Goldfish Encyclopedia — 77 Species Directory
Encyclopedia of popular goldfish varieties with care guides, traits, and show standards.
Showing 11 of 77 species
Black Telescope
The representative black telescope breed. Beloved goldfish familiar from summer festival goldfish scooping.
Comet Goldfish
American-bred goldfish with long flowing tail. Active and fast swimmer, ideal for outdoor ponds. Hardy and long-lived.
Fantail Goldfish
A basic variety with beautiful fan-shaped tail. Said to be the prototype of Ryukin, hardy and easy to keep.
London Shubunkin
Carassius auratus var.
Slim-bodied goldfish with calico pattern. English-bred Shubunkin line. Unlike Bristol Shubunkin, has shorter fins and is hardier. Suitable for outdoor keeping.
Ryukin
Carassius auratus var.
Classic goldfish with a round, humped body and elegant long fins. Rich variety in color — red, white, calico. Hardy and easy to keep — ideal for beginners.
Sakura Wakin
Carassius auratus var.
A wakin with transparent scales, featuring pale pink and white cherry blossom coloring. The soft coloration unique to transparent scales is reminiscent of spring cherry blossoms. Has the hardy, easy-to-keep wakin body shape.
Sarasa Comet
Carassius auratus var.
Comet with red-white sarasa pattern. Beautiful with long flowing tail. Hardy and suitable for outdoor keeping, popular in biotopes.
Sarasa Wakin
A wakin with red-white sarasa pattern. Hardy traditional Japanese goldfish with active swimming.
Shubunkin
Long-bodied calico goldfish. Wakin type, hardy and active. Displays red, white, black, and blue colors. Perfect for outdoor ponds.
Tamasaba
Originated in Yamagata. Ryukin body with wakin-like long tail. Hardy, suitable for outdoor ponds, and strong swimmer.
Wakin
Closest to the original goldfish ancestor. Crucian carp body shape, hardy and strong swimmer. Suitable for outdoor ponds.
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Goldfish FAQ
- How much do goldfish cost?
- Common varieties like wakin and ryukin cost 300-2,000 yen, ranchu 3,000-30,000 yen, and show-quality specimens can reach tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen.
- Can beginners keep goldfish?
- Hardy varieties like wakin, ryukin, and telescope goldfish are recommended for beginners. A tank and filter are all you need, and no heater is required.
- How long do goldfish live?
- With proper care, goldfish live 10-15 years, and some individuals can live 20+ years. Water quality management and proper feeding are key to longevity.
- What should I check when buying goldfish?
- Look for symmetrical body shape, stable swimming, well-formed fins, and no injuries or white spots. Breed-specific aesthetic standards are also helpful references.
- What should I be careful about when keeping goldfish?
- Overfeeding causing poor water quality is the most common issue. Feed 1-2 times daily in amounts eaten within 2 minutes, and never skip weekly water changes.