Veiltail Goldfish
Carassius auratus
About this strain
Veiltails take the Fantail concept and stretch the fins into something almost theatrical — the tail fin is squared-off at the edge (not forked), extremely long and flowing, and hangs with a delicate drape rather than fanning stiffly. All fins — dorsal, pectoral, anal — are proportionally elongated and gossamer-thin. They're breathtaking in a well-planted display tank but correspondingly fragile: fin tears are common if kept with nippy species or in rough-filtered setups. Prioritize gentle filtration and smooth décor. Slow feeders that lose out easily to faster varieties.
Origin
Developed primarily in Philadelphia, USA, by breeders including Franklin Barrett in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Philadelphia Veiltail was historically considered a distinct strain known for exceptional fin quality.