Pearlscale Goldfish Care Guide - Tank Setup, Feeding & Breeding

Pearlscale Goldfish are a fancy goldfish variety recognised for their rounded bodies and unusual, raised scales. Each scale has a pearl-like, domed appearance caused by mineral deposits beneath the scale, giving the fish a textured surface that is especially striking under aquarium lighting. They are available in many colour patterns, including red, orange, white, yellow, calico and combinations of these shades.

Their compact, egg-shaped bodies and double tails give them a gentle, ornamental appearance. Unlike streamlined common and comet goldfish, Pearlscales are deliberate, relatively slow swimmers and can be less agile when competing for food. Their rounded body shape also makes them more vulnerable to buoyancy and digestive problems than single-tailed varieties.

Pearlscales are generally peaceful and inquisitive, often becoming accustomed to their keeper and gathering at the front of the aquarium when people approach. They spend much of their time exploring the lower and middle levels of the water, searching through the substrate for edible material.

In the wild, the species from which domestic goldfish descend inhabits still or slow-moving freshwater environments such as ponds, lakes, marshes and gently flowing waterways. Pearlscale Goldfish themselves are a human-developed form and do not occur as a natural wild population.

Pearlscale Goldfish are a domesticated ornamental variety of Carassius auratus, developed from goldfish bred in China. Their wild ancestors are native to East Asia, particularly areas associated with China and surrounding regions.

A mature Pearlscale Goldfish should have at least 150 litres of water, with additional volume for every further fish. A rectangular aquarium measuring around 120 x 40 x 40 cm is a useful minimum guideline because floor area and swimming length are more valuable than a tall, narrow design. Use strong biological filtration with gentle, well-diffused flow, leaving open areas for swimming. Choose smooth, rounded gravel or sand and avoid sharp ornaments, since the fish can injure their delicate bodies and protruding eyes. Hardy live plants, smooth rocks and sheltered areas provide interest, although plants may be nibbled or uprooted.

Up to 20 cm (8 inches) in adult body length, although many aquarium specimens remain closer to 15–18 cm (6–7 inches). Females are often slightly larger and deeper-bodied than males, particularly when carrying eggs.

Pearlscale Goldfish are omnivores and benefit from a varied diet based on high-quality sinking goldfish pellets or gel food. Supplement this with blanched vegetables such as peas, spinach and courgette, along with occasional frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm. Sinking foods are preferable because they reduce surface gulping and allow these slow-moving fish to feed comfortably. Offer modest portions and remove uneaten food promptly.

The safest companions are other similarly sized fancy goldfish with comparable swimming ability, such as Fantails, Ryukins and other Pearlscales. They should not be housed with common, comet or shubunkin goldfish, which are faster and may outcompete them for food. Avoid tropical species requiring warmer water, fin-nipping fish and very small fish that could be swallowed. Any companion should be peaceful, robust enough for goldfish conditions and kept in a suitably spacious aquarium.

Pearlscale Goldfish are egg scatterers that usually spawn when temperatures rise gradually in spring-like conditions. Condition mature males and females with a varied, protein-rich diet, then place them in a spacious breeding aquarium with spawning mops or fine-leaved plants. The male follows the female as she releases adhesive eggs, which are fertilised externally. Remove the adults after spawning, as they will eat the eggs. Hatching generally occurs within several days, and the fry need very small foods followed by appropriately sized specialist fry food.

Sexes are difficult to distinguish outside the breeding season. Mature females are usually rounder and deeper-bodied, while males may be slimmer and can develop small white breeding tubercles on the gill covers and leading edges of the pectoral fins. During spawning, males also tend to appear more streamlined as they pursue the female.