Pearlscale goldfish care
Carassius auratus · Fancy goldfish bred in East Asia
Pearlscales are round, golf-ball-shaped fancy goldfish with thick, domed scales that shine like pearls.
- Tank size
- 30 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 65 to 74 °F (18 to 23 °C)
- Group size
- 2 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 8 in (including the tail; most stay smaller)
- pH
- 7 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 6 to 18 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 15 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 30 gallon
36¼ × 12⅝ × 16¾ in outsideHow to keep pearlscale goldfish
Pearlscales are round, golf-ball-shaped fancy goldfish with thick, domed scales that shine like pearls. Keep two or more in a 30 gallon or larger tank at 65 to 74 °F with clean, well-filtered water, and only with other slow 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.
Pearlscale 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
Ranchu goldfish
8 in · 30+ gal · 65–74 °F
Fantail goldfish
8 in · 30+ gal · 64–74 °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
Green neon tetra: No shared temperature: pearlscale goldfish need 65 to 74 °F, green neon tetras 75 to 82 °F.
Rummy-nose tetra: No shared temperature: pearlscale goldfish need 65 to 74 °F, rummy-nose tetras 75 to 82 °F.
Silvertip tetra: Silvertip tetras nip long fins like those of pearlscale goldfish.- Golden pencilfish: No shared temperature: pearlscale goldfish need 65 to 74 °F, golden pencilfish 75 to 82 °F.
Marbled hatchetfish: No shared temperature: pearlscale goldfish need 65 to 74 °F, marbled hatchetfish 75 to 82 °F.
Tiger barb: Tiger barbs nip long fins like those of pearlscale goldfish.
What a pearlscale goldfish tank needs
A tank of 30 US gallons or more (such as the 30 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below. Pearlscale goldfish are comfortable at room temperature, so a heater is optional in a normal home.
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Aqueon PRO QuietFlow Power Filter 20
Rated by the maker for up to 30 US gal, which covers a 30 gallon pearlscale 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 pearlscale 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 pearlscale 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 65 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 pearlscale goldfish problems
- 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.
- Rough decor knocks off the domed scales; choose smooth rock and wood.
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, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Carassius auratus. 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.
- Pearlscale goldfish Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 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
- Ranchu goldfish Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fantail goldfish Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff, CC BY 3.0, 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
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rummy-nose tetra PierangeloGatto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Silvertip tetra Filtropat; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Marbled hatchetfish Sven Kullander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Tiger barb Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, 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
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