Is there a dwarf goldfish out there?

[coolchinchilla]

I read a book recently about goldfish. Amazing how we got all the beautiful breeds from a boring carp-like fish. The fancy started in Asia (China, Japan) and they've been breeding goldfish for a thousand years or more.

I keep wanting to get a fancy goldfish like an oranda, but they all get too big for my tank system right now. (I would NEVER put a goldfish in a small tank.)

Maybe this is really stupid, but for all the breeding expertise out there for goldfish, why haven't they bred something smaller? A dwarf goldfish that gets to only 3 inches instead of 6 or 8 inches would be great. Are there dwarf goldfish? Is there a little one out there?

Thanks for listening.

 

[Hrafnkel]

Fancy goldfish sort of -are- 'dwarf goldfish.' A true carp can get several feet long, unless I'm mistaken. Most fancy goldfish only get 8-10".

 

[flamingonhot]

The only smaller types that i've seen are black moors.

 

[TankGirl]

I agree - black moors are your best bet, as they get only about 4". They are also extremely tolerant of conditions and are said to be good "beginner" goldfish.

 

[Hrafnkel]

I thought they got bigger than that? Hm. Nice to know, I'll be getting goldfish come springtime.

 

[jsoong]

Moors are only slightly smaller than the other fancies . I've seen them at 5-6". Orandas are slightly bigger at 6-8". However, I agree that the moor is the easiest golfish to start with. <PS the orandas are reputed to be the most finicky of all the common fancies.>

 

[nomadofthehills]

I;ve seen big moors. The only reason they'd stay small would be lack of h20 changes

 

[TankGirl]

There are big moors out there, but they are not going to get 10-12" like most other goldies. Most I have seen are about 4" for whatever reason. That goes along with profiles listed about them.

 

[coolchinchilla]

Thanks for your responses!

Fancy goldfish sort of -are- 'dwarf goldfish.' A true carp can get several feet long, unless I'm mistaken. Most fancy goldfish only get 8-10".

LOL! True! A goldfish is dwarf compared to a real carp. 8)

Black moors are cool fish. Maybe that's where I can start. -- Still wish there were a 3-inch oranda. Oh well. maybe a bigger tank. Can an oranda go in a 20 gallon or does it need to be 30?

 

[megladonsharky]

I think would good filtration and good tank management one oranda could live in a 20 gallon..