High Grade Butterfly Moor

High Grade Butterfly Moor Goldfish

(Carassius auratus)

High Grade Butterfly Moors are a striking fancy goldfish variety, selected for their deep black colour, strong body shape, prominent telescope eyes and large butterfly-style tails. When viewed from above, the tail spreads out widely on either side of the body, creating the butterfly shape that gives the variety its name.

Unlike standard Black Moors, higher-grade Butterfly Moors are selected for a more balanced body, better finnage and a broader, more symmetrical tail. Their fins should be long, flowing and well spread, giving them a much more dramatic appearance when swimming.

Young fish are usually a deep black or charcoal colour, sometimes with subtle bronze tones showing through the scales. Colour can change slightly as the fish matures, particularly around the belly and fins.

Butterfly Moors are peaceful, slower-swimming fancy goldfish and are best kept with other gentle fancy varieties of a similar size. They should not normally be mixed with fast single-tail goldfish such as comets or shubunkins, which can easily outcompete them at feeding time.

Because of their telescope eyes, they do not see as well as standard goldfish. The aquarium should therefore be kept simple, with plenty of open swimming space and no sharp rocks, rough ornaments or hard plastic plants that could damage their eyes or fins.

They require a mature, fully cycled aquarium with strong filtration and good oxygenation. As a guide, allow around 100 litres for the first fancy goldfish, followed by approximately 50 litres for each additional fish. Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero, with regular partial water changes used to maintain stable water quality.

Feed a good-quality sinking fancy goldfish pellet or gel food in small portions. Their diet can be varied with suitable vegetables and occasional frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp.

Butterfly Moors can grow to around 15–20cm, sometimes larger, and with the correct care can live for well over ten years.

Please note: these are individually selected high-grade fish, so tail shape, eye development, body shape and exact shade of black will vary slightly from fish to fish.