Types of Pearlscale Goldfish

Chinshurin or pearlscale goldfish possess special types of scale growths that make each scale pearl-shaped. These growths, made of calcium carbonate, appear on individual scales. They can occur on some scales of goldfish, but ideally occur all around the goldfish's body so that each row of scales appears beaded. Pearlscale fancy goldfish come in many varieties of tail length and head growths.

  1. Fantail

    • The fantail variety of pearlscale goldfish resemble a fancy fantail goldfish in body build and tail shape but also have the striking pearlscale pattern. Both fantails and fantail pearlscale have egg-shaped bodies with big bellies and two large, forked tails, properly called caudal fins. The four fins on the fish's bottom, called pectoral and pelvic fins, are short, rounded at the tips. Pearlscale fantails tend to grow larger bellies than fantails so that it seems they swallowed a ping-pong ball. In comparison to the bodies, the heads are small.

    Veiltail

    • Veiltails are similar to the fantail variety, only the fins are much longer. Although the dorsal fin, or fin on the top of the fish's body, is longer than in other varieties it should not droop but stick up like a sail while the fish is swimming. The magnificent double tail can be two and a half to three times the length of the fish's body. Because of the tail's length, it is hard to see any forking.

    Oranda

    • The pearlscale Oranda variety is also called the Hama Nishiki. This variety is the most popular pearlscale variety in China, according to "Goldfish Varieties and Genetics." Orandas grow up to eight inches long, making them larger than the six inch long veiltail or fantail varieties. Pearlscale Orandas grow a knobby, round hood on the top of the head and in between the eyes. The head growths appear when the fish are about six months old.

    Crown

    • Also called the bubble domed or high-head pearlscale, this is the rarest type of pearlscale goldfish. Instead of having one hood as in the Oranda variety, it has two. These two hoods look like a two-lobed crown on top of the fish's head. Crowns are the largest variety of pearlscale goldfish, growing up to 14 inches long.