What kind of goldfish are there

But they lack the double tail. Now hang on! The tail it does have is long and flowing. The Tamasaba is surprisingly fast for its deep body. Red and white are common color patterns, but they can come in others. They get to be about 8 inches long. It has less developed bubble sacks and more developed cheeks. Sometimes they might have a bit of wen growth too.

They get to be 6 inches long. The lionchu goldfish is a cross between a lionhead and ranchu, hence the contracted name of the two. The aim is to bring together the best characteristics of the two, with a highly arched back and deep body of the ranchu, with the biggest of wen hoods as seen on the lionhead. A relatively new breed, they have only been officially recognized since Defining features: Huge wen hood and a highly arched back.

Yes, a cross resulting in a large wen hooded goldfish like the lionhead, and a highly arched back like the ranchu. Body: Egg-shaped. Tail: Double — short and small. Dorsal fin: No. Eye Type: Normal. Wen hood: Yes — very large. Other colors do exist. Nymph Goldfish Description: Literally, any goldfish that should be born with a double tail as per its type, but is born with a single due to a recessive gene. Therefore, a nymph can look exactly like any fancy double tail variety, just with a single tail.

Unfortunately, perhaps due to most being culled at birth for being untrue to type, a photo of such a fish that I can use has proven impossible to find. You can use the following chart to identify any of the main types of goldfish discussed above, by using the process of elimination, answering simple questions as you go down the chart.

The fancier the better! One last thing: If you want to know the ins and outs of taking care of your goldfish, be sure to grab, The Truth About Goldfish! Sign up to receive our latest articles, tips, tricks, and guides, plus discounts on top products, to hit your inbox every week!

Betta Goldfish Fishkeeping Supplies. Lindsey Stanton Last Updated: Oct 08 Common Goldfish 2. Comet Goldfish 3. Wakin Goldfish 5. Jikin Goldfish 6. Fantail Goldfish 8. Ryukin Goldfish 9. Veiltail Goldfish Telescope Eye Oranda Butterfly Tail Goldfish Tosakin Goldfish Celestial Eye Goldfish Bubble Eye Lionhead Ranchu Goldfish Pom Pom Goldfish Phoenix or Egg Fish Froghead Goldfish Lionchu The different eye types fall into the 4 main categories of:.

Normal — Not much to say here, they are just kind of — normal?! Defining features: None. Description: A simple fish with no striking, standout features. The most common goldfish type of all — hence the name. Body: Streamlined. Tail: Single. Dorsal fin: Yes. Wen hood: No. Color: Solid or a mix of any: Orange, red, blue, black or brown. Defining features: A flowing forked tail as long as their body. Description: Similar to a common, though all fins are longer and finer. Tail: Single — Long and forked.

Color: Most commonly red or orange, with a white pattern on body, though silver and yellow is seen. Defining features: Their calico coloring Description: Essentially a comet with calico coloring. Tail: Single — Mostly long and forked. Color: Calico — A mosaic mix of reddish-orange, white, black and blue. Description: Very similar shape to the common goldfish. Tail: Split double. Color: Red and white pattern unique to each individual. View this post on Instagram. Their care requirements are identical, however.

Lionhead Goldfish and Lionchu Goldfish Lionhead hybrid. Round compact body, no dorsal fin, classic double tail with a hood or growth covering the head Lionchu hybrid has a body like a Ranchu with the head and fantail of a Lionhead.

Red, orange, chocolate, black, blue, calico, Red and White or Black and White. Should only be housed with other delicate fancy goldfish like Ranchu, Celestial or Bubble Eyes. While this fish is often mistaken for a Lionhead, you can immediately spot the difference between breeds by looking for the dorsal fin. These popular goldfish usually have a prominent hood over their face or on their head, and the round body and double tail of the typical fancy.

The Oranda comes in a wide variety of color morphs and is often mixed with other types to create new breeds. Oranda Goldfish, Tigerhead or Tiger Goldfish. The round compact body often with a slight hutch, classic double tail with a hood or growth covering the head.

Metallic, matte or nacreous. The nacreous form is sometimes listed as a separate breed but this varies. Self-colored, bi-colored or calico most common. Red capped Oranda are the most popular and in-demand morph. Red, chocolate, black, blue, calico or Red and White are the most common colors but many others may be available.

Should only be housed with other delicate fancy goldfish like Ranchu, Lionhead, Celestial or Bubble Eyes. If you want a goldfish with a comic, bulge-eye appearance , then one of the many varieties of the Telescope goldfish could be the right option for your tank.

These fish look very similar to the Fantails but are slightly smaller. Their distinctive features are the eyes, which look like they pop out of their heads! Some fish just have a mild version of the trait, so their eyes appear dome-shaped but not truly telescopic.

The Black Moor below is an example. Others have eyes which bulge a lot more or really stick far out from their faces. The Celestial is an extreme version of a Telescope goldfish. A juvenile black goldfish from a telescopic line is likely to be listed as a Black Moor. This is not a stable color morph, because many but not all of these fish lose their melanophores as they mature.

When the black fades they turn into a Red and Black colored fish known as the Red Panda! They are usually heartier than other telescopic fish and can sometimes be maintained in a pond or unheated aquarium. Egg-shaped body with the classic double tail and eyes which stick out from their heads. Dragon eye variety usually has much more cone-shaped eye protuberances that stick out further. Self-colored, bi-colored, tri-colored or calico Black Moors are self-colored but may fade into red or bi-colored Panda morph upon maturity.

This variety has the nacreous trait and is usually calico colored. This breed is the exception to the rule, however, because it also comes in self and bi-colored varieties! They look like they have been covered in tiny pearls! This is the only variety of goldfish with these unique and distinctive scales. Round, compact ping pong ball-like body, classic double tail. May have other fancy traits like a hood or telescope eyes. The nacreous scales with heavy calcium deposits is what distinguishes this from other breeds.

Nacreous with large calcium deposits that make each scale stand out on the body and look like little pearls. Red, white, chocolate, black, blue, calico or Red and White are the most common. As I mentioned in the morphology section, many breeds of goldfish have nasal appendages on their faces. The typical pompom has the egg-shaped fancy body and double tail, no dorsal fin and prominent narial growths on both sides of its face.

Pompoms often come with other fancy traits such as a hood or telescope eyes. Pompoms are frequently crossed with Oranda, Bubble Eye, and Fantails to create new varieties. These matings have led to Pompoms with dorsal fins. Most Pompoms are very delicate and their extra facial tissue puts them at risk of injury and infection. Compact egg-shaped body, no dorsal fin, classic double tail, two pom pom growths which may hang or float over the head.

Metallic is most common and nacreous is rare. Self-colored, bi-colored or tri-colored most common but calico morphs may be available. One of the most fascinating fancy goldfish breeds is the Bubble Eye. They have large water-filled sacks of flesh bulging from underneath their eyes. As your fish matures the bubbles get bigger and can even obscure their vision!

These awkward swimmers are very delicate and are one of the hardest goldfish to care for. The Bubble Eyes are usually missing their dorsal fin, which makes it hard for them to maneuver around your tank.

Compact egg-shaped body, no dorsal fin, classic double tail, prominent fluid-filled bubble sacks under each eye. May have other fancy traits like a hood, telescope eyes and long tail. Should only be housed with other delicate fancy goldfish like Ranchu, Lionhead, Celestial or other Bubble Eyes. The most challenging fancy goldfish to maintain is the Celestial Eye. These fish are best left to experienced aquarists. They have a typical fancy body and double tail, no dorsal fin and prominent telescopic eyes.

Their eyes face upwards, towards the top of their tanks. This makes them very light sensitive! They are even more sensitive to their water quality than other breeds and are prone to many health problems.

Celestial Eye Goldfish, Stargazing Goldfish. Compact egg-shaped body, no dorsal fin, classic double tail, telescopic upturned eyes. May have other fancy traits like a hood, pompoms or a long tail. Should only be housed with other delicate fancy goldfish like Ranchu, Lionhead, Pompom or Bubble Eyes. This goldfish gets its name from their domed scales that look like tiny pearls throughout its body. It has an egg-shaped body and has fins and tail similar to the fantail goldfish. They can also develop a very large mass egg-shaped mass on their heads and this variety is called the Crown Pearlscales, or "chinshurin" in Japanese.

Pearlscale goldfish can grow up to eight inches. You can keep this type in either an aquarium or a pond, but they are not a good choice for ponds in cold climates. Most types of goldfish can live in either environment and are popular choices for both environments. Just make sure you pair goldfish together that are compatible with each other. The common goldfish is the basis for all the goldfish types created by fancy breeders. They have a short tail and a short body compared to other types of goldfish.

They come in many colors including shades of red, yellow, orange, bronze, black and white. Common goldfish can do well in a home aquarium or in a filtered pond. Their lifespan can be up to 40 years if kept properly and they can reach up to 12 inches in length in a pond. Common goldfish are probably the most inexpensive type of goldfish and can be easily found at pet stores and through breeders.

This is the only type of goldfish that was created in the U. Comets stand out for their long tails that are thought to resemble the trail of a comet and can be as long as half the fish's body. They also have a longer, slender body compared to the common goldfish. They come in many colors including yellow, orange, red, black and white.

They usually have at least two colors, and red and white versions are very common. There is also a popular Sarassa comet that is a dark red color on top with a white body and fins or they will be white with dark red patches. Comets can live in an aquarium or in a backyard pond. They can reach lengths of 10 to 12 inches in a pond.

They can live up to 14 years or more. Like the common goldfish, this is a type that is inexpensive and easy to find. The name shubunkin means "red brocade" in Japanese. They are also often called "calico goldfish. They also come in a beautiful light blue color which is actually the base color for most of these fish. Many shubunkins have a "see through" look to them because their scales are actually clear despite the colors they come in. They have a long flowing single tail, flowing fins and a long body.

They can live in both aquariums and ponds. In a pond, they can grow up to about 18 inches. The fantail goldfish gets its name from its flowing long tail. It has a short and stocky body like the common goldfish and can grow to about six inches long.

Fantails come in many common goldfish colors including orange, red, yellow, black, white and patterns. Fantails can do well in a pond, but they are more sensitive to the cold. We really like the large two-toned patches of color that you see on this type of goldfish. The size and pattern of these patches will vary based on the individual fish, but red on white is never a bad combo! It was primarily black with some red patches around its head. Owners of this type of goldfish tend to be pretty split about where they keep them.

On one hand many prefer to admire the beauty in a home tank, but others put them in a pond these are very good pond fish. Jikin goldfish are an interesting breed that is chosen purely for their aesthetic appeal.

This breed of goldfish has a white body, but all the fins are red. This is a really neat look and creates a fun flickering effect while they swim around in their cage.

First off, there are more fancy goldfish types than not. Second, their body types are a lot less streamlined these fish are usually pretty squat. Regardless if you agree with our war on the name or not, the fancy goldfish category contains some of the most popular breeds of goldfish out there.

Fantails are the most popular kind of fancy goldfish you can find. These fish have been around forever and have a loyal fan base in the aquarist community. One of the reasons these fish are so popular is because of their durability.

They can even compete for food which is something that many other fancy goldfish struggle with. Aside from the massive hump behind their head they also have some other telltale characteristics. Their head shape is very petite and they have a pointy nose. This gives them a very expressive face that we absolutely love. Despite their large body hump, this type of goldfish has a pretty big tail as well.

The Tamasaba is very similar to the Ryukin breed. Their bodies are very similar same tall hump on their backs and their face shape matches as well. The real difference between the two is that the Tamasaba has a single tail. The Telescope Eye fish is something to behold.

True to their name, the Telescope Eye has large, round eyes that stick out from their head and are angled mostly forward. But their notable eyes are actually a weakness. First, they can get easily injured which leads to a whole world of potential health complications. The Veiltail is a beautiful type of goldfish that a lot of owners love.