15 Amazing Types of Goldfish
Are you looking to get yourself or one of your relatives or friends a goldfish? By doing so, you probably thought that there is only one choice available for the goldfish, and that is the orange classic goldfish that is so often seen as a pet and even in movies and given away at fairs. But the fact is that there is actually a lot of choice and variety when it comes to the goldfish.
You might not think so, but there is a huge variety of subspecies when it comes to goldfish. These fish are one of the most popular fish on the market. There are many reasons as to why you should get a goldfish; they are very adaptable fish that are comfortable living in a wide range of settings.
They are also not expensive and represent a low-cost maintenance option for new fish keepers. Another thing is that they are peaceful fish, while they also look very nice.
The large variety of goldfish actually stems from a long tradition of breeding experiments and breeders mixing up various fish species with the goldfish which produced a really interesting pallet of goldfish that we know today.
Do you want to know all about the types of goldfish that are available out there? Then you should read this post, as we will take a look at the 15 most interesting types of goldfish out there.
There are some fish on this list that does not actually look like the goldfish and not many people know about; so without further ado, let’s take a look at the various types of goldfish out there.
Common Goldfish
Common Goldfish
The first one on this list is very obvious – it is the most widespread and the most well-known type of goldfish, the common goldfish. The reason that this type of fish is very popular is that they represent a good choice for home aquariums as they do not represent a massive burden on the owner.
The average size of the common goldfish is about 10 to 12 inches, but they can also grow much larger. The goldfish are also known as very tame if you teach them right over time, and they will also become your friend; often you will see them swimming towards you and have almost a friendly attitude with you.
Although they do prefer to be kept in groups, they can be kept in solitude as well. Often, you will see the common goldfish kept in a fishbowl, which is fine, but you have to be aware that this type of setting can produce plenty of waste and the water can get dirty easily. For this reason, you should provide the goldfish with fresh water once a week at the minimum.
Shubunkin Goldfish
Shubunkin Goldfish
The most popular alternative to the common goldfish out there is the shubunkin goldfish.
This fish is often seen in home aquariums as well, as they do represent something different to the common goldfish in the sense that they offer some interesting color patterns on their bodies.
Often, you will see some white or black spots on their orange bodies and interchanging patterns of black and white.
The shubunkin goldfish also can grow to up to 12 inches in size. They can be kept with other fish in the tank, because of their peaceful attitude towards other species in the tank.
The most appropriate tank size for the shubunkin goldfish is 75 gallons. But they can be kept in smaller tanks provided that they are not kept in large numbers.
There are also some subspecies of the shubunkin goldfish: the London shubunkin, the Bristol shubunkin, and the American shubunkin. All of these have different coloration patterns and varying body types: the London shubunkin is more rounded, while the Bristol one is slenderer. The American shubunkin has a longer tail with pointed tail fins.
Comet Goldfish
Comet Goldfish
The next fish on this list is also considered one of the more traditional species of the goldfish, and that is the comet goldfish. These types of fish are also very often found in home aquariums and setups all around the world.
They are considered as a good alternative for the common goldfish due to their interesting color patterns and also very peaceful demeanor and compatibility with other species.
The biggest distinction between the common and the comet goldfish is that the comet goldfish have a much larger tail and also some interesting color variations. The comet goldfish often feature white color patterns all over its body. You can also find the comet goldfish in yellow.
The comet goldfish can grow to about 12 inches, which is very similar to the common goldfish and the shubunkin version of the goldfish. They can remember their owners and interact with them.
Wakin Goldfish
Wakin Goldfish
The wakin goldfish is a peculiar species; it seems like a mixture of the traditional types of goldfish (the common, comet and the shubunkin goldfish fall under this category) and the fancy types of goldfish (the “fancy” goldfish have been selectively bred over a period of hundreds and thousands of years to develop some interesting species which we will cover later on).
Each wakin goldfish has its own physical traits and appearance, making it a very interesting species.
Some wakins are larger, some have different colors, but mostly it is known that wakin goldfish have a long and slender body type with orange and yellow coloring spots all over it.
It differs from the common goldfish in its tail – the wakin goldfish has a double caudal fin, while the common has a single caudal fin.
Also, another difference between the two is that the wakin is much more of an active swimmer than the common goldfish.
Oranda Goldfish
Oranda Goldfish
Now we move onto some more interesting and peculiar goldfish types, also known as the fancy goldfish. These fish have been bred in a certain way to make them appear slightly different than those traditional types of the common goldfish.
The first one is the oranda goldfish. This fish is a stunning specimen that has some very different qualities to the common goldfish.
The oranda fish is also often known as the Red Cap due to its interesting head which appears as red.
This species is considered as a crossbred species that has been developed over hundreds of years; some people believe that it has existed since the 15th century. It is believed that it has originated in China.
The orandas are easily distinguished from other species by the cap on its head, also known as the wen. It also has rich tail fins with mixing colors of orange and white. There are also many interesting color variations of the oranda: the black oranda, blue oranda and also some other colors.
Ryukin Goldfish
Ryukin Goldfish
The ryukin goldfish is known as the descendant of the fantail goldfish, or rather it was developed from that species, to begin with. It has some interesting bodily features that distinguish them from other goldfish species: it has a shoulder hump right behind its head, which makes it a very tall fish.
It is probably as tall as it is long. Another feature of the ryukin is its pointy head, while the tail sizes can vary – some fish have it larger, some are smaller.
They are popular because not only do they look great. But they are also considered as quite hardy fish that can survive in various conditions. It is one of the larger fancy goldfish out there, and it is certainly an interesting alternative to all the traditional species on this list.
Ranchu Goldfish
Ranchu Goldfish
Now we are really getting into some funky-looking goldfish that look out of this world. The ranchu goldfish is certainly a very interesting sight.
The ranchu goldfish is also believed to come out of China, and it has been there for hundreds of years; in the 19th century, it also appeared in Japan and has since spread all over the world.
In terms of appearance, the ranchu goldfish is very interesting. It shares many similarities with the Lionhead goldfish when it comes to the head and the body dispositions.
The ranchu goldfish lacks the dorsal fin, which is actually also the case for the Lionhead goldfish
They also both had a “hood”, which is the head growth that looks like a brain. This growth is much more prominent with the Lionhead goldfish, and that is where the difference is.
The ranchu goldfish can grow up to 8 inches in size, but most of the time they are smaller than that.
Telescope Eye Goldfish
Telescope Eye Goldfish
Now, these fish really look like something from a comic or an animated movie. The distinctive feature of these fish is obviously their eyes. They are big, or at least they stick out prominently out of their heads and they appear like little bubbles on their heads.
These telescope eyes can be actually quite fragile, which is why you should care that you put some protection on your hoses and other possible sharp objects in your tank.
There are also some color variations of these fish: you can find red, blue, chocolate and even white telescope eye goldfish, but also some other color combinations. These fish can adapt to colder temperatures, but also to various conditions, which makes it a popular choice.
Lionchu Goldfish (Lionhead)
Lionchu Goldfish
This is the species we talked about briefly under the ranchu goldfish: the two are very similar in terms of appearance and often get confused and mixed up.
We have determined that the Lionchu goldfish lacks a dorsal fin, like the ranchu goldish. And it has also much more prominent growth on its head, which is also called a hood.
In fact, the name itself stems from the ranchu and Lionhead goldfish, because the species was initially made through crossbreeding of the two aforementioned species of goldfish.
It originates from Thailand and was often seen in Japan. Since then, it has made its way on the European and American markets and is now one of the more popular species across the world.
For these fish, you will have to keep the water pure, as they can be pretty delicate and prefer to live in pure water, they can struggle in impure water and pollution.
Pearlscale Goldfish
Pearlscale Goldfish
The pearl scale goldfish is one of the most recent goldfish out there. They were actually first bred at the beginning of the 20th century in China and was later brought to Japan. It was slightly modified in the 1950s, and it has some subspecies that are also very interesting.
The pearl scale goldfish are very peculiar-looking goldfish. It is distinguished by its round belly that is quite deep and it has some very beautiful scales. These scales are distinctive features that are only found on these goldfish.
These scales are actually made from calcium carbonate. The appearance of these scales makes the goldfish look like a golf ball.
On average, these fish live to up to 10 years and can reach a size of 8 inches at most. You will need to pay attention to these fish as they can be quite delicate – the diet should be high-quality, and keep the water clean.
Bubble Eye Goldfish
Bubble Eye Goldfish
Now, this is a funny-looking fish. It has a very interesting set of eyes. It has big bubbles under its eyes, which appear like a bubble that you blow when you are chewing bubble gum. But this gum is really sensitive; if it pops, it causes serious infections and other diseases that can potentially seriously harm the fish.
For this reason, you should take big care of what you put into the tank with the bubble eye goldfish; any aggressive fish should be avoided, and you should also avoid putting sharp objects into the tanks, like sharp plants or other objects. Also, the filtration system should not have a strong current. But these pets are very enjoyable and look very interesting.
Celestial Eye Goldfish
Celestial Eye Goldfish
The celestial eye goldfish looks like something from Mars. It is a very peculiar and interesting species with eyes that seem to be staring at the stars. This is where the name comes from. The Chinese named this fish species the stargazer. These fish have bubbly eyes, and it does not have a dorsal fin, which is something that has in common with the bubble eye goldfish.
It is actually quite similar to the Lionhead goldfish, but for the brain-like growth on its head. The proportions of the body are quite similar to those of the traditional goldfish. It has a low tolerance for worse quality of water and pollution, which it can be quite sensitive to.
Broadtail Moor Goldfish
Broadtail Moor Goldfish
The broadtail moor goldfish, also known as the black moor goldfish, is a very exotic-looking fish and also one of the most beautiful goldfish on this list. It differs from the common goldfish in many ways.
For starters, it is found in black and it has a much more rounded body. Which is also larger than that of the common goldfish. Another interesting feature of these fish are its eyes. They protrude slightly, and the fins are also very long and flowing.
In some ways, it is similar to the telescope fish, but for the color and the eyes – the eyes of the telescope goldfish are much more protruding and also quite larger.
Tosakin Goldfish
Tosakin Goldfish
The tosakin goldfish are a pond goldfish that was first bred in Japan. Nowadays, it is found in breeding ponds and sold all around the world.
They are known as very specific goldfish, and some of their features make them quite similar to some other types of goldfish. It has an egg-shaped body with orange and white interchanging, but they are also found in different colors.
The caudal fin is another specific feature of the tosakin. The fins are horizontal, and the exact shape of the fin cannot be actually seen from the side. But from the top view of the tosakin fish.
These fish are recommended to more experienced fish lovers because they need an environment that resembles its natural habitat as closely as possible.
Veiltail Goldfish
Veiltail Goldfish
The veiltail is a very beautiful fish; arguably, it is one of the most beautiful types of goldfish. It is also quite rare. It has an egg-shaped body and a very beautiful array of fins, which makes it unique and beautiful.
But they are also very delicate; these fish should be kept by people with expert knowledge in fish-keeping. Be sure not to pair it with aggressive fish, as they can easily have their fins nipped at. Also, water conditions should be as good as possible.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked at the 15 most interesting types of goldfish out there. First, we looked at the more traditional types of goldfish, and then also some “fancy” goldfish.
Some of these goldfish are very interesting and unique-looking. Hopefully, you have learned more about the types of goldfish with this article and you will be maybe able to choose one from the list.
