Are you an aquarium hobbyist and fond of goldfish? Are you looking towards keeping different types of goldfish in your tank but not quite sure which ones to choose from? Might be you have bumped across the right page.
Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is the best choice to keep in the fish tank since they are cute and attractive. There are many goldfish varieties that you may like to keep in your tank.
Let’s check out some of the most prominent goldfish for an aquarium that is popular among the hobbyist from around the world.
1. Common Goldfish
These are the descendants of Prussian carp, which are native to Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and were derived when Chinese people started breeding fishes, resulting in a color mutation. Most goldfish types in pet stores come from Japan, Thailand, and China.
Usually, goldfishes grow up to 18 inches in length and can weigh up to ten pounds. They are omnivorous in nature and eat aquatic plants along with frogs, newts, insects, and larvae. Goldfishes can die at an early age if not kept in proper condition. The goldfish population generally lives in stagnant backwaters.
An interesting fact about common goldfish is that it lives and sleeps with its eyes closed. The breeding of goldfish occurs typically at a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius.
2. Comet Goldfish
The comet goldfish has a vibrant color and a long forked tail. They are yellow or orangish in color and have a peaceful and playful temperament.
It can have a lifespan of 4-14 years and grow up to 12 inches in length. Omnivorous by diet, they would thrive in a fish tank of minimum 50 gallons. This particular Goldfish are freshwater fish that prefers cold planted environment and are quite compatible with other varieties. It’s said that Comets can remember their owner and especially the environment they live in.
Hobbyists try making the tank setting interesting by adding plants to the tank. These fishes might become aggressive while being fed. Comets come in a variety of colors like red and white, white, yellow, brown, and black. You have to maintain the tank temperature at 50-75 degree Fahrenheit.
3. Wakin Goldfish
This is a boilerplate fish and possesses a vibrant pop of color. Please note that no two wakin variety can be identical. Wakins have a long, slender body that is very much similar to common goldfish and a dorsal fin that almost covers its back.
They have a part called the peduncle where the tail and caudal fin meet with the body. It’s said that the Chinese introduced the goldfish to Japan around the sixteenth century. Through experimentation, it’s possible to change the color of the wakin goldfish. Wakins can live for 10-15 years and do best in ponds. The temperature of the tank should be maintained at 65 to 75 degree Fahrenheit. The water should have a pH level of 7 to 7.4. You need to set up a filtration system in the tank that maintains the water quality as well as the circulation. The water should test zero for nitrate and ammonia.
4. Fantail Goldfish
These types of goldfish were found in China and are fond of calm rivers, ponds, and lakes. The body of the fantail goldfish is generally rounded, chubby and has similarities with the shape of an egg. It can also be shorter in length but possess a larger caudal fin. The upper lobe of the caudal fin is longer than the lower one.
Fantails are a competent swimmer and are never slow-moving. They are not compatible with tank mates like comet goldfish or Lionhead fancy goldfish. This goldfish appears in colors like orange, red and yellowish and have patterns of various types including calico. They would best survive in a fish tank of a minimum of 20 gallons. You should replace at least 30 percent of the tank water every time.
While fantails like feeding on pellets or flakes, you can also feed them with insects, worms, bloodworms, mosquito shrimps, flies, ants, and blood shrimps. A filtration system-biological, chemical or mechanical in nature can be beneficial.
5. Shubunkin Goldfish
Shubunkins are one of the hardiest types of goldfish you can find and are known to withstand very long cold winters. As they have longer bodies, swim bladder trouble is almost non-existent and their fins also tend to be longer. They become so huge that the fishes might weigh them down.
Shubunkins live up to 10-15 years and are very compatible with commons and comets. These fishes can tolerate water temperatures 65-70 degree Fahrenheit and grow up to 12-14 inches in length.
Playful and athletic by temperament, Shubunkins are very choosy food habit-wise and feed on omega one pellets. Even lettuce is good food for them. They usually breed in the spring by laying eggs.
6. Ryukin Goldfish
This is another fancy goldfish type that prefers fresh water to thrive. They have a lifespan of 10-15 years and growth possibility of 6-8 inches in length. Ryukin has a dorsal hump which gives it a hunchbacked appearance. It has a pointed head and a wider caudal fin. The body color can be red, white, tricolor, calico, blue and chocolate. It has an egg-shaped body, and they are competent swimmers.
Having double anal fin divided into identical halves, Ryukin has normal eyes and metallic scales. These freshwater variants thrive in tank size of a minimum of 30 gallons with water temperature and pH lying between 65-75 degree Fahrenheit and 6.5-7.5 respectively. Since Ryukin is a semi-aggressive type, they are best suited with their own type.
Please note that due to the high amount of waste produced by them, the fish tank requires heavy water filtration. Air stones are required to keep the water oxygenated. You may decorate the aquarium with java moss, anubias, elodea, and crinum.
7. Pearlscale Goldfish
Pearlscales are popular fancy goldfish variety found in collector’s tank. These are hardy types that can thrive in cold temperature and have a round shaped body with a straight back swollen belly structure. Originated in Central Asia, these fishes generally inhabit in the slow-moving but stagnant waters.
Pearlscales usually grow up to 4 inches long and have a lifespan of 10-15 years. Their body color varies from black, red, calico, chocolate and white combinations. Their omnivorous food habit makes them eat all types of flake and frozen food. You may feed them with brine shrimp or bloodworms. Keeping them in an aquarium size of capacity 20 gallons with water temperature lying between 65 to 72 degree Fahrenheit, and pH level of 6-8 would be best for them. You must weekly change 1/3 rd or 1/4th of the aquarium water.
Providing a gravel substrate for creating a natural environment inside the fish tank can be helpful. Pearlscales exhibit moderate movement and can withstand slightly saline water and are compatible with shrimps, crabs, and snails.
8. Bubble Eye Goldfish
Considered as one of the easiest breeds of fancy goldfish that’s convenient to identify, Bubble eye can develop fluid-filled bubbles sac under their eyeballs. Lack of a dorsal fin makes them quite unique. These slow swimming fishes and are compatible with like-minded slow moving fish like celestial eyeballed goldfish.
It is recommended not to keep them with any other aggressive fish as there are chances of the bubble eye getting ruptured. Make sure that the aquarium set up is fully equipped with a system of filtration that doesn’t cause a very high current.
Body colors vary and can be calico, black, and orange. These single-tailed species are slow swimmers by nature and have a peaceful temperament. Bubble eyed goldfish is most compatible with other slow swimmers like Ranchu, Lion head and bubble eyed Ryukin.
9. Telescope Eye Goldfish
This fancy goldfish has long curious eyes set at the top of a telescope like structure popping out form its body. Usually, rounded or egg-shaped fish quite similar to the fantail, their body colors tend to be red, white, chocolate and blue.
Telescopes have a short body with a split, forked caudal fin. Originated in China, it was traded across Europe in the sixteenth century. They generally grow up to 5 inches in length and have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Telescopes goldfish with long flowing fins are also available. For hobbyists, it’s a difficult job raising them as they are not that hardy type. Also, their eyes are very fragile.
Being omnivorous by nature, they eat all types of fresh, frozen and flake foods. You can also feed them with brine shrimp and daphnia. An aquarium with a minimum of 10 gallons of water is suitable for them. You should try to feed them several times a day. These fishes have poor vision and are poor swimmers, too. Due to the great amount of waste created by them, the water has to be changed frequently.
10. Celestial Eye Goldfish
These are characterized by a pair of eyes popping upwards, and pupils gazing skywards. Celestials are originally from China and got exported to various parts of Asia. They have an elongated egg-shaped body with no dorsal fin and come with a variety of body colors including red, white and orange. Each fish grows about 5-6 inches in length and eats almost all types of frozen, fresh and flake foods. For breeding, you need to keep the tank bare, with the availability of more male fishes than the female ones. The paired fins are fantail or Ryukin type. They have metallic scales with orange or red coloration. You may restrict the hiding places for females.
Resistant to all kinds of climate, Celestials have a beautiful appearance, but caring for them is a bit difficult task. Note that these active swimmers have no dorsal fin and also have poor tolerance for quality water
11. Oranda Goldfish
It’s one of the most popular fishes in the world, most favored for its hood and fleshy growth on its head. Orandas have round shaped, shimmering head that is fully grown once they are 2 ½ or 3 years old. Like Celestials, Orandas also originated in China and then traded to parts of Europe and Asia. They grow up to 7 inches in length and have a lifespan of 10-15 years.
Being omnivorous by nature, they feed on vegetable, fishes, shrimp, and worms. They require a well-maintained fish tank with 10 gallons of water to thrive. At least 1/3 rd or 1/4th of the tank requires to be changed every week to maintain good conditions. These fishes require to be fed several times a day.
For breeding, the temperature has to reach 65 to 72 degree Fahrenheit while the hardness of water should remain at 6 to 8. The water movement of the fish is moderate, and they swim in all regions of the aquarium. Orandas have a peaceful temperament and are quite compatible with lesser aggressive species.
12. Ranchu Goldfish
Originated from China, Ranchus are primarily known as buffalo head goldfish as they have distinguishable characteristics. If properly cared, you can expect them to live for 10-15 years and can grow up to 5 inches in length. Being prone to various health problems, it requires some degree of care for healthy living. Considered as touchy type, they tend to have stubby bodies, abnormal head growth, and also poor eyesight.
Ranchus are omnivorous in nature and eat fish flakes, algae, insects and vegetable. Being slow swimmers, they usually have a difficult time finding food and thrive better in fish tanks with a minimum of 10 gallons of water.
You should control the overpopulation of species in a community tank to ensure a better supply of oxygen. Also, providing the tanks with a good filtration system would help. These goldfishes are compatible with other tank mates like bubble eyed goldfish, celestial eyed goldfish, and Lionhead goldfish.
13. Lionhead Goldfish
This breed has a distinguished headgear. Lionhead originated from China and resembles the typical mythical Chinese dog head in appearance. They have a cool temperament and rounded, egg-shaped body and the head differs from each individual. Having double caudal and anal fin, their body colors can be red, black, chocolate and blue.
The fish might also be tri-colored, i.e. red, white and black and it grows up to 5.5 cms in length. The caudal fin is generally divided or forked. The fish’s hood is generally well-developed in three areas-cranial, opercular, and infraorbital.
Omnivorous by food habit, Lionheads feed on detritus, insects and small crustaceans. Being scavengers by nature, they are mostly bottom feeders and are slow swimmers due to their fat bodies. They lack a stabilizing dorsal fin and usually thrive in water having a temperature of 65 to 78 degree Fahrenheit. The ideal water capacity is 1 gallon per fish in the fish tank.
14. Veiltail Goldfish
Veiltails are one of the most gorgeous goldfish types you can ever find. This delicate and difficult-to-breed goldfish have a rounded or egg-shaped body structure and can grow up to 6 cms in length. They have a distorted swim bladder and long, delicate fins that are vulnerable to injury and bacterial infections.
Having a lifespan of 10-15 years, Veiltails can live in colder temperatures. You may provide them with biological filtration for a better result. Being omnivorous in nature, this goldfish eats all types of frozen food, flakes, and fresh food. Note that you have to feed them several times a day.
Veiltails are good swimmers and thrive well in aquariums where the water capacity is a minimum of 20 gallons. With the addition to each fish, the capacity has to be increased by 10 gallons. Kept in room temperatures of 65 to 72 degree Fahrenheit, these fishes can even tolerate temperatures that are above freezing point. The hardness of water to be maintained is 6 to 8.
You can expect moderate movement and they like to swim in all regions of the aquarium. Semi-aggressive by nature, these goldfishes feed on aquatic plants and animals. During breeding, the water of the aquarium needs to be changed to the extent of 20%.
15. Broadtail Moor Goldfish
This rounded, egg-shaped fish has bulbous eyes protruding from the sides. Broadtails can sustain in all types of environment, changing color with age or might be fading to grey. They are available with beautiful veil tail, broad tail, ribbon tail or butterfly tail. Known for their hardy type, these fishes can withstand cooler temperatures but are subject to infection and injury.
Broadtail moor originated in China and then traded to Japan and Asia. Also referred to as Dragon eye goldfish, this goldfish variant has a stout egg-shaped body and can exist until 15 years. Broadtails are omnivorous by habit and prefer all kinds of fresh, flake and frozen foods. Food habits also include nibbling fishes, shrimps, and worms. Since the protruding eyes give them a poor vision, they require extra time to feed.
Please note that you need to feed them multiple times a day. You may keep this goldfish for aquarium, with a minimum of 10 gallons of water. At least 1/3rd or a 1/4th portion of the water requires to be changed every week.
Which is the most beautiful goldfish?
Veiltail goldfish has the most beautiful appearance and many aquarist love to keep this goldfish in their aquarium.
What is the life span of a goldfish?
Lifespan of goldfish is between 10-15 years if kept in a suitable environment and given proper diet.
