This is a list of goldfish varieties and their characteristics. Currently, there are about 200 breeds of goldfish recognized in China. Selective breeding of goldfish over centuries has produced several color variations, some of them far removed from the "golden" color of the original fish. There are also different body shapes, fin, and eye configurations. Some extreme versions of the goldfish live only in aquariums—they are much less hardy than varieties closer to the "wild" original. However, some variations are hardier, such as the Shubunkin. The vast majority of goldfish breeds today originated from China. Some of the main varieties are:
Single-tailed varieties Single tailed varieties have a single caudal fin and anal fin. They have long, streamlined bodies and are faster swimming than shorter egg-shaped goldfishes. They all come from common goldfish, but rare egg-shaped varieties like nymph goldfish are developed from egg-shaped goldfish. They have no telescopic eyes, celestial eyes, nor bubble eyes. They have no headgrowths like orandas, lionheads, and ranchus, narial bouquets like pompoms, or curled gills like curled-gill.
Long-bodied Common goldfish - It is the most common type of goldfish, hence the name. All varieties of goldfish are developed from this variety. It is the direct descendant of the wild Carassius auratus. It is also known as a feeder fish or feeder goldfish. Common goldfish come in a variety of colors including red, orange, blueish-grey, brown, yellow, white, and black. The most common variation is a shiny orange, with the second most common variation being a mix of white and red or orange and white. Although the color black is uncommon, yellow and black/white color pattern (trademarked as 'pandas') are rare.
Comet goldfish - This is the most common goldfish variety in the United States. It is similar to the common goldfish, except for a long, deeply-forked tail, and the rest of its fins are long. It was developed in the United States from the common goldfish.
Shubunkin - It is a hardy, single-tailed goldfish with nacreous scales and a pattern known as calico. London Shubunkins - It has a stout body and short, rounded finnage that is similar to the common goldfish. American Shubunkins - It has a slimmer body shape than the London Shubunkin with deeply forked, pointed tail fins and longer finnage all around. Its appearance is similar to the comet goldfish. Bristol Shubunkins - It is a slim-bodied goldfish with well-developed finnage, possessing a tail that is large, moderately forked, and rounded at the end. It has a large heart-shaped tail.
Egg-shaped bodied Nymph goldfish - It is similar to the fantail, except they have a single caudal fin and anal fin. Considered a byproduct of the breeding process due to recessive genes handed down from fantail or veiltail parents. Tamasaba goldfish (or Sabao goldfish) - It is similar to the ryukin, except they have a single caudal fin and anal fin. A rare type of fish mutated from the ryukins. It is developed from the ryukin.
Double-tailed varieties Double-tailed or "fancy" goldfish. Fancy, in goldfish, meaning they have double caudal fins and anal fins. They are the most popular and the most expensive types of goldfish. There are two types of fancy goldfish:
Streamlined bodied Wakin goldfish - It is similar to the common goldfish, except it has double caudal fins and anal fins. All fancy goldfish are developed from this variety. The wakin was developed from the common goldfish. Watonai goldfish - It is similar to the comet goldfish, except it has double caudal fins and anal fins. The watonai was developed both from the wakin and ryukin goldfish. Jikin goldfish - A fancy goldfish variety that has its double caudal fins splay outwards. Jikin goldfish have strictly two colors (red and white) and perfect individuals display a unique pattern called the '12 points of red'. It is like a wakin, but the caudal fins are spread apart. The jikin is developed from the wakin.
Egg-shaped bodied Egg-shaped goldfish is the most popular type of goldfish. They have two types:
Dorsal finned varieties
Fantail goldfish - It is the western form of the ryukin and possesses an egg-shaped body, a high dorsal fin, double caudal and anal fins, and no shoulder hump.
Veiltail goldfish - It is similar to the fantail goldfish, except that they have longer fins. They have long tails and fins which resemble a veil and cause them to be slow-moving. They are prone to fin nipping because many other fish are attracted to their long flowing fins. The veiltail is the long-finned version of the fantail goldfish.
Ryukin goldfish - It has a short, deep body with a characteristic shoulder hump. It is similar to the fantail goldfish, except with a shoulder hump. Its name is derived from the Ryukyu Islands, where they have been bred. Since they have a larger hump, an aquarium that is taller than most fancy goldfishes require is needed.
Pearlscale goldfish - It is a spherical-bodied goldfish with finnage similar to the fantail goldfish. It has a shorter and rounder body compared to other goldfish. Due to the sphere-shaped body, they are very susceptible to constipation, and their food shouldn't contain air. They have whitish pearl-like raised scales that look attractive to many people. When their scales fall off, they will grow only into regular scales. They should not be kept in an aquarium with rough objects that can cause their scales to fall off.
Tamasaba - It is an uncommon Japanese variety of goldfish with a body shaped similar to the Ryukin and a very long, flowing, single tail that is similar to that of a comet goldfish, hence its other name, comet-tail ryukin.
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