Continued from “What Type of Goldfish do I Have? Part One“

Ranchu Goldfish

Ranchus are roundish, short goldfish with a deep body and arched back. Like lionheads and lionchus, the ranchu goldfish does not have a dorsal fin and is characterized by the wen that forms on its head and face. The wen develops about a year after birth, making young ranchus hard to identify. The tails and fins of the ranchu goldfish are short but well-shaped, as the focus while breeding this fish has been on body shape and mass, not fins. Ranchus can grow to sizes between 6 and 8 inches and are slow-swimmers that can often suffer from sight problems related to the head growth.

From above, the large wen that is common of the ranchu goldfish is apparent.

 

Pom Pom Goldfish

The pom pom goldfish has a similar body shape to that of a lionhead goldfish, but sports fleshy growths (similar to wen) between the nostrils. Like the lionhead varieties, this fish generally does not have a dorsal fin, though some cross-breeds sport a small dorsal fin. Pom pom goldfish can reach an adult size of 6-8 inches and are slow, clumsy swimmers. Special care should be given to the facial growths as these can become infected easily.

The pom pom goldfish in this video have partially developed nasal wen.

 

Telescope Eye Goldfish (AKA Dragon Eye)

Telescope eye goldfish are a popular breed with large eyes situated on either side of the head. Telescopes come in a variety of bright colors such as orange and red. Black or black and white telescope goldfish are thought of as separate breeds (see black moor and panda moor goldfish below). Telescope eye goldfish have sight problems and should not be kept with faster swimming fish. The body shape is similar to that of fantails, though often the back is more arched than most fantail varieties.

This photo shows the large, bulging eyes of the telescope goldfish.

 

Black Moor Goldfish

Black moor goldfish are similar in appearance to telescope eye goldfish, except that instead of sporting bright, fun colors, these fish are black throughout. The black scales can be metallic-looking or velvety, with an underlying sheen of green, maroon or brown. The tail fins are long and flowing, similar to that of fantail goldfish and veiltail goldfish. Most black moors lose their color over time.

An example of a black moor goldfish.

 

Panda Moor Goldfish

This breed is similar to black moors, yet these fish have black and white markings. Their needs are the same as telescope goldfish and black moors. Panda moors make attractive tank fish, with broad, flowing tails and fins. In later years, the panda moor’s scales have a velvety appearance.

From above, the distinct black and white coloration and bulging eyes confirm that this is a panda moor goldfish.

 

Bubble Eye Goldfish

The bubble eye goldfish is identified by the eye bladders situated beneath each eye. These large, fluid-filled sacs can be cumbersome, and so this breed is a slow swimming fish. They should be housed without sharp ornaments and plants as these may puncture the eye bladders. These will grow back, but should be tended to carefully as damaged eye bladders may be prone to infection. The eyes are located above these sacs and point upward, which causes sight impairment in this breed. Bubble eyes have double tails and no dorsal fin. The body shape is narrower when viewed from above than fantail and ranchu breeds. They can grow to between 6 and 8 inches in length.

This bubble eye goldfish has fully developed eye bladders.

 

Celestial Eye Goldfish

The celestial eye goldfish has a narrow body and the tail and fins can be short or long. The distinguishing feature of this fish is the nature of its eyes which face upwards – hence the name ‘celestial eye’ . The eyes of the fry appear normal, but as it grows, these eyes begin to protrude and turn toward the heavens. Celestial eyes are faster swimmers than most fancy goldfish, yet have visual impairment caused by the direction in which their eyes are angled. They often swim into objects in the fish tank, causing damage to the slime coat and scales.

These celestial eye goldfish have been bred to have no dorsal fins.

 

Other Breeds that are Descendants of the Crucian Carp

So far we have looked at a variety of fancy goldfish breeds. Fancy goldfish are far removed in shape and color from their ancestors. The more in-bred the breed has become, the more fragile the fish will be. Below is a list of descendants from the crucian carp that are hardier than fancy goldfish and are usually sold to be kept outdoors in ponds. Note that these breeds are larger than fancy goldfish and can only live in small ponds and pot ponds for up to a year before being moved to a larger home.

This koi fish has grown too large for the small container pond and should be moved to a bigger environment.

 

Common Goldfish

The common goldfish is the closest relative of the crucian carp, which means that it is the hardiest of modern goldfish. The common goldfish averages between 8 and 16 inches in size, though mature adults will vary in size according to living conditions and available space. These are usually the fish given away at fairs.

Although the common goldfish is not considered as attractive as fancy goldfish, this tough, active fish makes a colorful addition to ponds and large aquariums. The common goldfish shares a body shape with its ancestor, the crucian carp, but has been bred to be more colorful. It has a long, narrow body with short, well-formed fins. For those who are looking for a long-term aquarium pet, the common goldfish is an ideal candidate, as it can live up to a decade.

Top view of a common goldfish.

 

Comet Goldfish

Comet goldfish are similar in appearance to the common goldfish, except that this breed has longer tail fins than the common goldfish. These long, forked tails fins can give the appearance of a comet crossing the sky, hence the name. Comet goldfish generally have a mixture of colorful markings, but can be found in solid shades. The comet goldfish has a smaller size than that of the common goldfish, growing to between 8 and 12 inches in length.

This picture shows the long, single tail and the torpedo-shaped body of the comet goldfish.

Shubunkin Goldfish

Shubunkin goldfish are popular companions for Koi, as they are active, fast swimmers but are smaller than koi. This breed has a long, single tail and is most commonly found with calico coloration. This fish is active and a fast swimmer, providing a flash of color in outdoor ponds. They reach adulthood at about 3 years and can grow to between 9 and 16 inches in length.

There are a few different breeds of shubunkin goldfish. The one featured in this video is a Bristol shubunkin goldfish.

 

Koi Fish

Although the koi fish shares the same ancestor as modern goldfish, this large, impressive fish bears little resemblance to its fancy cousins. Koi have a long, narrow body that moves efficiently through the water with strong strokes. Aquarium owners beware – this fish can reach a length of 2-3 feet (though an adult size of around 2 feet is more common). Young koi fish have long whiskers, similar to those seen on dragons in ancient Chinese illustrations. As koi fish grow older, these whiskers become shorter. The koi fish comes in a variety of colors and often has a mixture of colors with distinctive black and red patches that are known as ‘inkspots’ in some circles.

A large koi fish with whiskers and ink spots.

Successfully Identifying your Goldfish

Over the years, different goldfish breeds have been inter-bred and therefore a mixture of breeds is not uncommon. The best way to identify your fish breed is to contact the breeder about your fish’s parents. If this is not possible, research breeds that have a similar body, fin and tail shape to identify which goldfish type you have.