Nymph Goldfish
Carassius auratus
About this strain
The Nymph is a Fantail with a single tail — it has the egg-shaped fancy body, the dorsal fin, and the full fin complement of a Fantail, but only one caudal lobe instead of the divided double tail. This creates an intermediate form that's visually distinct from both the Comet (too sleek) and the Fantail (double tail). It swims more efficiently than twin-tailed fancies and is moderately hardy. Not commonly seen in retail; most appear from spawn culls where the double tail failed to develop, though dedicated breeders also produce them intentionally as a distinct variety.
Origin
Nymphs arise naturally as culls from Fantail breeding programs when the caudal fin doesn't fully bifurcate. Whether selectively bred as a distinct variety or simply recognized as a recurring form depends on the breeding operation; the name is in use in Western goldfish circles for at least several decades.