Types of Goldfish: Get to Know These Little Fish

Goldfish are one of the most common and well-known types of fish that many families keep in their household as pets for themselves or possibly for the young children who are learning about taking care of their first pet. Something that many people may not realize is that there are different breeds of goldfish and specific ways that you should be taking care of these cute little fish. It certainly takes more than just buying some goldfish, putting them in a fish tank, and feeding them a few times per week. 

Goldfish Breeds

This may come as a surprise to many people that there are many breeds of goldfish, beyond just the typical little orange fish that you’ve seen before. The various breeds of goldfish come in an array of shapes, sizes, and even colors. Goldfish still come in the typical gold color but in varying shades and even color patterns. 

Fantail Goldfish

The Fantail goldfish is one of the numerous fancy goldfish breeds, probably one of the more popular or well-known breeds of goldfish. As their anime implies, they have a cute little fanned-out tail, along with the typical goldfish-esque egg-shaped body. 

Butterfly Tail Goldfish

The Butterfly Tail goldfish comes in a variety of colors beyond gold actually. Normally this unique type of fancy goldfish comes in a mixture of black, white, and red. They are a rather large breed of goldfish too. They’ve been known to grow up to a whopping 8 inches long. A 20-gallon tank is probably the best home for these special little goldfish. 

Bubble Eye Goldfish

The Bubble Eye Goldfish is probably one of the sillier-looking goldfish but still incredibly adorable of course. This goldfish does have rather large bubbles that are right below their eyes that bulge out. They can be found in typical orange or yellow color as well as in more than one color beyond that. 

Tamasaba Goldfish

The Tamasaba is one of the many breeds of Japanese Goldfish that are popular among goldfish lovers around the world. These little multi-colored goldfish aren’t often seen in pet stores beyond the country of Japan. If you are lucky enough to be able to bring one of these rare little fish homes to your aquarium you’ll be pleased to know that they are incredibly easy to take care of. 

Tanks and Aquariums 

First and foremost, it’s important to know that goldfish shouldn’t be living in bowls. A fish tank is the better choice for a home if you plan to start keeping any kind of goldfish breed as pets in your home. Fishbowls are far too small for the kind of home that a goldfish should live in to be happy and healthy. 

Some goldfish specialists will recommend starting with a tank that is at least 75 gallons. Although, a 20-gallon tank would work if you don’t plan to have too many fish living in the same tank. Some breeds of goldfish can potentially grow to be over one foot long after all. This is why it’s important to learn about whatever breed you plan to bring home before heading out to the pet store. 

Water Temperature

Goldfish live healthier lives in water temperatures that are around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Goldfish are incredibly resilient fish and have been known to survive a considerable amount of time in near-freezing water as well as warm and tropical water temperatures. While living in your home with you, however, it’s best to have a heater in their tank. A heater allows you to set the water temperature for them. 

Water Filtration

Water filtration is important when keeping goldfish in your fish tank, as these fish tend to make a lot of waste. You will want to have a powerful filtration system and be prepared to manually clean the tank on a regular basis as well. Having some sort of aeration system like a bubble wand helps the water to better circulate and keep the waste moving towards the filter. Although, you will want to be careful with aeration systems with certain breeds of goldfish. The Bubble Eye Goldfish, for instance, is very sensitive to intense water movements and could be injured by a powerful aeration system. 

Conclusion

Goldfish make fun and beautiful pets to keep in a large tank or aquarium in your home. Different breeds of goldfish will vary in care levels, from easy to difficult. Often depending on how big they will grow since some breeds will stay just a few inches long, while others may grow as large as two feet long. No matter which breed of goldfish you think you would be happy with adopting, it’s important to learn about that particular breed and their unique care needs before heading out to the pet store. 

How big do fancy goldfish get?

On average, a fancy goldfish will grow to be 30cm tall by 30 cm long. This is comparable to the size of a grapefruit. Weighing in at roughly half a kilogram, which is a little over one pound. This breed of goldfish grows to be a considerably large size, meaning you will really need to take what size tank you want into consideration before purchasing a fancy goldfish as a pet. 

Are goldfish aggressive? 

The price of a goldfish depends on the breed or color that you want to get. A simple goldfish, non-exotic, will not cost over a few dollars from your local pet store. The most expensive breed of goldfish that can be bought, called the Ranchu goldfish, can cost upwards of $150. Their price varies, depending on their color generally. 

Are goldfish freshwater fish?

Goldfish are only freshwater fish, and cannot survive in a saltwater environment. Thankfully, goldfish are a friendly breed and will generally get along with a variety of other freshwater fish. Making for a beautiful freshwater aquarium community.

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