gold fish with black patches

Question
my gold fish is getting black patches on its eyes, nose, head, scales and tail what can i do and how has it come.

 i clean my tank often but a few days ago i started to see black around its eyes but i thought it was ment to be there but then it started forming around te body.

my tank has been set up for a year my tank is a meter long i change my water every other friday.

please write back soon abbie

Answer
Hi Abbie;

It could be just natural color development. Goldfish can change colors over the course of most of their lives until they fully mature. Check your water chemistry and quality to be sure that the pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all within safe levels. Fish stores have test kits you can buy to monitor them at home. Goldfish can develop black areas on them as a result of burns from ammonia. As long as your tank has a filter, you aren't overfeeding, the tank isn't overcrowded and your water changes are kept up it should be okay.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins