Goldfish Characteristics

Basic Goldfish Characteristics
1. Scalation – Three basic types of scalation occur in goldfish: metallic,
matte, and nacreous.
a. Metallic – Has a shiny, reflective appearance, much like a metal
object, hence the name metallic. The shiny appearance is caused
by the presence of guanine in the scale.
b. Matte – Scales which lack the reflective guanine layer, leading to a
dull or non-reflective appearance.
c. Nacreous – A scale type which combines characteristics of the
metallic and matte scale patterns, often in random proportions,
causing a mixture of reflective and non-reflective scales on a fish.
2. Colors – Goldfish come in a number of distinct colors, including
combinations of colors. Common goldfish colors include the following:
red, orange, white, black, blue, chocolate brown, yellow, red and white,
black and red, black red and white, calico (a combination of colors usually
including red, white, black and blue).
3. Eyes – Goldfish have several different eye-types, as follows:
a. Normal eye types
b. Telescope eyes – eyes which are mounted atop a cone-shaped
protrusion on either side of the head.
c. Celestial eyes – Similar to a telescope-eyed goldfish, but the eyes
are pointing upward at the end of the “telescope” feature
d. Bubble Eyes – the eyes of a bubble-eyed goldfish are actually
considered of the normal type. The distinguishing feature of this
fish is the large, fluid-filled sack which forms on each side of the
face, directly underneath the eye of the fish.
4. Tail types – Goldfish have a great deal of variation in the caudal or tail fin,
as outlined below.
a. Single tail – The most common form of tail type, which is
moderately forked, and rounded at the edges.
b. Comet tail – longer than the single tail variety (about 2 – 3 times
longer), with a marked forking, and pointed tail tips.
c. Shubunkin tail type (primarily in the Bristol Shubunkin) – a long
tail, similar in size to the comet tail type, but having rounded tail
edges, which tend to flare out the at tail edge, causing the tail to
look more full than that of the comet.
d. Double tail – a tail which has two distinct components or lobes, and
which is not joined along 2/rd3s of its length, and which has
rounded tail edges. The size of the double tail can range from
2/3rds the length of the body to double the length of the body,
depending on the goldfish variety.
e. Lionhead or Ranchu tail – Similar to the double tail, but forking is
permissible. Generally speaking the double tail of the Ranchu or
Lionhead is ¼ to 3/8 the length of the body.
f. Tosakin tail a variation on the double tail, where the tail is not only
joined, but is rounded at the edges, producing a curlicue-type
appearance in the tail of the fish.
g. Jikin tail – Similar in appearance to the Rancho or Lionhead tail, but
forming an “X” shape when looked at from behind, due to the
angle at which the tail is joined to the caudal peduncle.
h. Veiltail – A modification of the double tail variety, whereby the tail
is 2-1/2 to 3 times the body length of the fish, and where the
forking is non-existent, producing a tail with a straight edge, hence
the name “veil” tail.
5. Head Growth – Some varieties of goldfish, including the Oranda,
Lionhead, and Ranchu have a growth on the head known as a “wen.” This
growth looks like a raspberry, and causes a distinct appearance, similar to
a lion’s mane, when viewed on the fish. Several varieties of head growth
are recognized.
a. Goose head – growth limited primarily to the top of the head, with
little or no “wen” occurring on the cheeks or opercula.
b. Tiger head – head growth which appears on the top of the head
and on the cheeks of the fish.
c. Lionhead – Full head growth, which appears on the top of the
head, cheeks, and opercula.
6. Dorsal fin characteristics – the fin located on the back of the fish is known
as the dorsal fin. In some varieties (Ranchu, Lionhead, Celestial, and
Bubbleye), the dorsal fin is not present. The dorsal-less varieties can be
further sub-divided into the Ranchu and Lionhead type of back profile.
a. In the Ranchu type back profile, the back is gently arched, until it
reaches the caudal peduncle, when it sharply angles downward and
meets the tail at a 45 degree angle.
b. In the Lionhead type back profile (which is also shared with the
Celestial and Bubbleye), the back is much straighter than that of
the Ranchu, and joins the tail at an angle that is much less severe
than in the Ranchu-type tail.
7. Other growth characteristics of goldfish. Goldfish have been selectively
bred for growth characteristics over the centuries. A partial listing of
these characteristics appears below.
a. Narial bouquets – a tuft-like series of growth appearing on the
narial area (nose) of the fish, which in fully developed specimens
resembles a cheerleader’s pom-pom.
b. Pearlscale – an encrustation on each scale of the fish, causing the
scale to appear to have a miniature dome in the center. In the
best specimens, the pearling occurs over the body of the fish, and
wraps around the entire fish completely.
c. Out-turned operculum – a fish with the gill-plates turned-over, so
that the gills are revealed.
8. Body shape characteristics – Body shape characteristics are varied among
goldfish types, and are difficult to succinctly categorize, since body shapes
can vary within the same variety (as an example, and Oranda may have a
fantail or Veiltail body conformation).
a. Streamlined body shape – this shape is found on the common
goldfish, Shubunkin, and Comet varieties. It is the basic torpedo
shape common to most types of fish.
b. Fantail shape – This body shape is more egg-like, and produces a
rounded profile in the fish. This body type is commonly seen in the
fantail, some varieties of telescope, some Oranda bodies (especially
on the Red Cap), some Pearlscales, and on the celestial and
bubble-eye.
c. Veiltail body type – this body type is similar to that of the Ryukin,
without the hump on the back. It is more rounded than that of the
fantail, and the body depth is approximately ¼ to 1/3 deeper than
that of the traditional fantail. This body type is found on some
Telescopes, some Orandas, Pearlscale, Veiltails, and some ribbon
tails.
d. Lionhead or Ranchu body type – A very rounded body type, with a
depth that is ¼ to 1/3 greater than that of the Veiltail variety. The
body appears chunky. Especially in the area of the caudal peduncle,
which does not flare out to meet the tail as on most fish, but looks
more like a part of the body.

Rick