A.thomasi: Goldfish Varieties

There are many different types of goldfish. Even though they may look different they are all the same species of fish, and can interbreed and produce viable young. Just like there are different breeds of dogs, but they are all still dogs. Goldfish get large, with the smallest usually getting up to 8 inches, and the largest up to 18 inches. They are best suited for large aquariums or ponds. For indoor aquaria a 6 inch goldfish should have at least 30 gallons of water to itself. Outdoors, 50 gallons per goldfish is usually a good place to start.

I will give a brief overview of some of the varieties of goldfish here.

Comet or common goldfish - These are long, slender fish with a short single tail. They are often sold as feeder fish. They come in gold, gold and white, all white, grey, brown or red and white.

Sarasa comet - like the common goldfish, but their coloration is usually orange and white or red and white. They also have a single tail but it is usually longer than the common goldfish's tail.

Shubunkin - Again, these have the same body type as the common goldfish, long and slender but have calico color. These fish are usually blue and orange with black spotting and sometimes have patches of white as well. They also usually have longer tail fins than the common goldfish, but not always.

Wakin (pronounced wah-keen)- This type of goldfish is not often available in pet shops. It has a slender body and a double tail fin. Wakin goldfish's tails are flatter than a fantail's and are best viewed from above. Wakin are most often available in red and white coloration, but can come in just about any goldfish color.

Jikin - The Jikin is developed from the wakin. The jikin's tail when viewed from behind should look like an X. The most desirable color pattern with Jikin's is an all white body with red on the lips, fins and gill plates. The jikin's body tends to be a bit more robust than a wakin, but not as egg shaped as fantail goldfish. These are also not a very common type of goldfish.

Fantail - Fantail goldfish have an egg shaped body, a double tail and come in many colors. Fantails are one of the most commonly available of the fancy goldfish. They are thicker than the comet type goldfish so still require a lot of space.

Oranda - Oranda goldfish have the same body shape as a fantail goldfish, but also have a large growth on their head. This growth is called a wen. The wen should be well developed and sometimes will cover the eyes. Some people like when it does this, others do not. To get the best wen growth from a young oranda, a higher protein diet should be fed for the first 2 years of its life.

Ryukin - Similar in shape to the fantail, but these goldfish have a humped back and much deeper body. The hump starts just after the head. These fish tend to have floating problems because of their deep bodies.

Pearlscale - These goldfish are much rounder than fantails, and their most distinctive feature is that each scale is raised and gives the appearance of a pearl. These are one of the harder to care for goldfish types, they need extremely clean water and often need supplemental calcium to maintain the pearled look.

Telescope eyed - Same body shape as a fantail, but should have longer fins. The eyes protrude outward from the head and should be evenly sized.

Moor - A velvety black telescope eyed goldfish.

Pompom - pompom goldfish can have a dorsal or not. Their body shape is the same as a fantail. They get their name because of the pompom like growths just below their eyes. These growths are actually enlarged nasal lobes.

Demekin - A demekin is essentially a cross between a telescope eyed goldfish and a ryukin. They should have the body shape of the ryukin with the protruding eyes of the telescope goldfish.

Veiltail - A goldfish with the body shape of a fantail but with very long, flowing fins. The fins should droop off of the body and should be at least 2/3 rd's the length of the body. These goldfish require very clean water to keep their long fins in good condition.

Phoenix eggfish - not a very common variety of goldfish, it has an eggshaped body, no dorsal fin and long flowing cadual (tail) fin.

Ranchu - Ranchu have no dorsal fin, have an arched back and the tail is tucked at a 90* angel. Their body is egg shaped. The Ranchu may or maynot have head growth (wen).

Lionhead - Similar to the ranchu, with no dorsal fin, but the back should be in a straight line and it should have a well developed wen.

Celestial eye - This fish has no dorsal fin, its back is in a straight line. It has no head growth and the eyes are turned so they are pointing upwards, as if looking to the heavens. These fish sometimes have a hard time finding food and are best kept only with other celestial eyed goldfish.

Bubble eye- These goldfish are basically celestial eyed goldfish with large fluid filled sacks under each eye. The bubbles should be evenly shaped and sized. Bubble eyed goldfish should be kept only with other bubble eye goldfish and there should be no sharp objects in the tank. Sometimes they also require the intake tubes of power and canister filters to be covered with a sponge so they do not catch their bubbles in them.