Goldfish are beautiful freshwater and aquarium or tank fish popular among fishery markets.Is the goldfish golden in color? No, goldfish appear in a range of colors, but the most common are orange and red which appear golden in color so they’re called goldfish.Goldfish are a small freshwater marine species commonly found in the fisheries market. The goldfish species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. There are many species of goldfish, such as the wakin goldfish, the ryukin goldfish, the telescope goldfish, the moor goldfish, the ranchu goldfish, the comet goldfish, and the fantail goldfish. There are many common goldfish species, but all of them vary on the basis of their size, their shape such as having egg-shaped bodies or slim bodies, and their colors such as red and white. Goldfish are native to east Asia and are now even becoming more numerous in different regions of North America.Goldfish are also called tank or aquarium fish. Goldfish are from the class of Actinopterygii, the order Cypriniformes, and belong to the family of Cyprinidae. The genus they are from is Carassius, and the type species of the genus, or the scientific name of the goldfish, is Carassius auratus. The different goldfish breeds’ tank size must be 10-20 gal (38-76 l) depending upon the size of the goldfish. In China, the goldfish is an emblem of gold, wealth, prosperity, and harmony.Erythrophores, xanthophores, and melanophores are the three main color pigments found in common goldfish and fancy goldfish. Erythrophores are known to contain red pigments, which cause the gold to appear red or orange. Xanthophores are yellow pigments, and cause the fish to resemble yellow goldfish. Melanophores are black pigments, and make the fish species appear black.Almost all goldfish varieties are gregarious and are known to swim in schools of fish. Most breeds of goldfish are categorized as generalist species, i.e., they can survive in a wide range of environments. Goldfish selective breeding was done 1,000 years ago in Imperial China. The goldfish breed is known to be divided on the basis of appearances, such as the single-tailed goldfish, the double-tailed goldfish, the common goldfish, and the fancy goldfish.If you enjoy reading this article about different types of goldfish, then do read some interesting and surprising fun facts articles about different types of crabs and different types of turtles.Common Goldfish TypesThere are many types of goldfish classified on the basis of their body shape, tail, and size. Goldfish are classified into two types: western goldfish and Chinese goldfish.Goldfish varieties are named normally on the basis of western classification, but on the basis of Chinese tradition, they are classified into four types: crucian, grass, wen, dragon eye, and egg. Crucian (grass) are goldfish types without any fancy features like a caudal fin or dorsal fin. These fish resemble the crucian carp and include the common goldfish, comet goldfish, and shubunkin goldfish.The other goldfish type, wen, is a fancy tail-finned fish with a big head or head growth. The fancy goldfish type or wen category includes fantail goldfish and veiltail goldfish. The dragon eye category includes goldfish with big or extended eyes such as black moor goldfish, panda moor goldfish, bubble eye goldfish, and telescope eye goldfish. The last category, the egg, is the type of goldfish that lacks a dorsal fin and has an egg-shaped body, such as the lionhead goldfish which does not have a dorsal fin. Also, bubble eyes that lack a dorsal fin belong to the category of the egg.When it comes to the western classification, the type of goldfish is categorized on the basis of its goldfish tail-fins type, pond type, and color type. Names of goldfish or table of contents are long and varied. Names include common goldfish, black telescope goldfish, bubble eye goldfish, celestial eye goldfish, comet goldfish, fantail goldfish, lionhead goldfish, oranda goldfish, pearlscale goldfish, pompom goldfish, ryukin goldfish, blue goldfish, shubunkin goldfish, telescope eye goldfish, ranchu goldfish, watonai goldfish, nymph goldfish, jikin goldfish, panda goldfish, veiltail goldfish, butterfly goldfish, meteor goldfish, lionhead-ranchu goldfish, eggfish goldfish, Shukin, curled-gill goldfish, Tamasaba goldfish, Tosakin goldfish, and white telescope goldfish.The species of small goldfish is well known for its socializing skills and associative learning. Due to this behavior, it can also be well trained if provided with some conditioned stimulus regularly. Most goldfish are found in freshwater, but a few fish species have also been found in brackish water. The goldfish, Carassius auratus, is known to have four cone cells: red, green, ultraviolet, and blue. This ability allows them to differentiate between colors and they are hence kept in the category of tetrachromats. Black moor goldfish and telescope eye goldfish are known to have poor vision. Goldfish types are known to breed or spawn during the spring season or when the water temperature is warm and of freshwater quality. Selective breeding for specific goldfish types, colors, and patterns has at times led to failure or problems with the swim bladder in this type of fish species. When kept in captivity, this aquarium or tank fish can grow to be 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) long, whereas, the type of goldfish found in the wild can grow up to 14 in (36 cm) long.Popular Goldfish TypesThe goldfish’s color varies among each of its species. The color varies from red-orange to red and white. Basically, this fish species has three major pigment colors that appear to be different colors.The three main color pigments of common goldfish or fancy goldfish types are erythrophores, xanthophores, and melanophores. Erythrophores are known to be of red pigment color, which makes the gold appear red or orange. Xanthophores are known to be yellow pigments, causing the fish to appear to be yellow goldfish. Melanophores are black pigments and this fish species appears to be black in color.If selective breeding is done, goldfish can be of different colors from the three major color pigments mentioned above. Colors can be red, orange, yellow, black, gray, white, blue, and brown. Bright, red-colored goldfish are more expensive than orange goldfish. In orange-colored fish species, a balanced number of erythrophores and xanthophores are present, while melanophores’ absence allows the fish body to appear orange.The black color of goldfish is due to the presence of melanophores such as in black moor goldfish, while in gray-colored goldfish, the number of melanophores in the upper body is greater than in their lower body and decreases consequently. White goldfish are known to have no pigment, unlike other species of goldfish.In brown-colored goldfish, all three pigments are present in a balanced number; whereas, in blue goldfish, melanophores are placed deep in their skin while the erythrophores and xanthophores are absent. Many of the wild fish species of goldfish are known to change their body color as they mature due to their genetics. The Prussian carp is a wild species whose skin color changes as the carp matures.Goldfish can also be recognized on the basis of their tails, i.e., single-tailed goldfish and double-tailed goldfish. Some species have a few inches long tail, while some have a veil-like tail.Goldfish are classified as single-tail or double-tail, with the former containing mostly common goldfish types, such as comet goldfish, and the latter containing mostly fancy goldfish types, with these fancy goldfish having two beautiful caudal fins. Fancy goldfish are mostly bred selectively to enhance the beauty of the house aquarium or tank.On the basis of single tail types, goldfish can be divided into three subcategories named wild, comet-tailed, and heart-shaped-tailed. The wild subcategory goldfish have a single tail that looks like a fantail but is not deeply forked. In comparison to the wild subcategory, the comet-tailed are longer and more deeply forked.The tail or caudal fin of the body looks like ribbons but varies a lot from the fancy goldfish tail body. The third category is heart-shaped-tailed. From the name itself, you would come to know that the type of goldfish in this category would have a heart-shaped tail, and the Bristol shubunkin is the only type of goldfish to have a heart-shaped tail.The other category, double-tail goldfish, consists primarily of fancy goldfish with inches long and beautiful tails. The category is further subdivided into three types: fan-tailed, veil-tailed, and ribbon-tailed. The fantail found on the body of fancy goldfish, which is generally considered to be the tail of a common goldfish, differs on the basis of measurement. The tail is similar to a comet’s tail but shorter by inches in length and less sharp in comparison to the latter. Goldfish types such as ryukin goldfish, oranda goldfish, fantail goldfish, and pearlscale goldfish have fan-tailed fins.The other sub-category, veil-tailed goldfish, has a tail with more inches in length than that of the fantail. Many claim that telescope goldfish and oranda goldfish belong to this category, but this is not true. The third category is ribbon tails, which have longer forks and tails in comparison to fantails. This type of tail differs from that of the comet-tail and the veil tail by having sharper and deeper forks.Another type of tail among goldfish is that found on broad-tailed goldfish and on butterfly-tailed goldfish. The broad tail goldfish are fancy goldfish with broad fins and they do not have forks on their tails, while butterfly tail goldfish have a butterfly-shaped tail which are flat with a curve. It is also believed that fancy goldfish have an angled tail peduncle in comparison to common goldfish.Single-Tailed Goldfish TypesThe single-tail goldfish is distinguished by a single anal fin and a caudal fin. It has a slim body shape which enables it to swim faster than egg-shaped goldfish. Most single tail goldfish are common goldfish.Goldfish such as oranda goldfish, lionhead goldfish, and ranchus goldfish are some of the single tail goldfish species. Nymph goldfish are an exception, as they are bred from egg-shaped goldfish. From the single-tailed body goldfish comes the long-bodied goldfish and the egg-shaped body goldfish.Common goldfish are also known as feeder fish or feeder goldfish, comet goldfish, and shubunkin, among other names in the long-bodied goldfish family. The common goldfish is a descendant of the Prussian carp and is orange, blue, gray, white, and black in color. The most common color is shiny orange, with a mix of red and white. In common goldfish, the yellow and black patterns on panda fish are commonly known and are rare in other goldfish.Comet goldfish are known to originate from America and are similar to common goldfish except for their deep and long forked tails and fins. Shubunkin is known to have scales and a calico pattern. There are three subspecies of shubunkin: the London Shubunkin with short, round finnage; the American Shubunkin with a slim body type; and the Bristol Shubunkin with a heart-shaped tail. The only difference between the American and Bristol shubunkin is that the American shubunkin has a pointed tail fin, while the Bristol shubunkin has a heart-shaped tail and has less pointed fork-like fins.Another type of common goldfish species is those with egg-shaped bodies. Under this category come nymph goldfish and Tamasaba or Sabao goldfish. The nymph goldfish has a fantail but only one anal fin and one caudal fin; whereas, Tamasaba or Sabao goldfish are occasionally compared to ryukin goldfish. These fish species are rare, bred from ryukin goldfish, and have a single caudal fin.Apart from the above, single-tail goldfish, such as rainbow goldfish or white-scaled goldfish, koi goldfish, albino goldfish, and blue goldfish have a single tail. Goldfish are known to thrive without water for up to three hours. The single-tailed goldfish can live up to an age of 10-15 years if kept in a tank and the age can go up to 20 years if the fish is kept in a pond in an appropriate environment.Fancy Goldfish TypesFancy goldfish are mostly double-tail goldfish which are divided into two categories: streamlined body and egg-shaped body. The egg-shaped body is further divided into dorsal-finned and non-dorsal-finned varieties.The number of caudal and anal fins of double-tailed or fancy goldfish are two. These fish are one of the more expensive fish species. The streamlined-bodied double long-tail fish includes the wakin’ goldfish, the watonai goldfish, and the jikin goldfish. The wakin goldfish is most often similar to the common goldfish but differs on the basis of its double caudal fins. The watonai goldfish is the goldfish breed that originates from the wakin and the ryukin goldfish.Jikin goldfish are red and white in color and have 12 points of red in a unique pattern or design on their body. This fish species evolved from the wakin goldfish. The egg-shaped goldfish has two types of goldfish: fish with dorsal fins and fish that lack a dorsal fin. Fish with a dorsal fin are fantail goldfish, veil tail goldfish, ryukin goldfish, pearlscale goldfish, telescope goldfish, and oranda goldfish, while pompom goldfish, lionhead goldfish, and eggfish goldfish lack a dorsal fin.A dorsal fin can be found on some celestial eye goldfish. The evolution of the ryukin goldfish has led to the origin of the bubble-eyed goldfish. Telescope eyes are weaker in comparison to bubble eyes. The fantail goldfish does not have a shoulder hump and is a goldfish species with an egg-shaped body. These fish have two caudal fins and two anal fins.Veil-tailed goldfish have long fins that are more often nipped by other species of fish because other species of fish are attracted to their fins. Tails and fins of this species appear to be like a veil. Ryukin goldfish are known to have a shoulder hump. Most of their features resemble those of the fantail goldfish. The curled gill goldfish is a goldfish species with gills in an outward direction and has been named after this specific characteristic.The dorsal finless species, the bubble eye goldfish, is a small, fancy goldfish species known for its large, brown eyes along with large fluid sacs. These sacs are soft and are very delicate and have been known to get caught in aquarium filter water uptake valves. The bubble-eyed goldfish has developed from an eggfish goldfish. Fancy goldfish of these types need utmost care and a tank with a larger surface area.Another type of goldfish is the pond goldfish, which usually lives in ponds and is named the celestial eye goldfish, the telescope goldfish, and the bubble eye goldfish. This species of goldfish is kept mostly in ponds due to its delicate eyes. A celestial eye goldfish is sometimes called a sky gazer because its eyes are always in an upward direction.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for different types of goldfish, then why not take a look at different types of bulldogs or goldfish fun facts for kids?
Goldfish are beautiful freshwater and aquarium or tank fish popular among fishery markets.
