Mirror-scale goldfish: February 2009

___________________________________
Goldfish scale types (Carassius auratus)

In Australia, apart from the normally scaled (Sc) goldfish, there are three other scale types which only occur in single-tail metallic common or comet goldfish (and not appearing in nacreous (calico) or matt (pink) goldfish specimens).

The variation in scale types for goldfish occur independently of the European carp (Cyprinus carpio) and these varieties are NOT the results of hybrids with European carps, as hybrids between the goldfish and European carp are sterile. On the other hand, the Linear scale goldfish are fully fertile. I have crossed a Linear scale goldfish female with a male shubunkins and obtained numerous offsprings.

The varieties are:

Scattered - (St)

Linear - (Lin) (commonly called mirror-scale)

Leather - (Leath) (seldom seen)

Scattered and Linear varieties are very common but Leather specimens are rarely seen (I only saw it once and had kept one once back in the 1990s).

The reason for this is leather goldfish suffers deformity of fins. Only the caudal fin (tail fin) is developed in the leather specimens. The rest of the other fins only have remnant stubs where the fins should have been.

Very rare also is a telescopic eye linear scale goldfish. I have only seen one and have purchased it. I hope to breed this sole specimen and maintain this line.

Photos on top:
More photos of some of my linear and scattered scale goldfish:
1. red and white linear scale,
2. bronze (wild colour) linear linear scale; and
3. orange colour linear and scattered scale specimens

Photos at bottom:

Photo of scattered (St) goldfish - juvenile: (bottom photo)

Photo of linear (Lin) goldfish - juvenile: (middle photo)

Photo of telescopic-eye Linear (Lin) goldfish - mature: (top photo)