Photo: ProjectManhattan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fantail goldfish
Carassius auratus 'Fantail'
20 cm
Adult size
150 L
Minimum volume
2
Minimum group
15 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Carassius
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- small group
In the wild
Overview
The fantail, often sold in France as the “voile de Chine”, is the Western form of the ryukin: egg-shaped body, tall dorsal fin and long double tail spread like a fan, without the ryukin's hump.
Like all fancy varieties, it is more delicate than the common goldfish and is kept in an aquarium rather than a pond.
- Scientific name
- Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)Current valid name; in the hobby: Carassius auratus 'Fantail'
- Classification
- Cypriniformes › Cyprinidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Captive-bred form of Carassius auratus (a species native to China)
As a captive-bred form it has no natural habitat: the wild form of the species lives in calm, well-vegetated rivers, lakes and ponds in China.
It is a coldwater fish that needs no heater: ideal water is 15–23 °C, neutral to alkaline (pH 7–8) and moderately hard. Allow 100 L for one adult plus 50 L for each extra fish, so 150 L for two, with strong filtration but a gentle current, as these varieties are poor swimmers. Use decor without sharp edges; soft plants will be eaten.
Behaviour
Peaceful and sociable, it lives in a small group with other fancy goldfish. Avoid common goldfish and comets, which are faster, steal its food and nip its fins.
It does not mix with tropical fish: it needs cooler water, produces a lot of waste and swallows small fish and shrimp. A tank of its own is best. An omnivore and a glutton, it should be fed sinking pellets: gulping air at the surface can upset its buoyancy.