Types of Goldfish

Comet
Family: Cyprinidae


The Comet is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/coulor mixtures.Comets can grow to be up to 30 inches long!The Comet is very daring and active, so it must be at least be kept in a 10 gallon aquarium.Comets can live up to 37 years!It's colors are orange, sarasa(red on white), black on orange, and red cap.Comets have a slim, long body and an exeptionally long, forked tail fin.
The Comet Goldfish, also called the Comet-tail Goldfish, are a 'reddish orange' colored goldfish that are inexpensive and readily available. This fish was the first variety of the single-tail goldfish to be developed with a long caudal (tail) fin. It was developed in the United States from the Common Goldfish in the early 19th century, presumably by Hugo Mullert of Philadelphia who then introduced them in quantity into the market. Though they are a bit smaller goldfish than the Common Goldfish, they are every bit as durable and can be kept in either an aquarium or in an outdoor pond.

These fish can be quite personable and are delightful to watch. One of the hardiest of the gold fish varieties, the Comet Goldfish are recommended for beginners. They are an easy fish to keep as they are not picky and will readily eat what is offered. These are some of the most graceful of the elongated goldfish, emphasized by their long tail. They are active, rapid swimmers and will sometimes tend to leap out of the water, so having a lid on an aquarium is good idea. They are also very social and thrive well in a community.

The Comet Goldfish is very similar to, and sometimes confused with, the Common Goldfish. The Comet Goldfish is a further development of the Common Goldfish. Both these fish have an almost identical body shape but the fins on the Comet are much longer, especially the caudal (tail) fin, and it is more deeply forked. Also, the Comet is generally a more reddish orange while the Common Goldfish is more orangish. The adult size of the Comet Goldfish is smaller too. On both these fish the caudal (tail) fin is held fully erect.

Comet Goldfish, often called the Pond Comet, are primarily a reddish orange color, but they are also available in yellow, orange, white, and red. There is also a bi-color red/white combination and occasionally they are available with nacreous (pearly) scales, giving them a variegated color.

Other types of Comet include the Sarasa Comet. This variety has long flowing fins and is characterized by a red-and-white coloration that holds a resemblance to a koi color pattern called 'Kohaku'. The Tancho Single-tail Comet is a silver colored variety with a red patch on its head.

Tempature: 65*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 6.5-8.5

Level: Nitrogen cycle

Black Moor
Family: Cyprinidae

The Black Moor is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/protein mixtures.Black Moores can grow to be up to 7 inches long, and 2 inches deep!The Black Moore is a very playful schooling fish, and must be kept with another goldfish to be comfortable.Black Moores can live up to be 17 years old!It's color is solid black.Black Moores have short, round stomachs, a forked tail fin, and 2 bulging eyes from the side of it's head.Black Moores are my personal favorite goldfish, that is why I call myself "Blackmoore": )

Rather than having the long slender body of the Common Goldfish or the Shubunkins, The Black Moor Goldfish is one of the more rounded or egg-shaped fancy gold fish. The rounded body shape of this beautiful goldfish is enhanced by large bulbous eyes protruding out on the sides of its head, metallic scales that give it a deep velvety black color, and long flowing finnage. Their hardiness and ability to live in cold temperatures makes them ideal pets.They are very popular gold fish and are found in collectors tanks throughout the world.

The Black Moor is basically a black version of the Telescope Goldfish though its eyes don't protrude quite as far. These eyes have given rise to some descriptive names for this fish, such as the Dragon Eye Goldfish and Black Peony Goldfish. Juveniles are a dark bronze and without the protruding eyes, but as they mature they become black and their eyes begin to telescope. Most Black Moors stay black but their color can change with age, ranging from gray to black, or they can revert to a metallic orange when kept in warmer water. Though they once were available with a beautiful veil-tail, the specimens available today will have either a broad tail, ribbon tail, or butterfly tail.

Black Moor Goldfish along with two other egg-shaped goldfish, the Fantail Goldfish and the Ryukin Goldfish, are recommended for the beginner, but unlike the Fantail and the Ryukin, the Black Moor must not be kept with highly competitive tank mates. These three varieties of goldfish along with the Common Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, the Shubunkin, are all considered good beginner goldfish. This is because they are hardy and can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day.

For most of these goldfish, their hardiness and ability to live at colder temperatures makes them ideal for outdoor ponds as well. The Black Moor is the only possible exception to this, not because it lacks hardiness but because of its telescopic eyes. Its eyes cause it to have poor vision so it is not a good competitor for food, and they are subject to injury and infection. None of these hardy fish are really good companions for the Black Moor because they are all too competitive during feeding time.

Tempature:65*F.-85*F.

p.H.: 7.0-8.0

level: Beginner



Ryukin
Carassius auratus auratus

The Ryukin Goldfish are considered a Japanese version of the Fantail Goldfish. They were developed in from the common Fantail Goldfish and like their Fantail counterpart, they are one of the more rounded or egg-shaped fancy gold fish. The Ryukin Goldfish differs from the Fantail in that they have an extremely high back, often described as a dorsal hump, that starts in the neck region giving them a more pointed appearance to the head, and they have a wider caudal fin than the Fantail. Like all the goldfish with this rounded body they can be susceptible to swim bladder problems.

The beautiful Ryukin goldfish is available in red, red and white, tri-color, calico, white, and chocolate. The distinguishing feature common to both the Ryukin Goldfish and the Fantail Goldfish are their split or double caudal (tail) fin. A long-tailed version of this fish has also been developed and is called the Fringe-tail or Ribbon-tail Ryukin.

Both Fantail Goldfish and Ryukin Goldfish are recommended for the beginner. Other good beginner fancy goldfish are Common Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, the Shubunkin, and the Black Moor. These fish can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day. Their hardiness and ability to live at colder temperatures makes them ideal for outdoor ponds. The Black Moor is the only possible exception to this, not because it lacks hardiness but because of its telescopic eyes. These eyes cause it to have poor vision so it is not a good competitor for food, and they are subect to injury and infection.
The Ryukin is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/coulor/protein mixtures.Ryukins can grow to be up to 6 inches long, and 1 1/2 inches deep!The Ryukin loves to explore, so you should have a few plants(plastic or real) in your tank.Ryukins can live up to be 15 years old!It's colors are calico, red and white, white, and orange.Ryukins have a short, round body, and a high humped back

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 7.0-8.0

Level:Beginner

Fantail

The Fantail is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/coulor/protein mixtures.Fantails can grow to be up to 8 inches long, and 2 inches deep!Fantails have large tails, so some care is required to prevent them from ripping or tearing, but other than that, the Fantail is a great beginners level fish.Fantails can live up to be 20 years old!It's colors are orange, black on orange, and white and orange.Fantails have a round body with a split tail fin 1/2 as long as it's body.

Rather than having the long slender body of the Common Goldfish or the Shubunkins, the Fantail Goldfish is one of the more rounded or egg-shaped fancy gold fish. These fish are bred for showing and its main feature, the split tail fin is medium in length and slightly forked. To be a good show specimen, the tail fin needs to be completely split with the two lobes being much closer together on top than on the bottom, making it look triangular when viewed from the back. Good show specimens also have a double anal fin with complete separation. Those whose tail fins are not completely split won't win any prizes, but still make great pets.

Fantail Goldfish are available in several scale types or color. The hardiest and most competitive show type is metallic, a solid reddish orange. Other scale types include nacreous which is speckled, and matt which is a whitish color. The Ryukin Goldfish is a Japanese version of the Fantail, with a highly curved back and a wider caudal fin than the Fantail Goldfish.

Both Fantail Goldfish and Ryukin Goldfish are recommended for the beginner. Other good beginner fancy goldfish are Common Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, the Shubunkin, and the Black Moor. These fish can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day. Their hardiness and ability to live at colder temperatures makes them ideal for outdoor ponds. The Black Moor is the only possible exception to this, not because it lacks hardiness but because of its telescopic eyes. These eyes cause it to have poor vision so it is not a good competitor for food, and they are subect to injury and infection.

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 7.0-8.0

Level: Beginner

Lionhead
Family: Cyprinidae

The Lionhead Goldfish is by far the most popular and well known of the dorsal less goldfish. Rather than having the long slender body of the Common Goldfish or the Shubunkins, the Lionhead Goldfish is one of the more rounded or egg-shaped fancy gold fish. They have a double caudal (tail) fin and a double anal fin. This goldfish variety is very similar to the Ranchu Goldfish that was highly developed Japan.The Lionhead can be distinguished by a less curved countour shape to its back. Also, its caudal fin is quite similar to that of the Fantail Goldfish, while the Ranchu has a tail fin that splays out to the sides, often being almost horizontal.

The distinctive raspberry or lion's mane appearance of this fish have led to its common name 'Lionhead' Goldfish. The amount of head growth differs for each fish. For some the broad head, except for its eyes, mouth and nostrils, can become completely covered with fleshy growth (sometimes impeding their vision) while others will develop hardly any head growth at all.
Picture of a Lionhead Goldfish, Carassius auratus

These goldfish are available in a variety of colors. The solid metallic types include red, orange, chocolate, blue, and black. The nacreous types can be calico, bi-colored combinations of red and white or red and black, or tri-colored combinations in red, white, and black. There is also a red-capped variety with a bright red head and white body. Though pretty rare, there is also a long finned variety.

The Lionhead Goldfish is considered a rather delicate fish and is not recommended for beginners. Its swimming ability is cumbersome because of its rounded body which is further diminished by the lack of a stabilizing dorsal fin, a trait that is also seen in the Water-Bubble Eye Goldfish and the Celestial Eye Goldfish. Many of the elongated goldfish varieties like the Common Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, the Shubunkin, are not really good companions for the Lionhead Goldfish because they are fast swimmers and too competitive during feeding time. Better tank mates would be the similarly handicapped but less hardy Water-Bubble Eye Goldfish, Telescope Goldfish, and Celestial Goldfish. It won't win any races, but if kept with other slow-moving varieties the Lionhead Goldfish should get plenty to eat and do well.

The Lionhead is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/coulor/protein mixtures.Lionheads can grow to be up to 5 inches long, and 2 inches deep!Lionheads are very poor swimmers, so they must be kept with other disabled fish like Ranchus, celestials, and bubble eyes.Lionheads can live up to be 15 years old!It's colors are black, midnight blue, calico, blue, and lemon.Lionheads have a short, round body, a fleshy wen(headgrowth), and a small, split tail fin.Lionheads do not have dorsal fin.

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 7.0-8.0

Level: Advanced

Bubble Eye

The Bubble Eye is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/protein mixtures.Bubble Eyes can grow to be up to 6 inches long, and 1 inch deep!Bubble Eyes have a fluid filled sac under each eye, which can be ruptured easily.
Bubble Eyes can live up to be 14 years old!It's colors are black, calico, and orange.Bubble Eyes have a fluid filled sac under each eye.Bubble Eyes do not have dorsal fin.They also have a split tail fin.

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 7.0-8.0

Level: Advanced

Pearlscale

The Pearlscale is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/protein/couler mixtures.Pearlscales can grow up to be 5 inches long, and 3 inches deep!Pearlscales are very round and have large scales, making many aquarists think that the Pearlscale has dropsy.They can also survive lower p.H. better than other fancy goldfish.Pearlscales can live up to be 16 years old!It's colors are green, lemon, calico, black, and orange.Pearlscales have a large, raised scale, a fat, round body, and a tiny head.

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 6.5-8.0

Level:Advanced

Oranda

The Oranda is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/growth/protein/couler mixtures.Orandas can grow up to be 5 inches long, and 2 inches deep!The Oranda is like a Lionhead, just with a smaller wen, and a dorsal fin!Orandas can live up to be 16 years old!It's colors are black, midnight blue, calico, blue, lemon, and red cap.The Oranda's body is exactly the same as th Lionheads body, just with a smaller wen, and a dorsal fin!

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 7.0-8.0

Level: Advanced

Common Goldfish

The Common Goldfish is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable food.The Common Goldfish can grow up to be 40 inches long!The Common Goldfish is the longest living goldfish, and the hardiest also!The Common Goldfish can live up to be 45 years old!It's color is orange.The Common Goldfish has a slim, long body and a short tail.

Tempature: 60*F.-85*F.

p.H.: 6.0-9.0

Level: Nitrogen cycle

Telescope Eye

The Telescope Eye is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed growth/color/protein/vegetable mixtures.The Telescope Eye can grow up to be 5 inches long!The Telescope Eye is also called the Dragon Eye.The Telescope Eye can live up to be 17 years old!It's colors are white, orange, and calico.The Telescope Eye looks exactly like a Black Moore, just it is not black!

Tempature: 65*F.-75*F.

p.H.: 6.8-7.2

Level: Advanced

Shubukin

The Shubukin is an omnivourus goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed vegetable/color mixtures.The Shubukin can grow up to be 25 inches long!The Shubukin is called "scaleless", beacause it looks like it has no scales.The Shubukin can live up to be 35 years old!It's only color is calico.The Shubukin looks exactly like the Common Goldfish, just it is calico, and "scaleless".

Tempature: 65*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 6.5-8.5

Level: Beginner

Celestial Eye

The Celestial Eye is an omnivourous Goldfish species.It is very docile and is often fed growth/color/protein/vegetable mixtures.The Celestial Eye can grow up to be 6 inches long! The Celestial Eye is also called the "Stargazer", "Heavenwardgazer", and "Skygazer", because of it's eyes that are always looking upward.The Celestial Eye can live up to be 15 years old! It's colors are black, calico, and orange. The Celestial Eye looks like a Telescope Eye, just with upturned eyes,and no dorsal fin.

Tempature: 70*F.-80*F.

p.H.: 6.0-8.0

Level: Advanced