From Panda Goldfish (Panda Moor) to Panda Common/Comet goldfish

Panda Goldfish (Panda Moor)

The Panda Goldfish, nick-named Panda Moor, is a telescope eye goldfish (metallic scaled), which is named for its contrasting black and white colour. For an image of Panda Goldfish, please see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldfishqueen/211749138/

Panda characteristics

Panda is named for its black and white colour, and is always characterised with white abdomens and black backs and tail fins, as depigmentation in a goldfish, ie, losing its black (see below) always occurs from the abdomen and ventral fins first, that is from the bottom half of the fish, moving upward in the fish until the back beneath the dorsal fin.

In choosing Panda Goldfish, always choose those specimens with black fins, ie, black pectoral, ventral and anal, and not just black caudal and dorsal fins. White ventral and pectoral fins mean the goldfish specimen is at an advanced state of depigmentation, and it won't be long before the fish loses all its black.

From what I read, the Panda Goldfish was first developed by the Fujian Agricultural Institute/Centre back in China in 1987, and it received 1st price the country's national Fauna/Flora show in 1989.

Similar to the Panda is another Chinese variety called 'Magpie', which is basically a deep blue and white telescope eye goldfish. There are a number of colour/shades in the Chinese blue goldfish Chin wen or Lan Yu, examined scientifically by SC Chen in 1934. The blue metallic goldfish will be subject of another blog when I have the time.

Since the development of the Panda Goldfish, black and white oranda, black and white fantails and black and white bubble eyes have appeared as new goldfish varieties.

Nevertheless, the 'problem' with the Panda Goldfish is that the fish loses its black as it ages, some in a few months, others in a few years. Thus, large specimens of black and white Panda Goldfish which retains the contrasting black and white colours do commend high prices and deservedly so.

Black colour and depigmentation in goldfish

Black is not a stable colour in the goldfish, as goldfish has four genes which governs the de-pigmentation, in its dominant depigmentation state, is denoted by Dp1Dp1Dp2Dp2 by T Kajishima in 1977. On the other hand, the Black Moor (Demekin) telescope eye goldfish has these four genes in the recessive state, denoted as dp1dp1dp2dp2.

Although not quantitatively or qualitatively examined, it is suspected that those goldfish which depigments in a few months after birth contain all four genes in their dominant state, while specimens which depigment in a few years after birth contains only one or two dominant gene out of four depigment genes in its dominant state, resulting in the delay in the onset of depigmentation. These specimens then spent the first few years in their silver bronze wild colour state.

Another feature is how quickly do goldfish lose their black colours? Once the onset of depigmentation begins, some specimens lose their black very quickly, while others took some years for the black to fully disappear. This aspect is yet to be determined scientifically.

Colour cells destruction in goldfish can be in simple terms described as:
1. Black colour pigment cells is 'allergic' to red and yellow cells (which when combined gives the common orange goldfish colour). Therefore, the black in the goldfish will be destructed and fade away leaving an orange goldfish.

2. Yellow and red cells are allergic to white colour cells, therefore, any white on a goldfish will eventually expand and erase the red and yellow colours on a goldfish, leaving it a white goldfish in the end.

On that basis, people will often be disappointed with their Panda Goldfish that it loses all it black and become a white or in poor quality ones, orange wand white.

The reality is, Panda Goldfish is a goldfish in the process of depigmentation. Unlike the common comet or fantail goldfish, the time it takes the depigmentation from the fully black phrases is (preferably or hopefully) slowed from a few months to over a few years, as its genetic roots should be the Black Moor telescope goldfish, known for its velvety black colour.

Therefore, the Panda Goldfish breed is likely to be developed from the Black Moor goldfish, by selecting Black Moor specimens that when depigmented, they turn into the white telescope goldfish as opposed to the orange/red (Aka Demekin) or yellow telescope goldfish. This is because only the showy black and white contrasts reminds children and adults alike of their 'Panda' appeal.

In order to miantain the Panda line and to slow the depimentation process, I feel that Panda Moor is best produced not by mating Panda to Panda, but Panda with a Black Moor (which has the four depigment genes in their recessive state). The selection of fish which slows the depigmentation process hopefully means the resulting Panda Goldfish gene pool is derived from specimens that may have one or two depigment genes in their dominant state, as opposed to all four.

Single tail Panda Goldfish?

Given Panda has moved from the telescope eyed to the normal eyed fantails and Orandas etc, is there a Panda comet or common Panda single-tail goldfish? Logic dictates it should be possible.

The photos (taken on 9 May 2009) show such a 'Panda' prototype sport specimen of a common single tail goldfish, although not perfect (as its has some faint orange pigments), but it is a good working material to further improve. Black and white single tail goldfish is very rare, black and orange or black and yellow single tail goldfish is very common. Of course, the black eventually fades away.

This specimen has a black back, with some orange and some white. Preferably, the black on the back will be retained for some time, and the orange will destruct to all white. Unfortunately, the ventral fins no longer are black, unlike the gorgeous Panda specimens and the dorsal and caudal black colours are beginning to fade. Again, this is a sport, so better things should come from inbreeding the desired features into its future progeny. I think I will breed it with black Moors, and perhaps white comets where required to ensure a white background when the fish depigments completely as opposed to an orange or yellow background.

What is the best way to maintain the black?
Goldfish farmers have always noted that warmth and light triggers depigmentation in young metallic goldfish, especially warmth. Therefore, to slow depigmetation, it is best to keep Panda Goldfish in cooler waters and less intense light, ie, green water in a large tank, and dark soil gravel bottom in the tank or pond/container should help.

© Bill L 24 May 2009