goldie without a gill plate

[modri rogatec]

HI!

I was at a shop today cause I wanted to buy some goldies...I want comet goldies but it is really hard to get them in our country...But I finally found some and they are 3 euros each (which is not expensive). Anyway my dillema is that I am definetely to buy some goldies today but the one with the longest fins has a gill plate missing...You can clearly see the gill which looks healthy and everything. The fish is lively and friendly and eats well (I tried it and it was one of the first fish on the top of the tank when feeding ). But I don't know - is it wise to buy this fish or is it better to pass it by? It is beautiful otherwise - the body is full - it is not thin or anything...
Will the gill plate ever grow back - it is like almost completely missing...But othr fish don't attack it or anything...
HELP! What do I do?
(I am planing to buy 5 of them and they are going to a newly cycled pond)

 

[jetajockey]

No it will not grow back, it is a defect. If you don't mind it, then go for it, just don't breed him out in the case that it is genetic. Typically breeders will cull any fish with defects, but maybe since it was a feeder goldfish it got overlooked.

 

[DLV082]

If it is otherwise healthy then I don't see a problem I have a comet with a missing gill plate and he has had no problems. He is 5 years old now and still going strong. But as stated I would not breed with a fish with a obvious physical defect.

 

[Jennie Beth]

I have to disagree a little. I had a shubunkin that came home from the fish store with gill and fin damage. The gill plate eventually fell off and he had no gill plate at all for awhile, but it DID grow back. It was a little curled at the edges, but it grew back. It is possible the fish you are looking at had an injury, rather than a genetic defect. When I was dealing with my injured fish, people here recommended keeping an eye on it for gill flukes and gill injuries, as it had little protection with no gill plate, but felt it would do fine otherwise.

In my opinion, if it is a healthy fish, for you to enjoy in your pond, rather than to breed for sale, and you like the way it looks, go for it
Jen

 

[RiVerfishgirl]

If it's an injury it really depends on the type. Sometimes they will grow back given good water quality and feeding. Sometimes they won't.

If it's a genetic defect don't spawn him (or cull the eggs/fry). But otherwise there's nothing wrong with bringing him home.

The only problem with a missing gillplate is that his gills will not be protected, so don't put him with any objects that might damage his gills or any fish that may pick on him.