The fantail goldfish originated in the early 1400s, during the Ming Dynasty of China. Fantail goldfish are the ancestor from which all modern fancy goldfish breeds descended. The fantail goldfish has a rounded, egg-like body and is characterized by its split tail fin. While any goldfish with a split tail is considered a “fantail”, fantail […]
Goldfish Types
Pearlscale Goldfish
Pearscale Goldfish originated in the early 1900s and are one of the more recent additions to the fancy goldfish family. The pearscale is characterized by uniquely-shaped scales, which are caused by calcium carbonate deposits, and have a pearly appearance. The pearlscale’s body is very compact and extremely rounded. Due to this body shape, and its […]
Black Moor Goldfish
The Black Moor goldfish is a telescope-eyed variety of goldfish that, like most other fancy goldfish, is the result of generations upon generations of selective breeding. The Black Moor has a distinctly velvety black, rounded body with long flowing fins and protruding eyes. The telescope eyes of the Black Moor protrude sideways as opposed to […]
Comet Goldfish
The comet goldfish is the only breed of goldfish that was developed in America. First bred and introduced into the commercial aquarium market in the late 1800s, the Comet gets its name due to its long, flowing tail fins. Many people think these give the fish the appearance of a comet burning a trail through […]
Ranchu Goldfish
The ranchu goldfish is a strain of fancy goldfish developed from the lionhead and is referred to as the “king of goldfish” in Japan. Selectively bred and perfected as a strain by the Japanese during the 1800s, the ranchu has a much more rounded back than the lionhead. The ranchu’s tail is also splayed sideways […]
Common Goldfish
The common goldfish is the simplest variation of all goldfish breeds and the fish that most resembles its carp ancestors. They come in a variety of colors, ranging from red, yellow and orange to bronze and black. Common goldfish are sometimes confused with the comet goldfish. However, the comet has much longer fins and a […]
Shubunkin Goldfish: All about the shubunkin
Shubunkin goldfish were first developed in the early 1900s from strains of telescope goldfish in Japan. They are often referred to as “the poor man’s koi.” Similar in body shape to the comet goldfish, shubunkins are characterized by their nacreous scales and calico coloring , which contains shades of red, gold, purple, blue, black and […]
