Telescope Goldfish

About

The telescope goldfish (Carassius auratus var. telescope) is one of the most recognizable fancy goldfish varieties, instantly identified by its protruding, globe-like eyes that extend noticeably outward from the head. This trait, developed through centuries of selective breeding in East Asia, gives the fish its distinctive appearance but also comes with a real tradeoff. Those prominent eyes are vulnerable to injury and offer significantly reduced vision compared to other goldfish. Because of this, telescope goldfish are slower and less competitive at feeding than slim-bodied or even other fancy varieties, so tankmates need to be chosen carefully. Mixing them with faster fish almost always results in the telescopes going hungry. They do well with other visually impaired or similarly unhurried fancy varieties like bubble-eyes or celestials. Despite the extra care they require, telescopes are genuinely personable fish that learn to recognize their keepers and interact at the glass. They come in a wide range of colors and scale types, with the black variety, often called the black moor, being especially popular. Their aquarium should be kept free of sharp decorations and objects with rough edges, which can easily damage those delicate eyes. A rewarding fish for a keeper willing to meet their specific needs.