Veiltail Goldfish

Looks how to spot one

Scaled fish, metallic or nacreous scales, deep round body and very long, unforked twin tail

A round, deep-bodied goldfish without a hump, carrying a tall dorsal fin and a long, broad twin tail that falls in soft folds like a curtain. The tail edge is cut straight across with no fork or points, giving the veil effect that names the variety. Fish can have metallic or pearly nacreous scales.132

Personality what they are like

Calm and gentle; gets on well with other fancy goldfish.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Low to moderate. Its long fins make it a slow, graceful swimmer, so it prefers still or gently moving water.41

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keep the water above about 13 C (55 F) and change temperature gradually. Use smooth decorations and plants so the long fins stay in perfect shape. Routine care is otherwise like other fancy goldfish: good filtration, weekly partial water changes of about 30% with dechlorinated water and pH roughly 6 to 8.1256

Home where they are happiest

An indoor aquarium suits it better than a pond. Plan for at least 60 litres per goldfish and a tank at least 100 cm long for a group, with gentle flow and open swimming room.256

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivores. Offer a goldfish-specific pellet as the staple, which suits their need for less protein and more carbohydrate than many fish foods. Add chopped vegetables such as peas or spinach and small amounts of daphnia or brine shrimp as treats. Feed two or three small meals a day, giving only what is eaten within two to five minutes.78

Company who they like around

Peaceful. Keep with other slow fancy goldfish so it is not outpaced at feeding time; fast single-tailed goldfish are not a good match.19

The story where it all began

The veiltail was created in Philadelphia in the late 1800s, when Franklin Barrett crossed a Japanese fringetail ryukin with a telescope-eye goldfish, and aquarium writer William T. Innes gave it its name. The Philadelphia strain was later refined in Britain by Goldfish Society of Great Britain members in the 1950s, and Chinese and English strains now exist alongside the original.132

Recognised by the official bits

Goldfish Society of Great Britain (GSGB)

Standard variety: deep, round, shortish body, high dorsal fin and long broad tail falling in folds with a square-cut lower edge3

Bristol Aquarists' Society / goldfish-types.info

Standard: body depth about 65% of length, divided tail with no fork, ideally three quarters of body length, minimum body length 5.5 cm2