit. I wish I had thought to update this with pictures while they were in the quarantine tank. They went in the pond yesterday and I will never get a good picture now.

How common is this? I assume the feeders they are getting at this store are the culls from somewhere. Does this happen a lot? They are great looking fish, I'm surprised no one has tried to breed them like this (assuming this is a common mutation). Any input?

[PondmaninAL]

Bryan, your little fish looks like some that I got from a breeder in Florida. Some were orange and white but most were just orange. Mine though had a roll of reflecting scales just in front of the tail fin. I will try to get pics when I get them moved.

[miguynmkoi]

When I used to buy feeder fish for my turtles we got a few sarrassa type fish which we separated and kept.  Sort of wish I didn't now.  Too many 

[Bearb]

I know what you mean. . . there technically is no room at the inn, but I couldn't resist these guys  .