Goldfish Types

 

** Special Characteristics vary depending on the variety of goldfish being shown. Not all special characteristics apply to all fish. Each variety can have different characteristics that apply to each goldfish variety.

 

Some of these characteristics include; Caudal fin carriage and development; Color intensity; Development of hood including head, cheeks and operculum; Development and balance of eye bubbles; Development of upturned telescopic eyes; Juncture of tail and caudal peduncle; Raised dome like scales; Hump development; Protuberant eyes; and Development of finnage, especially caudal and dorsal fins.

 

 

The comet has a long (up to 12 inches) slim body and a high dorsal fin. The body depth of the fish should be approximately 3/8 the length of the body. The dorsal fin should be as high as or higher than the depth of the body. The single caudal fin should be deeply forked, with long narrow lobes that end in a point. The caudal fin should be longer than the length of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, long and end in a pointed fashion.   The single anal fin should also be long and pointed at the end. The scalation of the comet is metallic and acceptable colors are red-orange, or red and white. Special characteristics of this variety are caudal fin carriage and development. 

  

 The common goldfish is a long (up to 20 Inches) carp like fish. The body depth is approximately ¼ to 3/8 the length of the body. The caudal fin is short (approximately ¼ the length of the body), with rounded lobes and having moderate forking. The dorsal fin should be approximately 3/8 the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, short and rounded. The single anal fin should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in appearance. The common goldfish is a metallic scaled fish and acceptable colors are bright red-orange and red and white patterns. Special characteristics for this variety are color intensity.

 

The shubunkin is a long (up to 12 inches) fish with a body depth approximately 3/8 to greater than the length of the body. The dorsal fin should be from 3/8 to greater that the depth of the body. In all types of shubunkin, the coloration should be calico with large patches of sky blue, brilliant rend, dense black and pure silvery white. Dense black streaks appear on each of the fins. The scalation is nacreous, with or without spangled scales. Varieties of the shubunkin may be broken down into three distinct types, depending on the finnage.

Breed: American Shubunkin

 

The caudal fins should be a long or longer than the length of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, long, well matched and pointed. The single anal fin should also be long and pointed.

 

 

 

 

 

The caudal fins should be moderately forked, with broad rounded lobes; the length of the caudal fins should be approximately ½ to7/8 the length of the body, or longer. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, long, well matched and rounded. The single anal fin should also be long and rounded.

 

Breed:  London Shubunkin

 

The caudal fins should have short, rounded lobes with moderate forking; the length of the caudal fins should be approximately ¼ the body length and carried erect and well spread. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, short, well matched and rounded.

 

 

 

 

 

 The body shape of the bubble eye is egg shaped and can reach a length of from 8 to 10 inches. No dorsal fin is present. The body depth of the fish is approximately 3/8 to 5/8 the length of the body. The caudal fin is double and the individual lobes should be 90% or more divided from each other. The caudal fin is approximately 1/3 to ¾ the length of the body and the lobes are rounded. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired and should be rounded to match the caudal fins. The anal fins are also paired and should match the caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins in appearance and shape. The distinguishing feature of the fish is the appearance of the eye bubbles, which are liquid filled sacks that are attached to the bottom half of the eye. The bubbles should be symmetrical and reasonably large. The bubble eye can have metallic, nacreous or matt scalation. Acceptable colors for metallic specimens include; orange, red & white, black, ancient bronze and blue scale. In the nacreous scaled specimens, the colors may include bi-color, tri-color, solid red and calico. In matt fish, the colors may be pink, bi-color and tri-color. Special characteristics of this variety are development and balance of eye bubbles.

 

 

 

 The body shape of the celestial is long and egg shaped with no dorsal fin present on the fish. The body depth of this fish is approximately 1/3 to ½ the length of the body. The caudal fin is double and the individual lobes re 90% or more divided. The caudal fin is approximately ½ to as long as the length of the body and the lobes are rounded. The pectoral and pelvic fins are of medium length, paired and should be rounded to match the caudal fin. The anal fins are also paired, of medium length and should match the caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins in appearance and shape. The distinguishing feature of the fish is the appearance of the eyes which are spherical and protrude from the head. The pupils look directly upward and are slightly crossed. The celestial is metallic scaled fish, with acceptable color being orange, red & white and white. Special characteristics are development of up turned eyes.

 

 

 The body shape of the Lionhead is short and egg shaped with no dorsal fin present on the fish.   The body depth of the fish is approximately 5/8 the length of the body. The back contour is smoothly arched from the back of the head to the caudal peduncle. When viewed from above, the back and peduncle should be broad and the peduncle should not be too long. The caudal fin is double and the individual lobes are 25% or more divided from each other. The caudal fin is approximately ¼ to 3/8 as long as the length of the body and the lobes re rounded. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, short and should be rounded to match the caudal fin. The anal fins are also paired and should match the caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins in appearance and shape. The distinguishing feature of the fish is the appearance of the hood, which should cover the head, cheeks and gill covers in an even fashion. Acceptable scale types are metallic and nacreous. Colors within the metallic category include orange, red & white, black and white. Within the nacreous group, bi-color, tri-color and calico (with or without spangles) are acceptable. Several sub-breeds recognized include high heads, tiger heads (head and cheek growth only) and red capped Lionhead. Special characteristics of this variety are development of hood including head, cheeks and operculum.

 

 

The body shape of the ranchu is short and egg shaped with no dorsal fin present on the fish. The body depth of the fish is approximately 5/8 to ½ the length of the body. The back contour is smoothly arched from the back of the head and then takes a sharp downward angle change at the point where the body meets the caudal peduncle. When viewed from above, the back and peduncle should be broad and the peduncle should not be too long. The caudal fins is double and the individual lobes are 25% or more divided from each other, or the caudal fin can be webbed. The caudal fin id approximately ¼ to 3/8 as long as the length of the body and the lobes are rounded with moderate forking. The pectoral and pelvic fins are short and should be rounded to match the caudal fin. The anal fins are also paired and should match the caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins in appearance and shape. The distinguishing features of the fish are the appearance of the hood which should cover the head, cheeks and gill covers in an even fashion and the juncture of the caudal peduncle and tail should be at a 45 degree angle. Acceptable scale types are metallic and nacreous. Colors within the metallic category include orange, red & white, black blue scale, ancient bronze and white. With in the nacreous group, bi-color, tri-color, and calico (with or without spangles) are acceptable. Special characteristics are development of hood, cheeks and operculum and the juncture of the tail and caudal peduncle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The fantail possesses a long egg shaped body with double caudal fins. The depth of the body should be approximately ½ to 5/8 the length of the body. The caudal fin is double and should be 90% or more divided; the caudal fin is approximately ¼ to ½ the body length. The dorsal fins should be approximately 1/3 to ½ the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired and should be short, rounded and well matched. The paired anal fins should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in length and shape. The fantail can occur in any of the scale type common to goldfish; Nacreous coloration includes bi-color, tri-color, solid red and calico (with or without spangles), Matt coloration includes pink, bi-color and tri-color. Special characteristics are intensity of color and carriage of caudal fin.

 

 

 

 

 The Oranda is an egg shaped fish with a double caudal fin and head growth feature. The body depth of the fish should be 2/3 the length of the body. The caudal fin is double, ranging from ¾ to 1 ½ times the body length, and should be 90%or more divided. The lobes of the caudal fin are somewhat to moderately forked. The dorsal fin should be approximately 1/3 to 5/8 the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired and should be of medium length, rounded and well matched. The paired anal fins should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in length and shape. The distinguishing feature of the fish is the presence of a head growth, which can be of three types; Full head growth – which covers the head, cheeks and gill covers; Hi cap head growth – which is limited to the top of the head; and Cheek and cap only head growth. The Oranda can occur in any of the scale type common to goldfish: nacreous, metallic or matt. Acceptable metallic colors include all solid and bi-colors known to goldfish. Nacreous colorations include; bi-color, tri-color solid red, d calico (with or without spangled scales). Matt coloration included pink, bi-color and tri-color. Special characteristics are hood development including hood cheeks and operculum.

 

 

 

 

The pearlscale is round in appearance, with a body depth approximately ¾ to as deep as the length of the body. Two types of caudal fins are acceptable in this variety. 

 The first type of caudal fin is approximately ½ to 1 ½ times the length of the body. The second is ¼ to 1/3 the length of the body. In each case, the tail should be 90% or more divided, and the lobes are moderately to deeply forked in each tail variety. The dorsal fin should be approximately 1/3 the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired and should match the caudal fin, depending on the caudal fin type. The paired anal fins should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in length and shape. The distinguishing feature of the fish is the presence of a raised dome which appears on each scale. The scalation should be even and extend around the back of the fish. The pearlscale can occur in any of the scale types common to goldfish; nacreous, metallic and matt. Acceptable metallic colors include orange, red & white, black brown, blue scale and white. Nacreous scalation includes bi-color, tri-color, solid red and calico (with or without spangles scales). Matt Coloration includes pink, bi-color, and tri-color. A distinct sub breed is the Pearlscale Oranda. Which has a smooth head growth in one or two sections on top of the head (in the case of two sections the fish is called Hamanishiki). Special characteristics are raised dome like scales. 

 

 

 

 

 The ryukin has a very short egg shaped body with a double caudal fin. The depth of the body should be ¾ to equal the length of the body. The distinguishing characteristic of the fish is a hump back feature which begins immediately after the head and may in fact, appear as a double hump. The caudal fin is long, double and should be 90% or more divided; the caudal fin is ¾ to 1 ½ times as long s the length of the body, with rounded lobes and moderate forking. The dorsal fin should be approximately 1.3 the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired, of moderate length and well matched. The paired anal fins should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in length and shape. The Ryukin can occur in any of the scale type common to goldfish: nacreous, metallic or matt. Acceptable metallic colors are orange, red & white, and white. Nacreous coloration includes bi-color, tri-color, solid red and calico (with or without spangled scales). Matt coloration includes pink, bi-color and tri-color. Special characteristics are hump development, coloration and carriage of caudal fin.

 

 

 

 

 

The telescope is a short, egg shaped fish with a double caudal fin and protruding eyes.  The body depth of the fish should be greater than 2/3 the length of the body. The caudal fin is double and ranges from 5/8 to 1 ½ the body length and the lobes should be 90% or more divided. The lobes of the caudal are rounded and moderately forked. The dorsal fin should be approximately 1/3 to 5/8 the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired and should be of medium length, rounded and well matched. The paired anal fins should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in length and shape. The distinguishing feature of the fish is the presence of protuberant eyes, which should be of a symmetrical size and shape, one to the other. The telescope can occur in any of the scale type common to goldfish; nacreous,, metallic or matt. Acceptable metallic colors include orange, red & White, black blue scale, brown, white and bi-color. Nacreous coloration includes bi-color, tri-color, solid red and calico (with or without spangled scales). Matt coloration includes pink, bi-color and tri-color. Sub breeds include Broad tail Moor, Butterfly Telescope, and Oranda Telescope (dragon head).   Special characteristics are protuberant eyes and intensity of color.

 

 

 

The Veiltail is a egg shaped fish which possesses very long finnage. The depth of the body should be greater than 2/3 the length of the body. The caudal fin is long, double and should be 90% or more divided; the caudal fin is ¾ to 2 times as long as the length of the body, with square lobes showing no apparent forking. The dorsal fins should be very high and approximately ¾ or more of the depth of the body. The pectoral and pelvic fins are paired and should be long and well matched. The paired anal fins should match the pelvic and pectoral fins in length and shape. The Veiltail can occur in any of the scale type common to goldfish: nacreous, metallic or matt. Acceptable metallic colors are orange, red & white, blue scale, ancient bronze and white. Nacreous coloration includes bi-color, tri-color, solid red and calico (with or without spangled scales). Matt coloration includes pink, bi-color and tri-color.  The finnage of the Veiltail can be crossed into any double caudal finned goldfish breed. These cross breeds are commonly called broadtails to differentiate them from pure Veiltail. Some examples of broadtails are: Broadtail Moors, Broadtail Oranda, Broadtail Pearlscale and Broadtail Ryukin. Special characteristics are development of finnage, especially caudal and dorsal fins.