{"product_id":"pearlscale-goldfish-carassius-auratus-freshwater","title":"Pearlscale Goldfish (Carassius auratus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ePearlscale Goldfish\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eCarassius auratus\u003c\/em\u003e) 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 \u003cstrong\u003eimported fish at 2 to 3 inches\u003c\/strong\u003e, young and still growing into their full pearl armor. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to outfit the goldfish tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65 to 75°F, pH 7.0 to 8.0. True coldwater fish; skip the heater in most homes but avoid drafty temperature swings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding matters most:\u003c\/strong\u003e that round body squeezes the swim bladder, making pearlscales the most buoyancy-prone goldfish of all. Feed sinking gel food like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-super-gold-goldfish-koi-gel-food\"\u003eRepashy Super Gold\u003c\/a\u003e or pre-soaked \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-goldfish-pellets-semi-floating\"\u003egoldfish pellets\u003c\/a\u003e, plus blanched peas weekly for fiber.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFiltration:\u003c\/strong\u003e oversize the filter but baffle the flow. Goldfish are messy, yet a pearlscale in a current is a pinball.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtect the pearls:\u003c\/strong\u003e a knocked-off pearl scale grows back flat, so keep decor smooth and skip sharp rockwork. Bare bottom, sand, or rounded gravel all work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGentle company only:\u003c\/strong\u003e house with other slow, round-bodied fancies that cannot outrace it to food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCarassius auratus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePearlscale Goldfish, Ping Pong Pearlscale\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrent size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e2 to 3 inches, imported\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner, with attention to diet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6 to 8 inches with age\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 to 30 gallons for the first fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e65 to 75°F, coldwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e7.0 to 8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOmnivore, sinking gel food and soaked pellets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e10 years or more with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePearlscales belong with their own kind: slow, gentle, round-bodied fancies. Perfect roommates include the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/red-cap-oranda-goldfish-carassius-auratus-freshwater\"\u003eRed Cap Oranda\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/black-moor-goldfish-carassius-auratus-freshwater\"\u003eBlack Moor\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/panda-butterfly-goldfish-carassius-auratus-freshwater\"\u003ePanda Butterfly\u003c\/a\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-super-gold-goldfish-koi-gel-food\"\u003eRepashy Super Gold\u003c\/a\u003e sinking gel, the pearlscale staple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/xtreme-goldfish-pellets-semi-floating\"\u003eXtreme Goldfish Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e soak before feeding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/api-goldfish-pellets-premium-complete-nutrition-fish-food-for-healthy-growth-color\"\u003eAPI Goldfish Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre the pearl scales actually pearls?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat happens if a pearl scale falls off?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do pearlscales get swim bladder problems?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan they live in a pond?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey are best indoors. Pearlscales are slower and more delicate than pond-hardy singletails, and they struggle to compete for food outdoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49047005593819,"sku":"FW4-F7451","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/22057290-9a72-4e00-b898-8467038031c3.jpg?v=1785408196","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/pearlscale-goldfish-carassius-auratus-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}