cross breeding

Question
we have in our pond two 12inch golden orfs two six inch red goldfish and one 7inch white goldfish. in the summer of this year on of our 12in golden orfs became very fat. we assumed that it was eggs.
several weeks went by with nothing happening. suddenly one day she had trimed down to her normal size. no sign at all of eggs.
now supprise supprise we have eight little ones bit heres the weird bit.they are all dark brown to black and look to have fan tails rather like the goldfish. we have since brought two small golden orfs and they are nothing alike.So can they cross bread.

Answer
No, orfe cannot cross breed with goldfish.  The babies are goldfish, not orfe or a mixed-species fish.  Goldfish and koi can produce living young although they are said to be sterile.  I have seen my orfe spawn a few times but have never seen an orfe baby.  I can only assume that my various fish have eaten all the eggs and fry before they are noticeable.  I only get a few goldfish that survive each year as most get eaten.  When egg-laden, a female fish may be larger but she shouldn't be huge.  The fact that your orfe did seem to lose that extra size fast though seems to indicate that it was egg-related.  Baby goldfish start out brown/gray/blah for a while and change colors over time.  Enjoy your fish!

Robyn
fishpondinfo.com