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Fancy goldfish, such as orandas, ryukins, ranchus and telescope moors, are bred for their rounded bodies, flowing fins and unusual heads and eyes. They're friendly, long-lived and full of character. They need more space and filtration than their reputation suggests, and the old goldfish bowl is not suitable.
Fancy goldfish at a glance
| Adult size | 15–20cm |
| Minimum tank | 100 litres for two, plus 40–50 litres for each extra fish |
| Temperature | 18–24°C |
| pH | 7.0–8.0 |
| Lifespan | 10–15+ years |
Popular types
- Orandas with a fleshy head growth (wen), such as the red and black oranda.
- Telescope moors with protruding eyes, such as the panda butterfly moor.
- Ranchus and lionheads without a dorsal fin.
Browse all fancy goldfish.
Fancy goldfish vs pond goldfish
Fancy goldfish are slower swimmers than common goldfish, comets and shubunkins. Don't keep them together: the faster fish win all the food. Fancy goldfish are best kept indoors in an aquarium.
Setting up the tank
- Filtration: goldfish produce a lot of waste. Choose a filter rated for at least twice your tank's volume. See external filters.
- Heating: they're coldwater fish, but a heater set to around 20–22°C helps fancy varieties in a cold room.
- Decor: use smooth gravel or sand, and avoid sharp ornaments that can damage eyes and fins, especially for telescope moors.
- Plants: goldfish eat soft plants. Tough ones such as anubias and Java fern survive.
Read Setting Up Your First Goldfish Tank and remember to cycle the tank first.
Feeding
Fancy goldfish have compressed bodies and are prone to swim bladder problems. Feed sinking pellets or gel food rather than floating flake, so they don't gulp air. Good options include Fluval Bug Bites Goldfish Pellets. Browse goldfish foods. Feed small amounts twice a day and add blanched peas and frozen daphnia.
Tankmates
Fancy goldfish are best kept with other fancy goldfish of similar size and type. Avoid tropical fish, fin-nippers, and plecos, which may suck on their slime coat.
Common problems
- Swim bladder problems: floating or sinking. See our swim bladder guide.
- Fin rot and wen infections: usually water quality. See our fin rot guide.
- Gasping at the surface: low oxygen or poor water. Read why fish gasp at the surface.
