Do You Know Your Fancy Goldfish? Quiz

Answer: Lionhead

The lionhead was bred in China to resemble the mythical lion-dog of China, like the Pekingese dog. I own one of these fish, and he is fun to watch because he is so fat and has such a cute face! Lionheads have no dorsal fin.

Answer: Telescope Eye

The Demekin, or Telescope Eye, has eyes that protrude from the sides of the head. It is also known as the Black Moor, Dragon Eye, or Popeye. Sharp objects in the aquarium can puncture this fish's delicate eyes.

Answer: Koi

The Koi is a cold-water fish that can survive a below freezing winter in an outdoor pond if the pond is circulated and protected from the snow and ice.

Answer: Shubunkin

The Shubunkin is a Japanese goldfish with calico (red, white, black, and blue) coloring. There are three different types of Shubunkin on the market-the American Shubunkin, with a forked tail; the Bristol Shubunkin, with a moderately forked tail shaped like a B; and the London Shubunkin, with a short, rounded tail. I own an American Shubunkin, and he loves attention.

Answer: Ryukin

Ryukins are hardy, beautiful fish, and can grow to a size of 8 inches in length. Red and white is the most popular color combination. I also own one of these in the red and white color combination, and he is a real beauty.

Answer: Ammonia

Ammonia is excreted by goldfish through their gills and waste, and can kill the fish. Nitrate is harmless to goldfish, and chlorine should be removed from new water with a liquid or tablet dechlorinator before it is added to the tank. Methane, as far as I know, is not produced by goldfish.

Answer: Celestial

The Celestial is a small Fancy Goldfish with eyes that are turned up, and they lack a dorsal fin, like the Lionhead. They are unable to compete for food, as their eyesight is poor, and should not be placed in tanks with more competitive fish. The first time I saw a Celestial, I thought there was something wrong with the fish!

Answer: Pearlscale

The Pearlscale is an interesting-looking fish with domed scales, which look like pearls glued on the body. It can have Oranda-like headgrowth, bubble-like domes, or no headgrowth. The Phoenix has an egg-shaped body, no dorsal fin, and a long tail. The Edo Nishiki is a calico Ranchu produced by crossing a Ranchu and an Azuma Nishiki.

Answer: True

A useful rule of thumb is three gallons for every inch of fish, excluding the tail. The more space, the better.

Answer: Yes

It can hurt or even kill your fish. If you reach into your aquarium and get a shock, disconnect every electrical appliance for your aquarium, and inspect the equipment. The shock can kink and even break the backs of goldfish, and if strong enough, can kill them!