Fantail

Carassius auratus

Also known as Fantail goldfish, Western fantail, Ryukin fantail

FreshwaterFish

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

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
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Very common
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.
Family: Cyprinidae

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.