Different Types of Goldfish: Varieties and How to ID Yours

All goldfish are one species, Carassius auratus, bred in China since the Tang dynasty (618 to 907) and firmly established by the Song dynasty (Wikipedia). The different types fall into two groups: single-tail goldfish with a slim body (common, comet, shubunkin) and fancy goldfish with a twin tail and a rounder, egg-shaped body (fantail, ryukin, oranda, telescope, black moor, lionhead, ranchu, pearlscale, bubble eye and celestial). Wikipedia's Goldfish article says about 300 breeds are recognised in China, while its List of goldfish varieties says about 200; either way, most types you meet in shops are the dozen below.

Wikipedia's List of goldfish varieties sorts them by a handful of traits. Check them in this order:

• Tail: one tail fin (single-tail) or a split, paired tail (fancy).
• Body: long and streamlined, or short and egg-shaped.
• Dorsal fin: present on most, missing on lionheads and ranchus.
• Eyes: normal, telescope (sticking out), celestial (turned upward) or bubble eyes (fluid-filled sacs under the eyes).
• Head: smooth, or with a raspberry-like head growth called a wen (orandas, lionheads); some have nasal pompoms.
• Scales: normal metallic, nacreous (the calico look of shubunkins) or pearlscale (raised, dome-shaped scales).

Two traits usually settle it. A twin tail plus no dorsal fin plus a wen is a lionhead or ranchu; a twin tail plus a dorsal fin plus a wen is an oranda. A photo in FishLens identifies the species; for the exact variety, compare these traits.

• Common goldfish: slim body with a short, sleek tail (Fish Forums guide). Wikipedia says wild-type goldfish usually reach 12 to 22 cm and can reach 41 cm; see biggest goldfish.
• Comet: like the common but with a long, single, deeply forked tail. Wikipedia says it was developed in the United States in the 1880s by Hugo Mulertt, first seen in the ponds of the US Fish Commission in Washington, DC, and is best suited to ponds and outdoor pools, often with koi.
• Shubunkin: a single-tail with nacreous scales in a calico mix of colours (Wikipedia); the forum guide in our sources lists violet, red, orange and yellow.

These three are fast swimmers and do best in large tanks or ponds.

Traits from Wikipedia's List of goldfish varieties and the Fish Forums guide in our sources:

• Fantail: egg-shaped body with a doubled tail; the simplest fancy.
• Ryukin: like a fantail but with a pronounced hump behind the head.
• Veiltail: long, flowing fins that hang like a veil.
• Oranda: a twin tail, a dorsal fin and a wen on the head.
• Lionhead and ranchu: no dorsal fin and a wen on the head.
• Telescope: protruding telescope eyes on an egg-shaped body.
• Black moor: a velvety black telescope-eyed goldfish.
• Celestial: eyes that point upward, toward the sky.
• Bubble eye: large fluid-filled sacs under the eyes.
• Pearlscale: a near-spherical body covered in raised, dome-shaped scales.

Chinese tradition groups goldfish differently, into four types: Crucian, Wen, Dragon Eye and Egg (Wikipedia).

It depends on where it will live. For a pond or a big tank, single-tails such as comets are the hardy choice: Wikipedia calls comets hardy and low maintenance and best suited to ponds. For an indoor aquarium, fancy goldfish are the popular pick: Aqueon ranks fancy goldfish second on its list of the best pet fish, for their easy care and engaging personality.

Whichever you choose, do not mix fast single-tails with slow fancies. Wikipedia says goldfish should be kept with breeds of similar swimming ability, because faster fish take most of the food.

More than one, if you have the space. Wikipedia describes goldfish as gregarious fish that show schooling behaviour and should be kept in groups of compatible breeds. The limit is room: Wikipedia gives about 20 gallons for each common or comet goldfish and about 10 gallons for each fantail, and says fishbowls are detrimental to goldfish health. Its optimum temperature is 20 to 22°C (68 to 72°F) (Wikipedia). For a first tank, see best fish to have as pets.

Wikipedia says goldfish released into the wild become invasive pests in North America and Australia, and our biggest goldfish page covers the giant wild goldfish that result. If you can no longer keep yours, rehome it through a shop, club or another keeper.

Research and drafting for this page were assisted by AI and checked line by line against the sources listed below. Every number names the organisation it comes from, and where sources disagree we say so instead of picking one silently. Prices and rules are given with the date we checked them; they change, so confirm before you rely on them. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.