Why are my baby goldfish black?

Why are my baby goldfish black? The majority of color changes occur during the first two years of a goldfish’s life. Most goldfish start off as brown or black due to possessing melanophores, or specialized cells that contain melanin (biological pigment), within the dermal layer of their scales.

The majority of color changes occur during the first two years of a goldfish’s life. Most goldfish start off as brown or black due to possessing melanophores, or specialized cells that contain melanin (biological pigment), within the dermal layer of their scales.