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Species And Varieties Of GoldfishGoldfish varieties2Goldfish varieties3>Goldfish varieties4
CELESTIAL This is a remarkable fish, with a body shaped like that of the Chinese Telescope. The coloring is a uniform black or pale orange, or a combination of the two in mottled pattern. Most striking is the eye formation, the pupils being situated on top of the eyeballs, so that the fish seems to be gazing heavenward-hence the name Celestial. There is a story to the effect that Celestials acquire their peculiar eyes from being placed in special jars when they are very young, the jars letting light in only from slits in the top. Not so. They are bred like other varieties. This one is a feeble swimmer and spends most of its time on the bottom, resting on its belly. It is also delicate and so not very good for aquarium display, and no good at all in an outdoor pool. LIONHEAD A strange and grotesquely beautiful fish-and an unfortunate one-by reason of certain malformations-the smooth, humped back, nearly globular body, and no dorsal fin. This makes it an extremely poor swimmer. Unable to maintain balance, it often swims upside down or vertically with head down. It is the head growth which gives the Lionhead its name. It is also called Buffalohead, which is even more descriptive of the shape of the odd growth. The malformation on the head begins to take shape fairly late in the first year and becomes larger and larger. As the fish ages, the growth begins to form thickly over the gill plates, which makes breathing difficult. The Lionhead will then seek cooler water which is well oxygenated. Even in the best surroundings possible, the fish may suddenly die, presumably of suffocation. Some Lionheads fail to develop the head growth, and these remain quite hardy. The coloring is usually the conventional goldfish red and white, although smoke-colored bodies and yellow heads are not uncommon. ORANDA This is a modification of the Lionhead and far superior to it, although the coloring of the two is similar. The shape of the Oranda tends more toward that of the Veiltail, including tail and fin development. There is a dorsal fin, so this is not the clumsy, bungling swimmer the Lionhead is. The head growth is also modified, being confined principally to the top of the head. It does not spread so as to hamper the fish. This is a comparatively fragile fish which does best in aquariums. OTHER FORMS By crossbreeding the various species and varieties, fanciers have produced many forms, such as the Veiltail-Moor, the Veiltail-Calico, and others. I am not listing them here, for few will thrive in an outdoor pool for the water gardener. WORD OF WARNING The fish I usually recommend to my customers for an outdoor pool are the common goldfish, Comets, Shubunkins, Moors, and both Calico and Japanese Fantails. All others, with the exception of the European Tenches and Orfes, do better in indoor aquariums. However, at one time or another I have heard of all the leading ornamental fishes-extremely fancy ones included-doing quite well in outdoor pools, particularly in the milder sections of the country. So let your own judgment guide you in where to "plant" your fish. As the man at the carnival says: "You pays your money and you takes your choice." |
Planning Your Pond |
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