Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Goldfish > Pearlscale Goldfish

Pearlscale Goldfish

Family: Cyprinidae

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Carassius auratus auratus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Daniel

   The Pearlscale Goldfish is usually twin-tailed with a very compact body. It has rows of distinctively raised scales with pale, pearly centers.

   The Pearscale can be easily recognized by its nacreous scales with raised centers and dark perimeters. They have a straight back with a swollen belly. They resemble a golfball. The first known mentioning of a Pearlscale Goldfish is from the early 20th century. Pearlscale Goldfish can be found in all kinds of colours, such as red, blue, black, calico, chocolate and red/white combinations.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous, the Pearlscale Goldfish will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Because of the unusual body shape, the pearlscale is more susceptible to swim bladder disease and constipation. It is suggested that any pellets or flake food be soaked thoroughly before feeding to prevent swelling in the stomach. It has also been suggested that deshelled peas in the diet at least once a week will prevent and treat constipation. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), blood worms, Daphnia, or tubifex worms as a treat. Other vegetables like cucmber and lettuce are acceptable as well.
   It is usually better to feed soaked freeze-dried foods as opposed to live foods to avoid parasites and bacterial infections that could be present in live foods.

Distribution:
   Domesticated goldfish are distributed world-wide but pearlscales first appeared in 1900, having been largely developed in England.

Size - Weight:
   Pearlscale Goldfish will grow to about 10 cm (4 inches).

Social Behaviors:
   Goldfish are very social animals and thrive in a community. Not only are they a great community fish but they are great scavengers as well. It is really not necessary to add other scavengers or other bottom feeders to the aquarium when you have goldfish.

Temperatures:
   Recommended temperatures for Goldfish is 65°-72° F (18°-22° C).

Sexual Differences:
   Although is it impossible to sex goldfish when they are young and not in breeding season, the male is usually smaller and more slender that the female. In the breeding season the male has white prickles, called breeding tubercles, on its gill covers and head. Seen from above the female will have a fatter appearance as she is carrying eggs. See pictures and more information about sexing at Bristol Aquarists.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Pearlscale goldfish are egg layers that spawn readily in the right conditions. See Breeding Freshwater Fish - Goldfish for more information on breeding Goldfish.

Availability:
   The Pearscale Goldfish is readily available and is inexpensive. Another type of pearlscale called the Crown Pearlscale has the irridescent scales like the pearlscale, but also has the crown atop it's head like the oranda golfish. The Crown Pearlscale is sometimes available and can be expensive.

Buy Crown Pearlscale Goldfish
From LiveAquaria.com

Comments from people who have kept this fish:

I just got two baby pearlscale goldfish yesterday. Both are solid bright orange. They are adorable. I love how they wobble around in the water. I plan on taking great care to keep them from developing bladder problems. I hear sinking food pellets are the way to go. As well as canned peas as a treat. I am so happy to see them swimming around. They are also very responsive to me when I get close to the tank. They love feeding time!

I got a Pearlscale Goldfish today! She's pretty. Orange and white. Her name is Pearla. She's so cute. She swims around. I love the Pearlscale Goldfish. I'm going to enjoy her.

I've had Pearlscale Goldfish before. I think they are neat. Right now I don't have one, but I would like to get another one soon.

I have 2 pearlscales, Delilah and Kallie. They are so adorable. Delilah is a red and white crowned and Kallie is calico. Deli is about 3 inches long with long beautiful flowing fins. I've had her for over a year and she was about 1" long when I bought her. The bigger she gets, the more golfball-shaped she gets. I just got Kallie a couple weeks ago. She is a little baby, not much bigger than a small bouncy ball. She wobbles when she swims which I find absolutely adorable. I don't know if she is crowned or not but she has short fins (a characteristic of the non-crowned variety). They are some of my favorite fish in my tank (they live in a 90 gal with 7 other fancies) because they are unusual looking and very elegant. Make sure you either soak their food for about 5 minutes before you give it to them or feed them sinking pellets. Because of their shape, they are prone to SBD. Feeding peas about 3 times a week (with covering of pea removed) is also good for goldfish so they don't get swim bladder disease.

Back to Goldfish

Author: David Brough. CFS.

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