Pearlscale Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

The Pearlscale Goldfish (Carassius auratus) looks like it was made by a jeweler: a nearly spherical golf ball body covered in raised, dome-shaped scales that catch the light like rows of pearls. It is the roundest of all fancy goldfish and one of the most endearing, bumbling around the tank with surprising charm. These are imported fish at 2 to 3 inches, young and still growing into their full pearl armor. Browse the rest of our freshwater livestock and supplies to outfit the goldfish tank.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 20 to 30 gallons for the first pearlscale and about 10 more per additional fancy. Wide beats tall; these are weak swimmers that appreciate calm, open water.
• Water parameters: 65 to 75°F, pH 7.0 to 8.0. True coldwater fish; skip the heater in most homes but avoid drafty temperature swings.
• Feeding matters most: that round body squeezes the swim bladder, making pearlscales the most buoyancy-prone goldfish of all. Feed sinking gel food like Repashy Super Gold or pre-soaked goldfish pellets, plus blanched peas weekly for fiber.
• Filtration: oversize the filter but baffle the flow. Goldfish are messy, yet a pearlscale in a current is a pinball.
• Protect the pearls: a knocked-off pearl scale grows back flat, so keep decor smooth and skip sharp rockwork. Bare bottom, sand, or rounded gravel all work.
• Gentle company only: house with other slow, round-bodied fancies that cannot outrace it to food.

Specifications

Compatibility

Pearlscales belong with their own kind: slow, gentle, round-bodied fancies. Perfect roommates include the Red Cap Oranda, Black Moor, and Panda Butterfly. Keep them away from single-tail racers like comets, anything nippy, and strong current. They are the fish everyone else must slow down for, and a fancy-only tank makes that easy.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Repashy Super Gold sinking gel, the pearlscale staple
• Xtreme Goldfish Pellets soak before feeding
• API Goldfish Pellets

FAQ

Are the pearl scales actually pearls?
They are normal scales with extra calcium deposits that dome outward, creating the beaded texture. It is a stable, bred-in trait, not a disease or growth.

What happens if a pearl scale falls off?
The scale regrows, but flat, without the dome. It does not hurt the fish; it just leaves a smooth spot in the armor, which is why smooth decor is worth the effort.

Why do pearlscales get swim bladder problems?
The extreme round body compresses everything inside, so gulped air and dry floating food cause tilting and floating more easily than in any other goldfish. Sinking gel food, soaked pellets, and fiber prevent nearly all of it.

Can they live in a pond?
They are best indoors. Pearlscales are slower and more delicate than pond-hardy singletails, and they struggle to compete for food outdoors.