How to Care for Red & White Fantail Goldfish

Fantail goldfish are easy to pick out in an aquarium by their shape, their color patterns and, of course, their tail. They are oval -- almost egg-shaped -- and come in a variety of colors, most prominently a reddish orange and matt, which is almost white in color and the tail fin is split in two distinct sections that are long and slightly forked. Fantail goldfish are very hardy and adaptable to minor changes in water quality or temperature. With proper care, a red and white fantail goldfish can live up to 10 or more years.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Substrate
  • Aquarium decorations
  • Aquarium testing kit
  • Goldfish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Allow for at least 20 gallons of tank for your first fantail goldfish, as they generally grow to about 6 inches in length and sometimes longer. Add an additional 10 gallons of tank space for every additional fantail goldfish.

    • 2

      Add only other goldfish to the environment, as fantail goldfish generally do not mix well with other types of fish.

    • 3

      Line the aquarium with substrate, such as small gravel. Place several items in the substrate -- such as live or plastic plants and aquarium decorations -- to give your fantail goldfish places to explore and hide.

    • 4

      Maintain a water temperature of between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Perform a 15- to 20-percent water change weekly to keep the water clean and prevent algae and bacteria buildup. Rinse the filters of your biological filtration system at the same time and replace when necessary or after six months.

    • 5

      Monitor the pH and hardness levels of your fantail goldfish's tank with a testing kit. Maintain a pH balance of between 6.0 and 8.0 and a water hardness level of between 5 and 19 degrees for an optimal living environment. Use a water conditioner to adjust the levels as necessary.

    • 6

      Feed your fantail goldfish a couple of times per day, using flake food or other goldfish-specific food, such as frozen brine shrimp. Feed them only an amount that can be eaten in about one minute's time; if you begin seeing food build up on the substrate's surface, you are giving them too much food.