Category
Rating
Care Level:
Beginner
Temperament:
Peaceful
Color:
Various
Lifespan:
Up to 10 years
Size:
6-8 inches
Diet:
Omnivore
Family:
Cyprinidae
Minimum Tank Size:
20 gallons
Tank Setup:
Cold freshwater planted aquarium
Compatibility:
Peaceful community
Fantail goldfish are a popular variety of fancy goldfish (Carassius auratus), from the Cyprinidae family. Other members of this family include the closely related carps.
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.
You should be able to find a local stock of these fish with little difficulty. They are inexpensive too, with individuals costing under $5.
Typical Behavior
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.