Although there are many different types of goldfish breeds, we most often think of the standard, single-tailed, solid orange fish that makes a great family pet.
However, there are a multitude of different types of goldfish that boast beautiful scale patterns and incredible tail shapes.
In this article, we will look at the different types of goldfish breeds that can add variety to your pond or aquarium.
Main Types Of Goldfish
There are two main types of goldfish that you will come across when looking to fill your tank: single-tailed and double-tailed.
Single-Tailed Goldfish
SIngle-tailed goldfish make some of the most common aquatic pets. Featuring a single caudal fin or tail fin, and a single anal fin which is the little one located just behind the belly of the fish.
Single-tailed goldfish have long, sleek bodies with short, single-fin tails.
Single-tailed goldfish are often less expensive and more common than double-tailed goldfish and are easier to keep due to simpler tank requirements.
Double-Tailed Goldfish
Double-tailed goldfish are sometimes known as “fancy goldfish” and when you see them, you can understand why. They feature two caudal and anal fins, but also have much more striking body shapes than single-tailed goldfish.
Double-tailed goldfish can have physical features such as bubble eyes, egg-like bodies, and even growths on their heads that make them even more “fancy” looking.
Double-Tailed Types
Double-tailed goldfish originated in Asia around the 19th century and are often simply double-tailed or fancy versions of single-tailed goldfish.
They can sometimes be referred to as ornamental goldfish by some owners or retailers. In some parts of the world, these fish hold sacred status and can play a significant role in aspects of culture such as mythology.
Oranda Goldfish
The Oranda goldfish is commonly characterized by its distinctive orange, bubble-like hood or cap on its head.
The Oranda goldfish share a few physical characteristics with other goldfish such as lion heads and the fantail.
The most common color pattern of the Oranda goldfish is a white, egg-shaped body with a bright orange bulbous cap that either sits on the top of the head or covers the entire head.
This fish may also display red, black, and blue color patterns.
Lionhead Goldfish
Lionhead goldfish originate from China and are characterized by the presence of a distinctive hump on their head.
The main difference between this fish and the Oranda goldfish is the shorter fins and lack of dorsal fins on the Lionhead.
The hood that makes these fish so striking usually develops when the fish is around six months old and does not stop growing while the fish is growing.
This means that the hump usually covers the entirety of the fish’s head and can even extend as far as to cover the gill plates which can cause issues with breathing for the fish.
Lionhead fish are most commonly red, gold, or white.
Pearlscale Goldfish
If you are looking for a goldfish that steals the show in your aquarium, a Pearlscale goldfish is an addition that you need.
What makes these fish so popular and special is the round, large scales that give the appearance of jewels or pearls adorning the body.
Although Pearlscale goldfish do have dorsal fins, they still have a hard time remaining balanced and upright due to the rotund shape of their bodies.
It is because of this that they swim very slowly and will often be located near the bottom of the tank.
Black Moor Goldfish
Black Moor goldfish are some of the most beautiful and striking goldfish you can buy, particularly if they are in a tank with orange or white goldfish.
As the name suggests, these goldfish are completely black, save for an area on their underbellies. This dark color is achieved through selective breeding of a black moor fish with a deep red telescope goldfish.
Black Moor goldfish are highly popular and sought-after fish that feature flowing, trailing fins that are characteristic of telescopic fish. They swim gracefully and slowly which helps add to their brooding image.
Single-Tailed Types
Single-tailed goldfish are a much more common variety than double-tailed. They make great additions to new and established aquariums due to their lack of specific water and tank requirements.
Wild single-tailed goldfish are native to China (Also check out Animals Native To China), however, due to their popularity as pets, they are sold all over the world and have found their way into water systems in various parts of the globe.
Common Goldfish
The Common goldfish is the most popular, easy-to-come-by breed of goldfish. It is the standard goldfish that you will find in most pet shops.
The vibrant, staple golden color of these fish is exclusive to fish bred in captivity. It is also possible to find common goldfish that feature red, orange, white, or yellow colors as well as a variety of patterns.
If you keep your Common goldfish in a tank, it will likely grow to around six inches long, however, if you keep the fish in a larger, garden pond environment, it can grow to as long as ten inches.
Comet Goldfish
The Comet Goldfish is a breed that originated in the US in the 1880s and is one of the most popular breeds of single-tailed goldfish.
This popularity is thanks in part to their beautiful trailing fins and tail, as well as their smaller body size than the Common goldfish.
These fish are very fast swimmers and do better in garden pond environments than in tanks, the space allows them to show off their grace, and why they got their name.
Blue Goldfish
Blue goldfish are just as striking and beautiful as the Black Moor double-tailed goldfish. Much like the Black Moor, Blue goldfish is not gold at all, rather they are a breathtaking shiny blue color.
In fact, Blue goldfish is not a singular breed either. Instead, there are many species of goldfish that can exhibit the blue color that is so rare.
These include Calico goldfish, Telescope, and Oranda goldfish. The deeper the blue, the more value the fish has.
Final Thoughts
There are many different types of goldfish that all offer something different in both personality and appearance.
With the huge variety between goldfish breeds, you can build a varied and interesting pond or aquarium with nothing more than different goldfish.
Hi, I’m Olivia Kepner and I am a zookeeper here in San Diego. Since I was a young girl I have always been fascinated by animals and species across the globe.
I used to beg my parents to take me to our local zoo every single weekend. Well, I say local – it was more like a two hour drive away. But they took me as much as they could, allowing me to fall in love with the animals again and again.
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