Celestial Eye Goldfish
July 23, 2008 by drjungle
Filed under Catch All, Freshwater fish
Now this goldfish really caught my eye! It seems things are ALWAYS looking up for this fish.
Celestial Eye Goldfish
"I am always looking at the heavens, so some folks call me a ‘Stargazer’!"
7/19/2008
With eyes that are permanently looking skyward,
the Celestial Eye Goldfish is known by the Chinese as the Stargazer!
The eerie eyes of the Celestial Eye Goldfish make it perhaps one of the most unusual of all the goldfish varieties, with the Telescope Goldfish and Bubble Eye Goldfish following close behind. The Chinese, who called this fish the Stargazer, were believed to have developed it in the later part of the nineteenth century, somewhere around 1870. During this time its eyes were at least partially mobile. Then in the early 1900′s the Japanese further developed it, and through selective breeding the result was a goldfish whose eyes were permanently locked in an upward position. To the Japanese it is known as the Deme-Ranchu…
I can’t even imagine how it is to live like this all the time, but he is unique that’s for sure.
Celestial Eye Goldfish Trivia…
Did you know that the celestial eye goldfish was developed by the Chinese and Later on improved by the Japanese by selective breeding until the point when his eyes are constantly looking upward?
Found this piece of information here.
Maybe it is jus…
I just discovered the celestial eyed goldfish at a really, I mean really, out of the way pet store. When I first arrived in the town they had probably 25 or so. After the work I needed to do there was completed, I went back to purchase 6 or so with the intent to put them in my outdoor pond and to share a couple with a neighbor whom also has a pond, however there were only 3 left. Now I am reading that they may not be so easy to take care of in that setting. These are ponds that are stocked with koi, aplecostomas (one big monster) and ryukins, sarassas and fan tails that I have been told will overwinter here in the pacific northwest with little to no problem. After what I have found researching them, it appears they may not survive with the “Big Guys” (I have a couple aggressive bottom feeder fantails in the pond also). The pet store lady told me to just put them in the pond with the rest of the fish and they should survive our fairly mild winters, but I am reluctant to do so after finding out that they are maybe not so hardy. They are only an inch to an inch and a half long and are being beaten up on in the quarantine tank by a large, fairly aggressive white fantail. Do I dare put them out in the cold for the winter, and if so will they survive? I am concerned about their size and also about possible eye damage. I think I may be better off keeping them indoors with less aggressive fish (There are also some really speedo koi in the pond) until spring and until they gain some size. Will they gain size? Will they ever be able to hide well enough in the many mazes in the pond or will the mazes be detrimental to their eye sockets. Also, how will they feed if they are hiding and can’t see the food falling? In other words, did the fish lady at the store steer me wrong when telling me they will do fine here in the Pacific Northwest in an outdoor pond at their size
, I just love their personalities but don’t want to doom them right off the bat. Could someone please help me out here?
The Celestials are a much more delicate goldfish. Though they could be kept in a pond where they were the stars of the show, they can’t tolerate temperatures much below 60° F (16° C). And they will not do well with the more aggressive fish. Koi are even more pushy than goldfish, especially when spawning.
In a community pond such as yours, I believe they will be at a disadvantage. They are not fast swimmers so will not be able to readily compete for food. They will have trouble seeing it, and by the time they see it it will have been consumed by the faster goldfish and koi.
They my also get picked on, especially while they are so small, and their eyes are a definite concern. Though they will appreciate the hiding places of your decor, if there are any sharp edged plants (the leaves of water iris for example) their eyes can be damaged.
Basically these are a more delicate, show type, goldfish. They can reach up to about 5 inches in the aquarium. But that takes some time and they will never be as large as your other pond inhabitants.
Hope this helps and I wish you all the best!
Celestial eye goldfish are definitely unique for sure. I personally love them for this pure fact. They add character and uniqueness to an aquarium. I know I seen someone comment about putting these type of goldfish in a pond but they shouldn’t really be kept in ponds. These type of fish along with bubble eye goldfish are just too delicate and when they get injured goldfish diseases are sure to happen. Yes this can happen in aquariums too but at least you can control their environment more and keep a closer watch over them.
Celestial eye goldfish are a weird looking fish but I love em!
Sincerely,
Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
Celestial is a delicate goldfish species.
as far as i knoe it should be kept only in species tank and not in a community goldfish tank or in a pond.
this article is very useful, thanks.
celestial eyes are too delicate to be in a pond or even in an aquarium with different types of fish. They can’ see; their vision is very limited; they can’t swim very well; torpedo shape without a dorsal fin; their genes are not that great; years of interbreeding have made them weak and susceptibles to diseases easier than other goldfish (except bubble eye which are as delicate as the celestial eye) one more thing. They are very susceptible to variations in the water chemistry; they are the first to get sick when ammonia or nitrite are high. Believe I had a community goldfish aquarium with every type of goldfish (fantail, black moors; commom, cometsm sarasa comets, shubunkins, telescopes (no black moores) and the celestial eye. The 4 celestial eye wer the first one to get sick, maybe overcrowding, maybe minimal amount of ammonia (0.25) min nitrite(0.025) but ussually when they’re streess out. It’s an indication of ammonia or nitrite spikes. I finally put them in a 30 gallon water because they are just too, too delicate_ it took me a lot of effort and observation but finally I have them more stable. They quickly can have fin rot. Watch thism which relate to stress. Very important: give them different types of fish foof. One day flakes, the other pellers; the other plant pellet or spirulina disk_ blood worm/shrimp and of course can orcooked peas or cooked zuckinii. They love suckini. Hope this helps