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Variety of Goldfish

Fantail

Carassius auratus

One of 12 varieties of Carassius auratus · See all varieties →

Also known as Fantail goldfish, Western fantail, Ryukin fantail

FreshwaterFish

Fantail (Carassius auratus)
Danurky2 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Varieties · Carassius auratus

See all 12 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
59–73°F
15–23°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
7.1 in
18 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
The base fancy goldfish body type, a selectively bred form of domesticated Carassius auratus whose wild ancestor lives in slow freshwater across East Asia.

Overview

Start with about 75 L for one fantail and add roughly 40 L per extra fish. Keep the water 15 to 23 C with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0 and strong filtration. Fantails mix well with other fancy goldfish and make a good first fancy for beginners. Feed a varied diet of sinking pellets, vegetables and frozen foods in small daily amounts.

In the wild

The fantail is the hardiest and most widely sold fancy goldfish, with an egg shaped body and a split, fan like double tail. It lacks the extreme features of other fancies, so it swims better and copes with a wider range of conditions. It still has a rounded body that favors sinking food and smooth decor. It handles cooler water than delicate fancies, down to about 15 C.

Good to know

The fantail is essentially the base fancy goldfish body type from which strains like the ryukin, oranda and moor were developed. Its paired caudal and anal fins are a fixed trait, unlike the single tail of common and comet goldfish. All are the same species, Carassius auratus.

Did you know

Because it has none of the sight or breathing handicaps of fancier strains, the fantail is the fancy goldfish most likely to thrive outdoors in a sheltered pond over a mild winter.

Common questions

Is a Fantail a different species from the Goldfish?

No. A Fantail is a variety of the Goldfish, Carassius auratus. It is kept the same way apart from difficulty, adult size, tank size and temperature.

What size tank does a Fantail need?

A Fantail needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

How big does a Fantail get?

An adult Fantail reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).

Related species