About Fantail Goldfish

The Fantail Goldfish is one of the most popular and recognizable fancy goldfish varieties. They are characterized by their egg-shaped body, double tail (split into four lobes), and high dorsal fin. Fantails are hardy for fancy goldfish and make excellent starter fish for those wanting to keep ornamental goldfish. Unlike their single-tail relatives, they are slow swimmers and need protection from faster fish that might outcompete them for food. Their rounded body shape makes them more susceptible to swim bladder issues if not fed properly. Fantails are beautiful, peaceful fish that add elegance to coldwater aquariums.

Care Guide

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Fantails need appropriate space for fancy goldfish:

  • Minimum 20 gallons for one (30+ recommended)
  • Add 10 gallons per additional fish
  • Canister or hang-on-back filter (gentle flow preferred)
  • No heater needed (coldwater fish)
  • Smooth decorations (avoid sharp edges)
  • Sand or bare bottom (gravel can trap food they can’t reach)
  • Plants or silk decorations for enrichment

Important: Their egg-shaped bodies and flowing fins make them slower swimmers. Avoid strong filter currents.

Water Quality

  • Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
  • pH: 7.0-8.4
  • Water Hardness: Moderate to hard (8-20 dGH)
  • Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: <40 ppm

Maintenance:

  • Weekly 25-30% water changes
  • Good filtration needed (they are still messy)
  • Monitor ammonia levels
  • Gentle water changes to avoid shocking them

Feeding

Fantails are prone to swim bladder issues:

  • Sinking pellets essential (prevents air ingestion)
  • Vegetables: Blanched peas (help prevent constipation), zucchini, spinach
  • Frozen foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp (occasional)
  • Soak dry foods before feeding to prevent air swallowing

Feeding Schedule: 2 times daily, small amounts.

Critical: Never feed floating foods exclusively. This is the main cause of swim bladder problems.

Behavior & Compatibility

Slow, peaceful swimmers:

  • Best With: Other fancy goldfish (Oranda, Ryukin, Black Moor)
  • Can Work With: Dojo Loaches, small Plecos
  • Never With:
    • Single-tail goldfish (Commons, Comets, Shubunkins)
    • Tropical fish
    • Fast-swimming fish

Why no single-tail goldfish: Commons and Comets are much faster and will eat all the food before Fantails can get to it, leading to malnutrition.

Swim Bladder Care

Fantails are prone to buoyancy problems:

  • Always feed sinking foods
  • Provide vegetables regularly for fiber
  • Fast one day per week to clear digestive system
  • Avoid overfeeding
  • Maintain excellent water quality

Common Health Issues

  1. Swim Bladder Disease: Most common - floating upside down, sinking, tilting
  2. Fin rot: From poor water quality or sharp decorations
  3. Ich: White spots disease
  4. Dropsy: Bloated with raised scales
  5. Constipation: From poor diet - feed peas

Size Considerations

Smaller than single-tail varieties:

  • First year: 2-3 inches
  • Mature size: 6-8 inches
  • Lifespan: 10-15 years with proper care

Appearance

Beautiful double-tail design:

  • Body: Egg-shaped, deep-bodied
  • Tail: Double tail split into four lobes that spread like a fan when swimming
  • Dorsal fin: High and erect
  • Colors: Red, orange, calico, black, white, or combinations
  • Finnage: Long, flowing fins that trail behind

Tank Maintenance

  • Weekly 25-30% water changes
  • Gravel vacuum carefully (use bare bottom or sand)
  • Filter maintenance
  • Remove uneaten food promptly (slower to find it)
  • Check for fin damage regularly

Tips for Success

  • Feed only sinking pellets or pre-soaked foods
  • Include vegetables in diet regularly
  • Keep only with other fancy goldfish
  • Avoid strong filter currents
  • Provide smooth decorations only
  • Never use sharp gravel
  • Monitor for swim bladder issues
  • Fast one day per week
  • Quarantine new fish
  • Keep water quality pristine

Comparison to Single-Tail Varieties

  • Fantail: Double tail, egg-shaped, slow, 6-8 inches, needs sinking food
  • Common/Comet: Single tail, streamlined, fast, 10-14 inches
  • Never mix them - speed difference causes problems

Variations

  • Standard Fantail: Most common variety
  • Calico Fantail: Mix of colors (blue, orange, black, white)
  • Telescope Fantail: Has protruding eyes
  • Butterfly Tail: Extra-wide tail spread

Compatible Tank Mates

🐠 Other fancy goldfish
🐠 Oranda Goldfish
🐠 Ryukin Goldfish
🐠 Dojo Loach 🐠 Bristlenose Pleco