How To Care For Fancy Goldfish

Fancy goldfish are the rounder, more colourful cousins of the common goldfish. Think pearlscales, fantails, orandas, ranchu, and black moors. They’re charming, easy to keep once you know the basics, and each variety has its own quirky personality.


🌡️ The Right Temperature


  • Fancies like it warmer than pond goldfish: 18–24°C is perfect
  • They can survive cooler water for short periods, but thrive best indoors or in heated tanks



🏡 The Right Tank


  • Start with at least 90 litres for one fancy, and add around 45 litres per extra fish
  • Use a filter that’s strong enough to clean the water but gentle enough not to throw them around
  • Keep the tank decorated but simple: smooth gravel, rounded ornaments, no sharp edges that could damage fins



💧 Water Quality


  • Test water weekly for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH
  • Targets: Ammonia & Nitrite = 0 ppm, Nitrate < 40 ppm, pH 7.0–8.0
  • Do a 25–30% water change every week



🍽️ Feeding Fancy Goldfish


  • Use sinking pellets to avoid gulping air
  • Add blanched peas (skins off), spinach, or courgette for digestion
  • Feed small amounts twice a day; they should finish in 2–3 minutes



👯 Behaviour & Companions


  • Fancies are gentle, slow swimmers
  • Best kept with other fancies only
  • Avoid fast single-tail goldfish (comets, commons, shubunkins) as they outcompete fancies for food



🛡️ Staying Healthy


  • Watch for signs of constipation or swim bladder problems (floating awkwardly)
  • Keep diet varied to reduce risk
  • Handle with care; their bodies are more delicate than pond goldfish



❄️ Winter Note


  • Fancy goldfish are not hardy like pond fish
  • If outdoors in summer, bring them in once water drops below 10°C


🎉 Why People Love Fancies

With their big eyes, chubby shapes, and flowing fins, fancy goldfish feel almost like little aquatic pets. They’ll come to the glass for food and can live over 10 years when cared for properly.


📍 Need more advice?

Pop into Wakeykoi & Aquatics at Sandiacre Garden Centre, Himley. We’ll show you our range of fancies and help you pick the perfect tank mates, foods, and setup.