What Goldfish Varieties Are There? A Detailed Introduction to Common Goldfish Varieties

Goldfish originated in China and are ornamental fish that evolved from the crucian carp. There are many varieties of goldfish, with colors including red, orange, purple, blue, black, silver-white, and calico, and they are divided into four categories: wen, grass, dragon, and egg. As early as the 12th century, genetic research on the domestication of goldfish had already begun. After a long period of breeding, the varieties have been continuously improved. Today, the goldfish of every country in the world are directly or indirectly introduced from China. Today, the editor will share with you the characteristics of the various goldfish varieties.

Grass-type goldfish

The grass-type goldfish has a body shape similar to that of the crucian carp and is the oldest type of goldfish. Its body is laterally compressed and spindle-shaped, with a dorsal fin, and the pectoral fins are triangular, long and pointed. Because it retains a slightly wild nature and carries the risk of jumping out of the tank, protective measures should be taken during the first two days after the fish enters a new environment. Its main varieties are:

1. Golden crucian: The caudal fin is relatively short, single-lobed, and concave in shape; the whole body is orange-red. It is the oldest goldfish variety.

2. Grass goldfish: Directly originating from the golden crucian. The caudal fin is relatively long, double-lobed or triple-lobed, not separated, and shaped like a swallowtail or water caltrop (that is, three-tailed). The whole body is red.

3. Red-and-white grass goldfish: The caudal fin is relatively short, single-lobed, and concave in shape; the head and body are both red and white.

Dragon-type goldfish

The dragon-type goldfish is a representative variety of goldfish and also a major variety. Its main features are a short body, a flat and wide head, and eyeballs that are enlarged and protrude beyond the eye sockets, resembling dragon eyes; scales that are round and large, pectoral fins that are long and pointed and triangular, and a four-lobed caudal fin. Its main varieties are:

1. Red dragon eye: The whole body is bright red and it has the characteristics of dragon-type goldfish. It is the most common variety among dragon-type goldfish.

2. Black dragon eye: The whole body is pitch-black, especially the back, and it is known as the “black peony.” Good varieties are glossy black, like black velvet or ink satin.

3. Butterfly tail: It has the characteristics of the dragon-eye goldfish, except that its tail resembles a butterfly.

4. Purple dragon eye: The entire fish body is purplish-copper in color. If raised well, it can even emit a dazzling purplish-copper metallic luster.

5. Blue dragon eye: The body color ranges from light blue to dark blue. When swimming, the scales shimmer, and its posture is calm and graceful.

6. Calico dragon eye: A variety formed by crossbreeding transparent-scaled goldfish with dragon-eye goldfish of various colors. Most of the scales are transparent, and a small portion are ordinary scales, forming five-colored spots. The resulting pattern is dazzling, and when swimming it is like drifting colored silk.

7. Purple-blue calico dragon eye: A variety produced by crossbreeding the purple dragon eye and the blue dragon eye. It has a blue base color inlaid with irregular brown markings, plain yet not dull, and quite distinctive in style.

8. Twelve-red dragon eye: The body is silver-white, and it is named for having red in twelve places: the four-lobed caudal fin, the two pectoral fins, the two pelvic fins, the two eyeballs, the dorsal fin, and the mouth. Its white is pure and clean, and its red is gorgeous, very pleasing to the eye. It is a relatively precious variety.

9. Magpie flower dragon eye: The fish body has blue as its base color, while the head, mouth, eyeballs, and caudal fin are all blue tinged with black, and the abdomen is silver-white and bright, closely resembling the colors of a magpie. Its posture is handsome and striking, but it tends to fade during the rearing process, so those with stable coloration are considered superior.

10. Panda goldfish: It was developed from the black butterfly tail and has the characteristics of dragon-type goldfish. Its body is relatively short and round, and its caudal fin is butterfly-shaped. Apart from a silver-white patch on the abdomen and one on each side, the head, eyes, pectoral fins, dorsal fin, pelvic fins, and anal fins are all black. Some also have a white ring around the eyes, with black and white sharply contrasted, closely resembling a panda. Its posture is sturdy and dignified, and it is very endearing.

11. Transparent-scale dragon eye: It has a dorsal fin and transparent scales, and the color is mostly red [Dragon-eye pompon: It has the characteristics of both the dragon eye and the pompon. The nasal septum is particularly developed and protrudes beyond the nostrils, forming two fleshy pompons. When swimming, they sway from side to side and are very charming. According to body color, dragon-eye pompons can be divided into many types, such as red dragon-eye pompon, black dragon-eye pompon, purple dragon-eye pompon, blue dragon-eye pompon, purple-blue calico dragon-eye pompon, red-and-white calico dragon-eye pompon, magpie flower dragon-eye pompon, and vermilion pompon black dragon eye.

12. Four-pompon dragon eye: It has the characteristics of the dragon-eye pompon, except that the nasal septum is modified into 4 balls protruding beyond the nostrils, hence the name. Its body color is the same as the color of the pompons, though there are also some that are not consistent.

13. Red-head dragon eye: The body is white as silver. Only the top of its head is vermilion as blood, with red and white bright and pleasing to the eye, a tall dorsal fin, and a long, large tail. When swimming, its posture is soft, drifting, and beautiful.

14. Dragon-eye high-head: Also called dragon-eye hood. Between the two eyes, on the top of the head, there grows a mass of fleshy tumor resembling a strawberry. Those with well-developed, thick and firm tumors in a proper position are considered superior. According to body color, it can be divided into purple dragon-eye high-head, blue dragon-eye high-head, red dragon-eye high-head, white dragon-eye high-head, red-and-white calico dragon-eye high-head, purple-blue calico dragon-eye high-head, black-red flower dragon-eye high-head, cinnabar-eyed dragon-eye yellow high-head, and others.

15. Red-head dragon-eye high-head: Its characteristics are basically the same as the red-head dragon eye, and it is a variety derived from variation in its head, that is, the head has a mass of fleshy tumor and is red.

16. Red dragon-eye tiger head: Its characteristics are basically the same as the red dragon-eye high-head, except that the fleshy tumor on its head is well developed. In addition to the head being wrapped by the fleshy tumor, it also extends downward toward the cheeks and jaws on both sides, causing the mouth to also be wrapped and appear somewhat sunken [

17. Dragon-eye lion head: Its characteristics are basically the same as the red dragon-eye tiger head, except that the fleshy tumor is more developed and bulges more thickly.

18. Black dragon-eye lion head: Its characteristics are the same as the red dragon-eye lion head, except that the whole body is pitch-black like satin, and it is regarded as a precious variety.

19. Dragon-eye curled gill: It has the characteristics of the dragon-eye goldfish, except that the gill covers curl outward and part of the gill filaments are exposed. According to body color, it can be divided into red dragon-eye curled gill, black dragon-eye curled gill, blue dragon-eye curled gill, calico dragon-eye curled gill, and others.

20. Dragon-eye pompon curled gill: It is a variant of the dragon-eye curled gill, that is, in addition to having the characteristics of the dragon-eye curled gill, the nasal septum is modified into pompon-like form protruding beyond the nostrils. According to its red dragon-eye pompon curled gill, purple dragon-eye pompon curled gill, blue dragon-eye pompon curled gill, black dragon-eye pompon curled gill, calico dragon-eye pompon curled gill, and others.

21. Celestial eye fish: It is a variant of the dragon-eye fish. The eyeballs rotate upward at a 90-degree angle, the pupils face upward, the dorsal fin disappears, and the eye rings are crystal bright. When viewing the fish, there is the wonder of seeing its light first. According to body color, it can be divided into red celestial eye, blue celestial eye, red-and-white calico celestial eye, vermilion-finned white celestial eye, and others.

22. Celestial eye pompon: It is a variant of the celestial eye fish, and its main feature is that the nasal septum is modified into pompon-like form sunken outside the nostrils, hence the name. According to body color, it can be divided into red celestial eye pompon, calico celestial eye pompon, and others.

23. Red dragon back: It has no dorsal fin, the pupils face sideways, and the gill covers, head, and nose are all normal. The head and body are both red.

24. Red dragon back pompon: Except that the nasal septum is modified into pompon-like form sunken outside the nostrils, its other characteristics are the same as the red dragon back.

25. Red-head dragon-eye high-head curled gill: It has a dorsal fin, normal nose and scales, gill covers curled outward with part of the gill filaments exposed outside, and a fleshy tumor mass on the head, strawberry-shaped, red in color, and the fish body

26. Red dragon-eye high-head curled gill: It has the characteristics of the dragon-eye high-head, but the gill covers curl outward, part of the gill filaments are exposed, and the head and body are both red.

27. Red dragon-eye high-head pompon curled gill: In addition to having the characteristics of the red dragon-eye high-head curled gill, the nasal septum is modified into pompon-like form sunken outside the nostrils.