Fantail goldfish care
Carassius auratus · Fancy goldfish first bred in China
The fantail is the everyday fancy goldfish: an egg-shaped body, a high back fin and a long, split double tail, without the ryukin’s hump.
- Tank size
- 30 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 64 to 74 °F (18 to 23 °C)
- Group size
- 2 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 8 in (including the tail)
- pH
- 7 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 6 to 18 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 15 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 30 gallon
36¼ × 12⅝ × 16¾ in outsideHow to keep fantail goldfish
The fantail is the everyday fancy goldfish: an egg-shaped body, a high back fin and a long, split double tail, without the ryukin’s hump. It is hardy for a fancy goldfish but still needs room: keep two or more in a 30 gallon or larger tank at 64 to 74 °F with other fancy goldfish. Thirty gallons for two follows the rule of 20 gallons for the first goldfish and 10 for each one after.
Diet: Omnivore: sinking goldfish pellets, blanched peas and greens, frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: All levels.
Fantail goldfish tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Fancy goldfish
8 in · 20+ gal · 64–74 °F
Oranda
8 in · 30+ gal · 64–74 °F
Ryukin
8 in · 30+ gal · 64–74 °F
Pearlscale goldfish
8 in · 30+ gal · 65–74 °F
Ranchu goldfish
8 in · 30+ gal · 65–74 °F
Black moor
6 in · 30+ gal · 64–74 °F
Lionhead goldfish
6 in · 30+ gal · 64–74 °F
Bubble eye goldfish
4 in · 30+ gal · 65–74 °F
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Adult fantail goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; neon tetras grow to 1.6 in.
Cardinal tetra: Adult fantail goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Black neon tetra: Adult fantail goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult fantail goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult fantail goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Glowlight tetra: Adult fantail goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; glowlight tetras grow to 1.5 in.
What a fantail goldfish tank needs
A tank of 30 US gallons or more (such as the 30 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below. Fantail goldfish are comfortable at room temperature, so a heater is optional in a normal home.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Aqueon PRO QuietFlow Power Filter 20
Rated by the maker for up to 30 US gal, which covers a 30 gallon fantail goldfish tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter 15–30 gal
Rated by the maker for 15–30 US gal, which covers a 30 gallon fantail goldfish tank without being built for a far bigger one.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding fantail goldfish.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 64 to 74 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common fantail goldfish problems
- Some fantails carry telescope eyes, which only show at about six months, so a young fish can change shape as it grows.
- Floating upside down or trouble staying level is common in round-bodied goldfish; feed sinking food, keep the water clean, and see a vet if it does not improve.
- Long spells of cold water don’t suit it, hardy as it is: it is not a fish for a pond that ices over.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name and origin checked against Wikipedia: Carassius auratus. Adult size, temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Fantail goldfish Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fancy goldfish Benson Kua, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oranda Lawrencekhoo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ryukin Lawrencekhoo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pearlscale goldfish Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ranchu goldfish Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black moor Riyad Youssef, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Lionhead goldfish Roderick Santos, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bubble eye goldfish Angie Torres from Toronto, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Common goldfish ぱたごん, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Comet goldfish Michelle Jo (Humanfeather), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Shubunkin Rodsan18 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
