For beginners wanting to start keeping goldfish, 15 easy-to-raise varieties are carefully selected. Difficulty level and price range of Wakin, Ryukin, Ranchu, and more are thoroughly explained.
Key Takeaways
For beginners wanting to start keeping goldfish, 15 easy-to-raise varieties are carefully selected. Difficulty level and price range of Wakin, Ryukin, Ranchu, and more are thoroughly explained.
Related Species
Goldfish are one of the most beloved ornamental fish in Japan. With a long history of selective breeding, there are many diverse varieties with different body shapes and appearances. I have carefully selected 15 varieties that are easy for beginners to keep.
Points for Beginners When Selecting Goldfish
Body type: Wakin type (slim body) is hardy; Ryukin type (round body) is somewhat delicate
Swimming ability: Fast-swimming and slow-swimming varieties are difficult to mix together
Temperature tolerance: Goldfish basically don't require a heater, but some varieties are more delicate depending on the species
Final size: Check compatibility with your tank size
15 Recommended Goldfish Varieties
1. Wakin
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ / Price: 50–500 yen per fish / Body length: 15–25 cm / Lifespan: 10–15 years
Merits: The hardiest goldfish. With a slim crucian carp-type body, it swims fast and is active. Inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Drawbacks: It grows large and eventually requires a large tank. It swims fast and is unsuitable for mixing with Ryukin types.
Breeding tips: Prepare a tank of 60 cm or larger. Aeration is essential. Feed sparingly.
2. Ryukin
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ / Price: 300–3,000 yen per fish / Body length: 10–18 cm / Lifespan: 8–12 years
Merits: Round body with long, elegant fins. A classic goldfish variety with many breed variations.
Drawbacks: Prone to swim bladder disorder. Not as hardy as Wakin.
Breeding tips: Choose easily digestible food. Be careful of sudden water temperature changes.
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Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ / Price: 10–50 yen per fish / Body length: 10–20 cm / Lifespan: 10–15 years
Merits: A miniature version of Wakin. The cheapest and most hardy. Familiar from goldfish scooping games. Ideal for beginners.
Drawbacks: Grows large as it matures.
Breeding tips: Manage the same way as Wakin. Multiple fish can be enjoyed schooling together.
4. Comet
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ / Price: 200–1,000 yen per fish / Body length: 15–25 cm / Lifespan: 10–15 years
Merits: Wakin-type body with long, flowing ribbon-like tails. Swims fast and is active. Red and white calico patterns are beautiful.
Drawbacks: Grows large and requires a spacious tank.
Breeding tips: Suitable for outdoor ponds and plastic tubs. Hardy and well-suited for biotope setups.
5. Shubunkin
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ / Price: 200–1,500 yen per fish / Body length: 15–25 cm / Lifespan: 10–15 years
Merits: A calico pattern of red, white, and black with transparent scales mixed in. Hardy and suitable for outdoor keeping.
Drawbacks: Grows large. Individual variation in pattern is significant.
Breeding tips: Manage the same way as Wakin. Thrives well outdoors.
6. Demekin (Bubble Eyes)
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ / Price: 300–2,000 yen per fish / Body length: 10–15 cm / Lifespan: 8–10 years
Merits: Protruding eyes are a charming feature. Black Demekin are especially popular. Endearing appearance.
Drawbacks: Eyes are prone to injury. Poor eyesight makes feeding difficult.
Breeding tips: Use a layout with few protruding objects. Demekin are best kept together.
7. Oranda
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ / Price: 500–5,000 yen per fish / Body length: 15–25 cm / Lifespan: 10–15 years
Merits: Distinctive fleshy growth on the head. Impressive when fully grown. Red and red-and-white are the standard colors.
Drawbacks: The head growth can become infected with bacteria. Grows large and requires a spacious tank.
Breeding tips: Keep water quality high. Avoid layouts that could injure the head growth.
8. Tanchō
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ / Price: 500–3,000 yen per fish / Body length: 15–20 cm / Lifespan: 8–12 years
Merits: White body with a red growth on the crown of the head. Has a dignified appearance like a red-crowned crane. Classic Japanese aesthetics.
Drawbacks: The red coloring may bleed over time.
Breeding tips: Maintaining clear water quality will keep the color stable.
9. Ping-pong Pearl
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ / Price: 500–3,000 yen per fish / Body length: 5–10 cm / Lifespan: 5–8 years
Merits: Round body like a ping-pong ball with pearl-like scales. Adorable appearance. Small size with excellent visual appeal in tanks.
Drawbacks: Poor swimmer and delicate. Sensitive to temperature changes and water quality degradation. Prone to swim bladder disorder.
Breeding tips: Maintain stable water temperature of 20–25°C. Keep water flow as weak as possible. Feed small amounts of easily digestible food.
10. Sarasa Wakin
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ / Price: 100–1,000 yen per fish / Body length: 15–25 cm / Lifespan: 10–15 years
Merits: Beautiful red and white calico pattern on a Wakin. As hardy as standard Wakin. Enjoy the individual variation in patterns.
Drawbacks: Grows large.
Breeding tips: Manage the same way as Wakin. Suitable for outdoor keeping.
11. Calico Ryukin
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ / Price: 500–3,000 yen per fish / Body length: 10–15 cm / Lifespan: 8–12 years
Merits: Beautiful Ryukin with a mix of red, white, black, and blue. Each individual has a unique pattern.
Drawbacks: Like Ryukin, watch for swim bladder disorder.
Breeding tips: Manage the same way as Ryukin.
12. Azuma Nishiki
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ / Price: 1,000–5,000 yen per fish / Body length: 15–20 cm / Lifespan: 8–12 years
Merits: A calico version of the Oranda. The combination of the head growth and three-color pattern is luxurious.
Drawbacks: Somewhat delicate. High-quality patterned individuals command higher prices.
Breeding tips: Manage water quality carefully. Good nutrition is important for head growth development.
13. Ranchu
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ / Price: 1,000–10,000 yen per fish / Body length: 10–18 cm / Lifespan: 8–12 years
Merits: Known as the "king of goldfish." Lacks a dorsal fin and has a unique round body shape. A showcase variety at goldfish competitions.
Drawbacks: Poor swimmers prone to swim bladder disorder. Unsuitable for mixing with other varieties.
Breeding tips: Keep water depth shallow (20–25 cm). Keep Ranchu with other Ranchu. Best viewed from above.
14. Chōbi (Butterfly Tail)
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ / Price: 1,000–5,000 yen per fish / Body length: 10–15 cm / Lifespan: 8–10 years
Merits: When viewed from above, the tail looks like a butterfly. Distinctive and beautiful. Related to Demekin.
Drawbacks: Like Demekin, weak eyesight. Slow swimmer.
Breeding tips: A variety best enjoyed from above. Use shallow tanks or plastic tubs.
15. Sakura Nishiki
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ / Price: 1,000–8,000 yen per fish / Body length: 10–18 cm / Lifespan: 8–12 years
Merits: Ranchu-type body with transparent scales. Pale, cherry-blossom-like coloring is elegant.
Drawbacks: Like Ranchu, poor swimmers.
Breeding tips: Manage the same way as Ranchu. Best viewed from above.
Beginner Popularity Ranking (Focusing on Ease of Care)
Among the 15 varieties above, ranked by popularity among beginners based on "ease of care" and "ease of obtaining," they rank as follows:
Wakin: The most hardy and inexpensive. The standard introductory goldfish
Ryukin: Classic variety with round body and long tail. Good balance of hardiness and beauty
Comet & Shubunkin: Suitable for outdoor keeping. Elegant long tails
Demekin: Endearing appearance popular with children. Just protect the eyes
Ranchu: The "king of goldfish." High hobby value enjoyed from above
The popularity ranking is just a guideline. The key to enjoying goldfish long-term is choosing a variety suited to your tank size and keeping location (indoors or outdoors).
Beginner's Goldfish Tank Setup Guide
Equipment
Budget estimate
Points
Tank (60 cm)
3,000–8,000 yen
Goldfish consume a lot of oxygen, so a larger tank is recommended
Filter
2,000–6,000 yen
Hang-on filters are optimal for goldfish
Air pump
1,000–2,000 yen
Oxygen supply
Bottom sand (coral sand, etc.)
500–1,500 yen
Water conditioner
300–500 yen
Total
Approximately 7,000–18,000 yen
Heater not needed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Do goldfish need a heater?
A. Basically not necessary. Goldfish adapt to a wide temperature range from 5 to 30°C. However, delicate varieties like Ping-pong pearls are safer at 18–25°C.
Q. Can goldfish be kept in a goldfish bowl?
A. Not recommended. Water volume is insufficient and water quality deteriorates quickly. Prepare a tank of at least 30 cm or larger.
Q. Can goldfish and tropical fish be mixed?
A. Generally not possible due to temperature incompatibility. Goldfish prefer lower temperatures while tropical fish prefer higher temperatures.
Q. How can swim bladder disorder be prevented?
A. Feed easily digestible food in small amounts. Sinking pellets are recommended over floating food. Keep water temperature stable.
At BreederDirect, you can directly purchase beautiful goldfish carefully raised by specialist breeders. Try finding your favorite from the goldfish category.
