Crown Pearlscale Goldfish small

On first sight of the pearlscale goldfish, one is struck by their unique beauty.

Lustrous, pearly scales; a rounded, plump shape; flowing fins; and large, expressive eyes give this fish a look like no other.

They are a developed goldfish species, first seen in China and then further developed in Japan around the 1950s.

Their unique shape leads to some interesting common names, including the golf ball or ping pong goldfish.

Good looks aside, these fish are peaceful and want nothing more than to cruise around exploring their tank and maybe dig a little to search for food.

Crown Pearlscale Goldfish are easy to care for; however, there are some things to be aware of before bringing one home to ensure you have the right environment for them to thrive.

Read on for information on setting up your tank the right way and how to feed this wonderful fish properly.

Crown Pearlscale Goldfish are considered a “fancy goldfish” breed in the Cyprinidae family.

The first thing you may notice is that these fish have deeply rounded belly that grows even more so as they age.

This belly is covered with nacreous scales, which are a combination of translucent and reflective tissues.

The scales give off a pearl-like gleam and lend the breed its name. Deposits of calcium carbonate give the scales a raised look.

Young Crown Pearlscale Goldfish do not have large bellies and unique scales at first.

Easily mistaken for fantail goldfish at this point, they do not develop round bellies and pearly scales until they are around eight months old.