Assorted Butterfly Tail 5cm

Assorted Butterfly Tail 5cm

The butterfly tail is an absolutely stunning and elegant goldfish. Getting its name from the butterfly shape tail fin when looked from above. Also known as the Butterfly Telescope Goldfish due to its protruding eyes which are commonly seen in other goldfish variants like the moors. Specifically bred for many years the elegant butterfly tail goldfish is a true fancy variety and is a staple in the goldfish keeping hobby. Their most distinguishing factor is obviously the butterfly-shaped tail and the short, stubby body. They also come in a vast arrangement of colors like orange, white, grey, and black. Butterfly tails and goldfish, in general, are great algae eaters and will make a fantastic addition to outdoor ponds as they will readily graze and eat any algae which can proficiently grow in sunny pond conditions. Butterfly tails are even more suited to ponds because they look the best from top-down, this shows the fully speed butterfly-shaped tail. However, because of their selective breeding, they are more suited to tropical environments and it isn’t recommended to keep butterfly tails all year round outside. Though goldfish is not exactly a great beginner fish due to their size and at times messy habits the butterfly tail is a great alternative to the common comets and longer growing variants. The butterfly tails max out at around 15 cm and are actually not found naturally in the wild as they are selectively bred fish for the captive environment.

Tank Recommendations for your butterfly tail goldfish.

The butterfly goldfish can get fairly big at 15 cm. Though 1/3 of this length can be due to the beautiful tail fins the fish itself does get the very round meaning that an individual butterfly tail would need around 75 liters (20 gallons) however they are recommended to be kept together with other fancy goldfish. so when keeping multiple goldfish together a larger tank would be needed. The thing to note however with butterfly tail goldfish is that though they have stunning fins they are actually not the best swimmers so a slower flow is better. both in a pond or aquarium, a sand substrate is best as butterfly tails will actively sift through the sand and smooth river stones can be added for further decoration. Sharp materials should be avoided in the aquarium-like pointy driftwood especially for Oranda because they can easily damage their fins and scales This can lead to infection and immune-related diseases with the fish. A common practice for keeping these fish in a bare bottom environment with very little aquascape materials. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

Fantail goldfish are great fish as they not aggressive in the slightest and can be kept with tank mates. Common tank mates they can be kept with are active and small coldwater tolerant fish. The goldfish however might eat fry produced by these smaller fish however they will be perfectly fine with adults. Fin nipping species however should be avoided entirely as they will make short work of the flowing fins of the goldfish.

Usually Compatible

Other fancy goldfish species, Medaka ricefish, paradise fish, giant danios, zebra danio, White Cloud Mountain minnows

Sometimes Compatible

Species which can be fin nippers like rosy barbs and also tropical species such as angelfish, dwarf cichlids, mollies, and species of a similar sort. These goldfish can be perfectly kept in tropical water these tropical fish listed may not have the same habitat requirements as the fantails or may outcompete goldfish. 

Rarely Compatible

Larger cichlids and fish which have a mouth large such as Oscars, jaguar cichlids, and shrimp should also be avoided as fantails will eat shrimp in an instant.

Feeding your butterfly tail goldfish

Feeding butterfly tail goldfish should be very easy, they should immediately take to any aquarium food practically in 24 hours of being added to their new home. Slow sinking foods would be best as butterfly goldfish along with many other fancy goldfish have been known to at times get swim bladder issues after frantically gulping for food at the surface. Good quality pellets or flakes which are rich in algae or spirulina content are best to suit their herbivorous diet.