Assorted PREMIUM Fantail - Small

Assorted Premium Fantail - Small

Fantail goldfish are one of the most popular and beloved fish in the aquarium trade. These are a great alternative to the more common comet goldfish that get almost 3 times larger. For most aquarists in the hobby, the fantail can often be forgotten, but they are a wonderful, active, and bright fish, especially when you know you have the best ones offered.

Fantails really do not stray far from their name, they have the classic goldfish colours of orange, reds, whites, and even calico tones. The main difference is their body shape, which is quite short and compact compared to other goldfish, almost having a golf ball-like shape. The fan tail part of the name comes from the three-prong tail, which really does look like a beautiful fan when seen from the top and even side on. What's especially unique about these fish is that they have been hand-selected as the best fantails, which often yields better genetics, body shape, colours, fan size, and formation too.

Fantails are great hair algae eaters and will make a fantastic addition to outdoor ponds as they will readily graze and eat any algae that can proficiently grow in outdoor ponds. They can also be year-round outside, provided the pond depth is below any present frostline. This is great because most fancy goldfish are usually kept in tropical environments, but as long as the fantails have a well-maintained outdoor environment, they can be enjoyed year-round.

They are also surprisingly smart, contrary to popular belief, and can easily associate their owners with food, come up to the surface during feeding, and act like energy-filled water puppies. Though goldfish are not exactly a great beginner fish due to their size and at times messy habits, the smaller growing calico fantail is great for those who have proper setups to house these fish and are wanting to have some fun, or maybe even get their kids more interested in keeping a pet. The fantails max out at around 15 cm and are actually not found naturally in the wild as they are a selectively bred fish for the captive environment.

Tank Recommendations for Assorted Premium Fantail - Small

The fantail goldfish can get fairly big at 15 cm, meaning that an individual fantail would need around 90 litres, but a larger aquarium is always better because what is better than one fantail? Two fantails, of course!

The thing to note, however, with fantail 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 fantails 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, as goldfish can easily get injured by them.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Fantails are a great fish as they are not aggressive in the slightest and can be kept with tank mates. Common tank mates they can be kept with are active and small, cold water-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

Medaka icefish, paradise fish, giant danios, zebra danio, White Cloud Mountain minnows

Sometimes Compatible

Species that can be fin nippers, like rosy barbs, and also tropical species such as angelfish, dwarf cichlids, mollies, and species of a similar sort.

Rarely Compatible

Larger cichlids and fish that have a large mouth, such as oscars, jaguar cichlids, and shrimp, should also be avoided, as fan tails will eat shrimp in an instant.

Feeding your Assorted Premium Fantail - Small

Feeding fantails should be a breeze; they should immediately take to any aquarium food, practically within 24 hours of being added to their new home. Having other fantails as well will really boost their confidence, making them an almost ravenous pack when feeding (all friendly though). Slow sinking foods would be best as fantails 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 suited to their herbivorous diet.

Plant Safe? No - however, rough-leafed plants like Anubias may be okay.