m Indu riu str ua ie q s GOLDFISH VARIETIES - (Carassius auratus) A STRAIGHT TAILS Common Goldfish FANTAILS Redcap Fantail PEARLSCALES Most fantail varieties have short globular bodies. Tail and Top of the head deep red, body Have the general characteristics of a fantail with a softer (ALSO KNOWN AS SINGLE TAILS) Body not as long or slender more globular body and characteristic, raised, convex as that of a comet, tail fin is other fins paired except for dorsal fin, which is single. and fins pure white. ECCTTOORRSS EEDDIITTI Common goldfish, comets and shubunkins have relatively (domed) scales. CCOOLLLLE IOONN long slender bodies. Tail fin is single. relatively short. Veiltail Pearlscale Ryukin Body short and globular. Tail fin As described above. Comet Fantail Body short and deep (a depth ¾ double, very broad, with straight-cut Redcap Comet (Tancho trailing edges. Length 1 to 1.5 times Body long and slender, tail fin is As described above. or more than body length) with Comet in Japan) body length. To date this variety has long and well spread. characteristic hump contour on the Top of the head, deep red, body back. The magnitude of the hump not been produced commercially. and fins pure white. increases as the fish matures. Tail is approximately half the length of the body length. Ping Pong Pearlscale Calico The name Ping Pong is used Mirrorscale Comet where the pearlscale’s body shape Scales mainly transparent Tail fin is long and well spread. Shubunkin is extremely round. with many colours same as A row of prominent large scales Scales mainly transparent. Shubunkin. Wakin extends along the length of the Colours in a mottled pattern Body long but heavier than body. with patches of blue, red, orange, yellow, brown or black. Ryukin Broad Tail the comet. The short tail fin A Ryukin with a tail can come in three different approximately the same length as configurations; (1) paired, (2) Bristol Shubunkin Albino Fantail the body. with upper lobe single and lower Crown Pearlscale Tail fin long, approximately equal Nymph Colour white with red or orange lobes duplicated (called tripod- (Hamanishiki in Japan) A Pearlscale with an Oranda type to body length and not draped Body short and globular. Tail fin eyes. tails), (3) with top edge of paired paired head growth which sits downward. Lobes at end of the is single. (A fantail body with a tail fin fused (called web-tails). high on the head. tail almost circular. straight tail). Jikin or Peacock tail Body slender, slightly shorter Ryukin Short Tail than a comet. Tail fins KOI A Ryukin with a tail characteristically form an X when Tosakin or Curly-tailed viewed from the rear. Desired (Cyprinus carpio) – Koi are not goldfish but are listed here for completeness Fantail approximately one third the length of the body. colouration is a white (metallic) TELESCOPIC-EYE Body short and globular, tending body with deep red fins and Koi are a coloured or cultivated form of European carp. Body is long and somewhat cylindrical. They have two pairs of Redcap Telescope Fantail to be deep. Tail fin web-tailed points. distinct fleshy barbels in the corners of the upper lip. Koi are capable of growing to approximately one metre and with their and joined along the upper FANTAILS OR A fantail with redcap and telescopic many and varied colours make spectacular display, pond fish. They can live for more than 70 years. margin with characteristic eyes. CURRENTLY KOI ARE ILLEGAL IN ALL STATES OF AUSTRALIA EXCEPT NSW & WA DRAGON-EYE flowing conformation. (DEMEKIN in Japan) General description as for fantails, with distinct protruding eyes which can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Fish with very protruding, somewhat cone shaped, telescopic eyes are usually called ‘dragon eyes’. GOLDFISH WITHOUT Ranchu POMPOMS Pompom Oranda Butterfly Tail Fish similar to the Lionhead but with a (Can also be spelt pompon – Hanafusa in Japan) An Oranda with pompoms. Pompoms are fish with ball like appendages on the top of the head Twin tails, spread nearly DORSAL FIN strongly curved back, near the tail. Fantail Telescope horizontally and when viewed (these appendages are extensions of the nasal septa, they are also As described above. from above, appear butterfly known as narial bouquets). Many varieties of goldfish are produced shaped. with pompoms which are sometimes in contrasting colours to that of Egg Fish or Maruko the fish for example White pompoms on red fish or red pompoms on Fantail goldfish without a dorsal chocolate coloured fish. fin (This variety was the forbearer Ranchu Redcap Pompom Telescope Panda or Magpie of all dorsal-less goldfish but is Ranchu with deep red head growth Oranda Black Moor or Butterfly Tail rarely seen today). and pure white body and fins. An Oranda with telescopic eyes and Telescopic Moor A black and white butterfly tail Pompom pompoms. (Black colour often transitional – A strong black colour. The standard pompom is a likely to turn white over time). Lionhead dorsal-less fish with a short to Characteristic growth around head region. medium length body with paired Fins relatively short. Back gently curved. tail fin and pompoms. Head growth of lionhead and ranchu may Celestial or Sky-gazer Pompom Bubble Eye Siamese Doll or Lutino not be present in young fish and may take Eyes large and upturned, fins A Bubble eye with pompoms. Calico Telescope Telescope several years to develop fully. moderately long. Scales mainly transparent. Pompom Fantail A pale yellow fish with red or Colours same as shubunkins. A Fantail with pompoms. orange coloured eyes. Lionhead Redcap Head growth deep red body and fins pure white. Bubble Eye Pompom Celestial Characteristic fluid filled bubbles A Celestial with pompoms. ORANDAS directly under the eyes. Pompom Telescopic Fantail Body short and globular. Fins well developed and long. A Telescopic Fantail with pompoms. Characteristic growth around head region. The head growth or Oranda Calico hood may be absent in young fish and may take up to several years Scales mainly transparent. to develop fully. Colours same as Shubunkin. GOLDFISH HEAD OUT TURNED GOLDFISH COLOUR AND COLOUR VARIETIES GROWTH OPERCULUM Oranda The metallic, reflective shine that is associated with goldfish is due to their scales having a reflective surface. This results in colour pigments below the scales not being visible. Oranda Red Whitecap Head growth on Orandas, Lionheads, (GILL COVER) As described above. (Jade Seal) and Ranchus, can be seen in two basic Goldfish with outward flaring Goldfish described as ‘matt’ are missing this reflective quality and have transparent scales resulting in pigments below the scales being visible. A Red Oranda with a white forms. operculum, with a forward curl, This reflective quality can be seen in varying degrees in different fish. For example this is a feature exhibited to at least some degree by all shubunkins and calicos. These fish are known as nacreous. cap (Currently not being have been developed in China. This commercially produced). (1) Hood covers almost the whole characteristic has not proved to be Wild Goldfish – In nature, wild goldfish are a silvery grey brown, sometimes described in Japanese literature as ‘iron colour’. head, including the opercular (gill popular in the West. Uncoloured – Goldfish fry are a dull, grey-brown when first hatched and usually start to change colour within the first 6 months of their life. cover). Oranda Redcap Green – The description ‘green’ is sometimes used for pale bronze goldfish – similar to uncoloured goldfish. These fish are not really green. Head growth deep red, body and Oranda Pearlscale (2) Hood only covers top of the head Red – Varying shades of orange red, orange and orange yellow. fins pure white. Characteristic convex (domed) (cranial portion). Redcap Orandas White – White or silver white, with black eyes. scales. normally have this type of Redcap – Top region, of head area red, body white. headgrowth. This variety is known Chocolate Redcap – A brown or chocolate fish with a red cap such as a Redcap Chocolate Oranda. as ‘goosehead’ or ‘ high head’. Red & White – White with red patches or red with white patches. Sarassa – A silver- white colour with, clearly defined, intense red patches such as a Sarassa Comet. Oranda Chocolate Oranda Telescope PHOENIX TAIL Black – Black goldfish other than black moors, tend to fade in colour when indoors. Phoenix Tail is often used to describe Redcap An Oranda with distinct Red & Black – Red background colour with varying degrees of black. Head growth deep red, body a long finned goldfish variety that protruding eyes. Tricolour – Usually red, white and black. chocolate coloured. is traditionally, dorsal-less and short finned. For example a lionhead with Multicolour – A batch of mixed coloured fish showing two or more colours. long fins would be called a Phoenix Black & White, Panda or Magpie – White background with black patches. Tail Lionhead. Calico and Shubukin – Fish with mostly transparent scales. Colours in a mottled pattern, with patches of blue, red, orange, yellow, brown or black. ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR www.aquariumindustries.com.au Merlin Cunliffe Merlin Cunliffe was born in Hertfordshire, England, in 1935. His interest in fish began when his father stocked the moat round their Elizabethan house with Goldfish, Golden Rudd and Golden Orfe. At the beginning of the 2nd World War his mother, two sisters and brother were evacuated to the USA and, at the age of five he was given his first two goldfish. This sowed the seeds of his interest in Goldfish and from this time to the present he has always been involved in the Goldfish keeping hobby and has been a member of the Goldfish Society of Great Britain and the Goldfish Society of America.