Lionhead goldfish | the lionhead

The lionhead goldfish is the oldest and arguably the most popular of the dorsal-less goldfish breeds. The fish has a hooded variety of fancy goldfish. It is the oldest of the dorsal-less breeds, originating as an offshoot from the Eggfish.  The Lionhead originated in China around the 1600s.

Bred in China to depict the image of the mythical lion-dog, the lionhead is characterized by the ‘wen’, or head growth, that covers its head. They were introduced to Japan from China during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Japanese produced lionheads with more rounded back profiles, modified tails and diminished size of the head growth.

Lionheads can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length (including finnage) and may have metallic, nacreous or matte scales. They are available in orange, red, white, red-and-white, blue, black, black-and-white, black-and-red, natural, and chocolate coloration.

Lionheads, like all goldfish, are omnivores and will readily accept any plant or animal matter based food. A high protein diet will encourage more vibrant colors and greater hood growth in lionheads.

Breeding lionhead goldfish: Like most other fancy goldfish varieties, Lionheads aren’t exceptionally difficult to breed and can be encouraged to spawn given the right conditions of a healthy diet, adequate tank space and appropriate water temperatures.

Choosing lionhead goldfish: When purchasing lionhead goldfish it’s important to look for fish with a body depth of ½ or more of their body length. The lionhead’s back should be a smooth and shallow arch from head to tail with no ridges or spikes. A lionhead’s hood should be full, dense and symmetrical on all sides.

Fantail Goldfish | All about Fantail Goldfish

The Fantail goldfish is the western form of the Ryukin that possesses an egg-shaped body, a high dorsal fin, a long quadruple caudal fin, and no shoulder hump. It is a beautiful fish, calming to watch and a delight to own. The fantail goldfish originated in the early 1400s, during the Ming Dynasty of China and the ancestor from which all modern fancy goldfish breeds descended.

Fantails come in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow and calico varieties.

Here are some basic tips for looking after a Fantail goldfish, especially for those just getting started: 

Breeding fantail goldfish: Fantails are among the easiest of the fancy goldfish varieties to breed and will usually spawn readily given adequate conditions. Good-quality Fantails are produced by rigorous fry selection. 

Choosing fantail goldfish: When choosing fantail goldfish for purchase, it is important to note that the body, which is tear drop or egg shaped, has a depth of at least 3/5 of its length. A shorter body length compared to the depth is always preferred in fantails. Although generally considered a hardy goldfish, Fantails can be sensitive to prolonged exposure to low water temperatures. Keeping Fantails in an aquarium requires an ideal temperature of 73 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit

Comet Goldfish | Comet-tailed Goldfish

The Comet Goldfish is much like the common goldfish, but is a more reddish orange color and has a much longer, deeper forked tail fin! The comet or comet-tailed goldfish is a single-tailed goldfish bred in the United States. The fish is similar to the common goldfish, except slightly smaller and slimmer, and is mainly distinguished by its long deeply forked tail. It is the most graceful of the elongated goldfish, emphasized by their long tail.

This fish was the first variety of the single-tail goldfish to be developed with a long caudal (tail) fin and the comet-tailed goldfish breed was developed in the United States from the common goldfish by Hugo Mulertt, a government worker, in the 1880s. The first comet goldfish was first seen in the ponds of the U.S. Government Fish Commission in Washington, D.C.

These fish can be quite personable and are delightful to watch. One of the hardiest of the gold fish varieties, the Comet Goldfish are recommended for beginners. They are an easy fish to keep as they are not picky and will readily eat what is offered.

The Comet Goldfish is an elongated, flat-bodied variety of goldfish. The head is wide but short and it has a smoothly tapering body shape, from its back and belly to the base of its caudal fin (tail fin). The caudal fin is long, deeply forked and generally stands fully erect. 

The Comet Goldfish is primarily a reddish orange color, but they are also available in yellow, orange, white, and red.  Comets with yellow, orange, red, white, and red-and-white coloration are common. The red coloration mainly appears on the tailfin and dorsal fin, but can also appear on the pelvic fin.

Since they are omnivorous, the Comet Goldfish will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods. To keep a good balance gives them a high quality flake food everyday.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/goldfish/CometGoldfish.php