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candoia-aspera · 6 years

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How Do We Fix The Fancy Goldfish?

There’s been a lot of fishcourse going around about ye olde goldfish lately, so I thought I’d give a perspective from someone inside the fancy on UK standard breeds, their issues and their suitability for beginners. This is the warts-and-all version, I do not pull my punches when it comes to some of these varieties. Remember, as with most things in this hobby, the upper echelons of goldfish societies are overwhelmingly old white dudes, so don’t go blaming youngins for getting a particular impression of this mess of a hobby.

COMMON GOLDFISH or LONDON SHUBUNKIN:

The OG goldfish, parent of every other variety. Accepted in metallic red, white, yellow, orange, brown, blue and black self as well as variegated in any two of the above. Shubunkins to be calico only. Short fins only.

What’s wrong with it?

Pond-only fish as they always have been. Not something that needs changing.

How do we fix it?

We leave it alone, they’re fine as they are.

As a pet?

Too big for beginners unless they have a pond, otherwise basically bombproof and very friendly.

BRISTOL SHUBUNKIN:

The king of goldfish, and one of the most beautiful fish available. Has distinctive long, rounded fins that exist in no other accepted variety. Can only be shown in calico colours, but metallic and matt miscolours exist and are just as breathtaking. Rare outside the UK.

What’s wrong it?

Slightly less hardy than their short-finned cousins, as it has a smaller genepool. Must be kept at cool temperatures when young or classic rounded fin shape will not develop. Not as large as commons, but still needs space to develop proper finnage.

How do we fix it?

Personally, I’d like to see metallic colour forms of the Bristol be recognised. Not only would it widen the genepool, it would be a fantastic opportunity to get people interested in the variety. Matts will always be a fault, but there’s no logical reason why metallics in the accepted colour forms for commons shouldn’t get their own seat at the table.

As a pet?

Extremely hard to get hold of and very expensive, but worth it if you do. An excellent fish for beginners who have the means to get them.

COMET:

Like a common, but with a distinctive long, deeply forked tail and flowing fins. Accepted colours are the same as metallic commons, as well as calico. Much more common in the US than the UK.

What’s wrong with it?

Again, less hardy than commons, and unlike Bristols, actually grow to a similar size so should realistically be kept in ponds. Breeders sometimes focus on finnage so much that they produce fish with weak peduncles that can’t support the weight of their own fins.

How do we fix it?

Stop mislabelling commons as comets so people actually get the chance to meet and appreciate the real deal. Keep to standards rather than breed for exaggerated fin length.

As a pet?

Too big for anything but ponds, but still very hardy and fun to watch.

WAKIN:

Similar to commons, but with a flattened double tail. All colours of commons are accepted. One of the oldest goldfish varieties around, they’re common in China and Japan but rare overseas.

What’s wrong with it?

Certain breeders go over the top with the flattened tail. The fish must still be able to swim well, as they are well known for their size and power. Pond-only.

How do we fix it?

Stick to the methods used by the Chinese and Japanese to breed these fish since the 16th century. They’ve essentially perfected the variety, there’s no reason to mess with it.

As a pet?

Too big for the aquarium, but tough and impressive.

JIKIN:

Closely related to the Wakin, but with a slightly shorter, more rounded body and unique butterfly-shaped tail. Accepted in only one colour variation, white with small amounts of red. Red lips and noses are highly regarded. Rare outside Asia.

What’s wrong with it?

Exaggerated body proportions are sadly becoming more common. This variety should show the same power and speed as a Wakin, it is not meant to look like a mutant fantail.

How do we fix it?

Stop trying to turn them into fantails. Crossbreeding with deep-bodied varieties is a mistake, leave them be!

As a pet?

Good for ponds, if you can get them. Hardy and unusual.

FANTAIL:

Chubby-looking double tail. Accepted in all colour varieties. Should have a smooth outline with a slightly rounded appearance.

What’s wrong with it?

Idiots breeding for the roundest, chubbiest shape possible. It’s important to remember that a goldfish’s organs do not change size from variety to variety. Continually breeding for smaller, more scrunched up bodies is what has led to the current epidemic of fatal fantail bloat. A slightly round shape is not a problem so long as the body is of a comfortable length to accommodate the fish’s organs in the correct placement.

How do we fix it?

Stop breeding for little round bauble fish. Fatal bloat was not an issue in these fish 50 years ago, nor was waddle-swimming. Proportional fins, body length and natural, graceful swimming ability are a must, not a suggestion.

As a pet?

The ultimate beginner fancy, almost everyone will own one of these at some point in their life.

PEARLSCALE:

Unmistakable, literally looks like a golf ball with fins. Accepted in all colour varieties. Making an unfortunate comeback after a long decline.

What’s wrong with it?

Ay, where do I start? Extremely poor swimmers that are shockingly prone to bloat, because they’ve been bred over the years to be so round that they no longer bear any resemblance to an actual fish. Contrary to popular belief, the scalation is not what causes the shape at all! Almost none of them will make it beyond about 5 years of age due to poor breeding. They are almost entirely hand bred, as they struggle to perform any sort of breeding chase. They are among the least hardy of all goldfish and struggle to survive in cooler temperatures that their cousins thrive at.

How do we fix it?

Overhaul the pearlscale standard completely. There’s no reason we can’t have pearlscales as Wakin-style double tails with an interesting pattern of scalation. The dome scales are a genetic trait, the bauble body was selected for - it can easily be selected against.

As a pet?

Not good for beginners, or anyone else really. Far too fragile and hideous to bother with, save yourself the heartbreak and get a decent fantail instead.

RYUKIN:

I may be slightly biased here, as it was Ryukin that got me into fancy goldfish in the first place. Similar to a fantail, but with a tall body, tall, distinctly forked and powerful tail and pointed head. A very old breed that is accepted in all colour varieties, but red and white is by far the most popular. They are easily the biggest of the aquarium fancies, and are exceptionally hardy.

What’s wrong with it?

Too many things. A good Ryukin should give an impression of size and power - not of a flabby lump that can barely move and looks like it may have swallowed a side-plate. Unfortunately, breeders from China and Thailand have a nasty habit of breeding for excess, which results in massive humps, massive bellies, tiny fins and a stupidly short body. Annoyingly, this is beginning to catch on in Europe and the US as well. Forcing such an active variety into such a shape that it struggles to swim is plain old cruelty.

How do we fix it?

Actually stick to the goddamn standard, maybe! A well bred Ryukin should reach a length similar to that of a Bristol, sporting a slightly pronounced hump and a slightly pronounced belly, similar to the fantail. The tail must be of similar height to the fish itself - short fins or overflowing broadtails are absolutely useless for swimming and lead to the infamous wobble-swim, which is both unpleasant to look at and stressful for the fish.

As a pet?

A little more boisterous than other varieties and in need of a lot of room, but they are very hardy and do well with beginners who can give them the correct space.

VEILTAIL:

The fish most people think of when you say “fancy goldfish”. Another large variety, with a rounded shape and extremely long, flowing fins. The Philadelphia Veiltail is famed for being excessively round and a horrible swimmer. Accepted in all colours.

What’s wrong with it?

Yet again, too many people are breeding for shorter, rounder bodies which means less room for the fish’s internal organs. Veiltails are notoriously fragile, being very sensitive to water quality and temperature fluctuations. Fry are also unusually prone to bloat, as they develop their rounded body shape very early. Excessive finnage in many fish is also a problem, especially as the fish gets older. Damage to the long, delicate fin rays is common and usually irreparable.

How do we fix it?

Breed back to hardier, longer-bodied varieties to give them a healthier body shape and reduce excessive fins. Stop accepting Philadelphia types because they’re just ridiculous, honestly.

As a pet?

Fragile, and not suitable for beginners.

MOOR:

Similar to a veiltail in shape, but with big googly eyes. Accepted in all colours. They were actually named for the place they were developed, like the London and Bristol shubunkins, not after a racist slur as wikipedia would have you believe. Generally called Telescopes or Butterflies in the US. Contrary to popular belief, their eyesight is usually fairly good in well-bred fish.

What’s wrong with it?

Pretty much all the same problems as the veiltail, with the added issue of gigantic, excessively protruding eyes. While this is considered a fault in the show circuit, breeders always seem to be trying to produce fish with the largest, most stuck-out eyes, which often leaves them completely free-floating, not anchored to the actual eye socket and almost always resulting in some form of blindness.

How do we fix it?

Get the “extreme traits are cool” gremlins to leave them alone! The eyes of a Moor should be proportional to the body and firmly anchored to the skull. You’d think this would be obvious.

As a pet?

Good for beginners, provided there is nothing in the tank they might shank their eyes on. Much more hardy than an actual veiltail.

ORANDA:

One of the big favourites in the hobby at the moment. They are essentially large fantails with a wen, a kind of harmless headgrowth that looks a bit like a raspberry. Accepted in all colours, and various different types of headgrowth. They are the second largest aquarium fancy.

What’s wrong with it?

All the same problems as your regular old fantail, plus the wen. While it doesn’t actively harm the fish in any way, it can sometimes grow to cover the eyes and gills, and would require dangerous and expensive surgery to correct.

How do we fix it?

Either aim for small, close-cut wen growth, growth only on the top of the head, or do away with it entirely.

As a pet?

Big and full of character, they are ideal for beginners with lots of space. Gentler than Ryukins and hardier than Moors.

TOSAKIN:

A thankfully rare fish with extensive, curled over tail fins and a rounded body. Exceptionally fragile, they require specialist care to survive. Accepted in all colours but calico.

What’s wrong with it?

They can barely swim! Their tail fins are no longer usable, and every Tosakin that ever lived or will live shares the same awkward waddle-swim as they have to use their pectoral fins to move. They are the epitome of breeding for form over function and struggle to survive even in a regular tank environment.

How do we fix it?

We don’t. There’s no fixing that tail issue save for breeding back to fantailed or single tailed fish, and doing so would remove the only defining trait of the variety. They’re extremely rare and expensive outside of Japan anyway, so thankfully unlikely to ever gain a real foothold.

As a pet?

No. Just no. You’d be wasting £100 plus on a fish that won’t retain it’s traits in a proper aquarium, and will struggle to thrive anywhere that isn’t a shallow, round pond.

CELESTIAL:

The infamous choten gan, stargazer or celestial goldfish. Egg shaped body, no dorsal, and protruding eyes similar to a Moor, only the eyes should always face upwards. Accepted in all colours. Eyesight is not as bad as you’d expect, but is very much restricted to only looking up.

What’s wrong with it?

The same eye exaggeration issue as Moors. While again it is considered a fault, too many breeders think it’s cool to produce fish with stupidly big eyes that free float. A decent Celestial doesn’t require any special care you wouldn’t give a Moor besides lighting, but unfortunately well-bred specimens with proportional eyes are becoming rarer.

How do we fix it?

Breed for smaller eyes! Several winners at GSGB shows over the past few years have had fish with proportional eyes that barely protruded at all. These fish had demonstrably better eyesight than their peers and also much smoother movement. Moving them away from eyes that stick out completely would be better, as they are active swimmers who would benefit from having y’know, normal eyes.

As a pet?

Not for beginners, as they do best in well planted or dimly-lit aquariums and are prone to nipping at fins out of curiosity. Inquisitive and prone to schooling.

POM PON:

Also called a pompom or velvet ball. An interesting variety that comes in two forms - the Japanese hanafusa type, a fish with a tall dorsal fin and veiltail type body, and the traditional Pompon eggfish, which looks very similar to a Celestial but with normal eyes. The variety gets it’s name from a mutation of the nasal membrane that causes it to fluff up in a manner similar to an oranda’s wen. This does not appear to cause any issues for the fish, both forms of which are active and hardy. Accepted in all colours.

What’s wrong with it?

Similar problems with excessively round body shapes to the fantail and similar varieties. Curled under tails similar to those of ranchu are a serious fault, as the variety is meant to display a naturally positioned caudal fin.

How do we fix it?

Aim for longer, more slender body shapes and nasal growths proportionate to the head size of the fish.

As a pet?

Good for beginners, if you can get hold of one! Hanafusa are much more common than true Pompons, but both are hardy and curious.

LIONHEAD:

Distinct from the ranchu as having a wen that covers the entire face and a naturally positioned tail. This variety also lacks a dorsal fin and has a rounded body. Accepted in all colours.

What’s wrong with it?

A combination of breeding for excessive roundness and excessive wen growth. Lionheads are second only to orandas when it comes to headgrowth related problems.

How do we fix it?

Longer bodies, less extreme wens.

As a pet?

Good for beginners, but more prone to bloat than normal as they are voracious eaters. Soak sinking pellets for a few seconds before feeding to keep them from surface gulping. Keep an eye on wen growth to make sure it stays out of the eyes and gills.

RANCHU:

A smaller, slightly worse Lionhead with a little less wen. By far the most popular breed in the hobby currently. Usually shown in two forms, Side-View and Top-View. The main distinction is that the caudal peduncle curves under the body, leading the tail to point downwards. Accepted in all colours.

What’s wrong with it?

THE TAIL. Top-View ranchu are significantly worse in this, but having a caudal peduncle bent the wrong way makes it very difficult for the fish to swim. Some have tails that cannot be moved as a result. As they are a dorsal-less variety, this forces them to propel their bodies through the water using only their tiny body fins. They have all the same problems as a lionhead, too, and are less hardy.

How do we fix it?

No more altering tail positions! Bad, ugly, terrible! Fish have their fins where they do for a reason! Less round, less wen, proper tail position!

As a pet?

Not for beginners, as cute as they may seem. Like lionheads, have big appetites that make them more likely to bloat, plus the issues with swimming which is a bad combination.

BUBBLE EYE:

I saved the worst till last, naturally. Probably the trainwreckiest trainwreck of any domesticated animal since the pug. Almost exactly the same as a Celestial, but instead of the eyes protruding, they have very delicate, fluid filled sacs. They are one of the most fragile goldfish kinds of all. Accepted in all colours.

What’s wrong with it?

EVERYTHING. ALL OF THE THINGS. These terrible little disasters combine all the worst possible traits of the goldfish in one sad, fragile bundle. The eye sacs are easily torn, punctured, crushed, sucked into filters or otherwise damaged, which is a great way for the fish to get a horrible infection and die. They may regrow if damaged, provided the fish actually survives the experience. Many of them cannot swim properly due to the size and weight of these stupid, unnecessary sacs.

How do we fix it?

We don’t. We do this Tosakin style, let them die out and then burn the standard. These are living, feeling animals that don’t deserve to spend their lives like this.

As a pet?

Absolutely not. Don’t do it. And don’t go creating demand for these poor little messes because you feel sorry for them, either!

#goldfish #fancy goldfish #fishblr #fishcourse

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luckycollectlove · 7 years

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How to draw goldfish-draw a realistic goldfish-goldfish drawing easy. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were initially tamed from the Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio). Particular rearing over numerous hundreds of years has delivered goldfish with different hues, shading examples, structures and sizes far not the same as those of the first trained carp. There are such a large number of various sorts of goldfish. The fundamental sorts are. Dark Moors: The Black Moor is a dark rendition of the Telescope. Social Media https://plus.google.com/u/0/106296181955452800866 https://twitter.com/HowtoDraw20 https://www.instagram.com/asmarbd.m/ https://www.tumblr.com/blog/luckycollectlove http://cowhata.blogspot.com/ Bubble Eye: The Bubble eye is a little assortment of favor goldfish with upward guiding eyes that are joined by two huge sacs under the eyes. Like ranchu, the air pocket eye needs in dorsal blade and has a twofold tail. Butterfly Tail: The butterfly tail or jikin is like the wakin aside from when seen from behind the butterly tail's twofold tail balance has an articulated "X" shape. Calico: Calico have patches of red, yellow, dim and dark alongside dim spots on a blue foundation. This nacreous hue of for the most part reaches out over the balances. Calico hue can happen in goldfish assortments, for example, the orandas, ryukins, fantails, telescope eyes, and others. Divine Eye: The Celestial eye has a torpedo-formed body like the Bubble Eye. The Celestial eye has eyes that are pointed upwards however does not have the sacs under their eyes. Like ranchu, the Celestial Eye is one of the dorsal less goldfish. Comet: Comet is a long thin body and a long tail. Comet is a strong sort of goldfish that are reasonable for garden lakes because of their high resistance for frosty water. Normal Goldfish: Common goldfish are a sort of goldfish with no different adjustments from their predecessor, the Prussian carp(Carassius gibelio), other than their shading. Egg-angle: Egg-angle has an egg-molded body and a long tail, without a dorsal balance and no headgrowth. Fantail: The Fantail has an egg-molded body, a high dorsal blade, a long fourfold caudal balance, and no shoulder bump. Lionchu: The Lionchu is a favor goldfish that has come about because of crossbreeding lionheads and ranchus. The lionchu has the substantial headgrowth like the lionhead and needs in dorsal blade. Lionhead: The Lionhead has an egg-molded body without dorsal balances and a straight back. Oranda: The Oranda has an extensive round molded body. The greater part of their balances are matched with the exception of the dorsal balance, and the tail balance is generally part. Their head development or hood like the Lionhead. Panda Moor: The panda field is a favor goldfish with a trademark highly contrasting shading design and distending eyes. Pearlscale: Pearlscale is a circular molded body with finnage like the fantail. They have a straight back with a swollen paunch, looking like a golf ball. Tuft: Pompom is a kind of favor goldfish that have groups of free beefy outgrowths between the nostrils, on each side of the head. The measure of these tuft can contrast incredibly. Tuft are accessible in various sorts with and without blades. Ranchu: The Ranchu has a short, round body and short balances with no dorsal balance. The tail is set at a sharp edge to the back, and may have three or four flaps. Ryukin: Ryukin is an adjusted or egg-molded body favor goldfish. Ryukin is appears to be like the Fantail with the exception of the protuberance back that starts directly behind the head. A high protuberance is viewed as extremely alluring. Shubunkin: Shubunkin is a solitary followed with nacreous scales, and an example known as calico. Shubunkin is accessible in two unique structures, London Shubunkin and Bristol Shubunkin.

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