Fantail Goldfish 6-7cm

Fantail Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) are a very hardy fish. Fantails are the simplest form of Fancy Goldfish, lacking characteristic features that other varieties have, such as bubble eyes.  This makes them one of the hardiest. Many of the sought-after features on Fancies shorten their lifespan. If kept healthy, Fantails can exceed ten years of age.  Their hardy nature makes them great for beginners trying Fancy Goldfish for the first time. They are ideal for cold-water setups and can even be kept in ponds.

Behaviour

These are peaceful fish that do best when around other peaceful species. Though the hardiest of the Fancies, Fantails are easily bullied because they swim slowly and can’t escape boisterous species. It makes it hard for them to compete for food too.

Do not keep them alone though. They are social creatures that enjoy having company. They don’t necessarily shoal, but will often interact with each other. You’ll need a bigger tank to hold a group.

Most of their time is spent in the middle levels of the tank, but they will adventure higher and lower in search of food. You might notice them dig around decorations as they search.

Tank Conditions

All goldfish require cold water. This means that you should keep your tank away from any heat sources and keep it in a cool room. If you place them in water that is too warm for them it can cause lifelong damage to their nerves.  Ideally the water temperature should be between 4 – 25°C.

Fantails need plenty of space. The minimum tank size is 75 litres, but the more space you provide, the more likely they are to stay healthy.  Avoid using glass bowls instead of standard aquariums. These are usually too small, especially when your fish reach maturity.  Aim to have 30 litres of water per fish because though they will group together sometimes, they also like swimming off on their own.

Goldfish are known to be messy feeders. Over time, therefore, the water can quickly become unhygienic, leading to potential health issues. It is important, therefore, to install a suitable filtration unit.

Compatibility

The ideal temperature range for these fish is low compared to the preferences of other popular aquarium species. This reduces the amount of options available to you.  You’re further restricted by their long fins. Fin-nippers (like Tiger Barbs) will target the double fins. As slow swimmers, Fantails can’t escape from fish that bother them.  Small shoaling fish are good companions. You could try Zebra Danios, Neon Tetras, Mollies, Rosy Barbs, or White Cloud Mountain Minnows. Angelfish and Dwarf Gourami are some possible larger options.  Goldfish will occupy all levels of your tank, so you don’t necessarily need bottom feeders to add an interest to the lower regions. They will clean up leftover food when they head lower down too.  If you do want bottom feeders, you could get some Corydoras Catfish, Kuhli Loaches, or Otocinclus.  You can add some small invertebrates without risk of them being eaten. Examples include Cherry Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Nerite Snails, or Mystery Snails.

Feeding

In their natural environment Fantails will feed on plants, small insects, algae and anything else they can get hold of; however the majority of their diet is vegetation (this provides them with plenty of fiber). Generally you can start by feeding your Fantails goldfish pellets or flakes.  Fancy Goldfish can easily develop digestive problems because their organs are so compact in their bodies, so it is important to design a healthy diet. This is simple because they are omnivorous and will eat most aquarium foods.  Try to supply some plant matter too, as this contains fiber which helps the digestive system. Green vegetables are good for this such as lettuce, spinach and marrow (zucchini).

Care

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.