How to Identify and Care for Fantail Fish
Fantail goldfish (carassius auratus) are a man-made cultivar that belongs to the Cyprinidae family. This fancy goldfish derives its name for the characteristic shape of their elegant, flowing finnage. It is a hardy, low-priced starter fish that is well-suited for beginner aquarists.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 36-gallon fish tank Fantail fish Powerful filter Aquarium heater Basic Test kits Tropical fish food
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Identify the Fantail Goldfish
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(Image credit: Flickety)
Take into account its bright, variable coloration. This varies widely in different shades of reds, oranges, white and black, depending on the scale formation and pigmentation of each specimen.
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Identify the fantail goldfish by its characteristic flowing, twin tailfin. It has double anal and caudal fins, with a dorsal fin that is held high. The male fantail develop white tubercules on their gill covers and the leading rays of their pectoral fins.
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It has a compact, rounded, body shape and grows to about 6 inches (16cm).
Ideal Tank Conditions
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Obtain a 20-gallon (or larger) fish tank for your fantail goldfish. Increase this size by 10 gallons for each additional fish that you will have in the tank.
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Clean your tank and fill it with room temperature water. Allow the tank water sit for twenty-four hours before you put in your new fish.
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Invest in a powerful filter, because goldfish tend to release a lot of waste. Do a water change of 1/3 of the tank water each week to maintain the water quality.
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Install your heater in the fantail's aquarium. Set the heater to maintain water temperatures between 40 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (4 to 25 degrees Celsius).
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Use the test kit to maintain water conditions at slightly acidic a pH range of 5 to 19 and dGH range of 6.0 to 8.0.
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Spread your gravel substrate in the tank. Make sure that the gravel is pea-sized or larger, otherwise the goldfish may swallow some accidentally.
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Add aquarium decorations as desired. If you want to have live plants, select hardy varieties, because goldfish tend to nibble on them. Hornwort, vals and anubias are a few hardy plants to consider.
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Feed your fantail goldfish once a day. Provide only enough food as the fish can eat within five minutes. Provide high quality goldfish flakes or pellets, as well as frozen or freeze-dried brineshrimp, bloodworms or tubiflex worms. They are omnivorous and will also eat leafy vegetables such as collard greens and lettuce, as well as cucumber and peas.
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Provide your fantails with some tank companions, which should ideally be fellow slow-swimmers like blackmoor goldfish, pearlscale goldfish, ryukins and other fantail goldfish.
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Tips & Warnings
The fantail can be kept in the outdoor pond all year round, providing the water is deep enough to ensure a warm layer at the bottom where it can lie dormant.
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- Photo Credit Author - Fantailfan, image used under the Creative Commons License.
