What Goldfish Can Be Kept in Outdoor Ponds? 9 Options!

-- By Carol

Goldfish are among the favorite pets for fish owners because of their colorful appearance and playful personality, along with their adaptability to different environments.

Although many goldfish can live happily in outdoor ponds, some of them are best kept indoors.

Below are some of the goldfish that can be kept outdoors easily.

Table of Contents

Comet Goldfish

The comet goldfish is the most common type of goldfish out there. It is a preferred choice for many fish owners with a pond.

The Comet goldfish is highly adaptable in all types of environments and is perhaps the most resilient in all the varieties of goldfish.

It can survive easily both indoors and outdoors and requires very little maintenance.

There are several defining features of the Comet goldfish that are immediately recognizable. They have beautiful colors, a long slender body, a forked tail, and a vibrant personality.

Because of their unique tails, Comet goldfish are best kept in outdoor ponds or large aquariums.

Shubunkin Goldfish

Shubunkin goldfish is similar to Comet goldfish with extra colors in its appearance.

Furthermore, their scales are a blend of metallic and translucent, which makes them highly sought after.

They have long fins that are quite a sight to watch when the Shubunkin goldfish swims around in the pond. Because of their size, they require an ample amount of space and food.

Shubunkin goldfish are originally from Japan. They are amazing companions for other goldfish species.

While they can eat most food items in their diet, it is recommended to give them a vegetable-based diet as it has more nutrition.

Sarasa Comet Goldfish

Sarasa Comet goldfish needs a huge pond to keep it happy and healthy.

They look quite similar to Koi fish, so much so that a fish owner may get easily confused between these two.

Sarasa Comet goldfish are characterized by their red and gold body with white splashes on them.

They have beautiful fins which are quite thinner than the Comet goldfish.

These goldfish are quite curious and bold. Having a Sarasa Comet goldfish in your pond will definitely impress the onlookers as they like to show off their upright fins and the smoothness of their bodies while they swim.

Fantail Goldfish

The Fantail goldfish has got everything a fish owner could ask for; beauty, low maintenance, and resilience.

They are quite small in size and can live up to 10 years, which is relatively less than other goldfish varieties.

Fantail goldfish have a swirl of beautiful colors, mostly orange, red, and yellow. However, their tail is their most distinctive feature because of which it got its name.

The tail is forked, dividing the halves. One of the halves is on the top of the fin while the other one is at its bottom.

It has a unique appearance that seems like a triangle when looking from it straight above.

Fantail goldfish create a lot of mess when eating their food and release an ample amount of waste.

They like to spend their time in ponds with lots of aquatic plants.

Fantail goldfish are quite hardy and are able to pull through harsh weather conditions. They have very few requirements and can be satisfied quite easily.

Wakin Goldfish

Wakin goldfish is considered to be the ancestor of all goldfish varieties. They are hugely popular with fish owners.

These goldfish have an elongated body and different tail shapes.

The tails can be either single, twin, or even triple butterfly tails. This gives them a unique aesthetic appearance.

Moreover, Wakin goldfish come in lots of beautiful colors of red and white. A triple-tailed red and white Wakin goldfish is highly valued by most fish owners.

Wakin goldfish are highly energetic, and they need a lot of room to move around. It is imperative that fish owners make sure the water quality is kept to the very best.

In proper conditions and care, the size of Wakin goldfish can be up to 12 inches, and they can live for ten years.

Bubble Eye Goldfish

Bubble Eye goldfish is the most visually appealing of all the goldfish. They have their characteristic telescope eyes, which gave them their name.

With their long fins, round body, and aesthetic colors, Bubble Eye goldfish make for an excellent goldfish variety.

They have special scales that reflect the sunlight spectacularly and shine in the water.

Bubble Eye goldfish usually come in orange and white colors with sacs beneath their eyes.

Each sac has a lot of fluid in them, which gives a rather distinct appearance. Unfortunately, these sacs also make them vulnerable to diseases.

Bubble Eye goldfish can also suffer from partial blindness, which makes them prone to injuries too.

Fish owners need to avoid putting sharp objects as they can damage their fins and eyes.

Feeder Goldfish

Feeder goldfish are among the cheapest options for goldfish.

While these goldfish are perfectly suitable for outdoor ponds, there are certain things a fish owner needs to keep in mind.

Feeder goldfish are available almost everywhere. This leads the fish owner to become rather careless in caring for them.

In such situations, Feeder goldfish die off very quickly.

Feeder goldfish also carry some parasites that might cause diseases to be spread to other fishes. Hence, it is important to be very careful when keeping them in your pond.

Unfortunately, many fish owners prefer to keep feeder goldfish in ponds and tanks, which are already overcrowded.

This can lead to an imbalance in the environment and can weaken the immune system.

Ryukin Goldfish

The Ryukin goldfish shares many common elements with the Fantail goldfish.

They are also low maintenance and can readily eat almost anything provided to them, even the aquatic plants in the pond.

If the fish owner is taking proper care of Ryukin goldfish, they can live up to 10 or even 15 years. However, they are rather small in size, almost 6 to 8 inches.

Ryukin goldfish can mingle well with Oranda goldfish, fantail goldfish, or the black moor goldfish.

However, fish owners should avoid putting them with single-tail goldfish like the Shubunkin or Comet goldfish.

Oranda Goldfish

The Oranda goldfish goes a long way to delight its owner. They have a stunning color display and body that can bring a nice aesthetic touch to your outdoor pond.

Oranda goldfish comes in a wide range of colors, from black, red, and chocolate to even blue. Sometimes they also feature red and white with metallic scales.

Oranda goldfish can be easily identified by a protrusion on the top of their heads.

Only when the Oranda goldfish attains full maturity at two years does this growth becomes fully developed.

These goldfish prefer clean and slightly warm water conditions. Hence, fish owners need to be extra careful when taking care of them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keeping Goldfish in Ponds

Can goldfish survive in outdoor ponds?

Goldfish can easily survive in outdoor ponds. They are quite resilient and beautiful, and they make for excellent pets for ponds.

What is the ideal size for an outdoor pond for Goldfish?

Typically speaking, goldfish need a lot of space to move around. Not only are they quite active, but they also eat a lot.

It is recommended to have an outdoor pond of 50 square feet. In case you have a water garden, it should have anywhere between 50 to 500 gallons of water.

What fish make for good companions for goldfish?

Goldfish are quite friendly and peaceful fishes. They can get along well with almost all fish.

As a fish owner, you can put them with minnows, koi fish, mosquito fish, or hi fin sharks.

However, it is important to keep your goldfish away from aggressive fish. Fast swimmers or generally hostile fish can make their lives difficult.

What are the benefits of having an outdoor pond?

There are several benefits of having your goldfish in an outdoor pond.

A pond is naturally bigger than a fish tank; hence it gives a lot of space for your goldfish to move around.

In the summer season, the sunlight will facilitate the growth of algae.

These algae may make your water look green, but they are a good source of food for your goldfish.

Algae also provide extra oxygen for your goldfish.

The overall maintenance of a fish tank is quite tasking. On the other hand, taking care of a pond is relatively easy once you get over the initial difficulty of digging and setting up the pond.

What types of goldfish are best for outdoor ponds?

While goldfish are one of the hardiest fishes, some of their varieties are still most suited for indoor aquariums.

The Comet goldfish, Sarasa Comet goldfish, Fantail goldfish, Wakin goldfish, and Shubunkin goldfish can easily live in outdoor ponds.

The Feeder goldfish and the Bubble Eye goldfish need a lot of care if they are put in an outdoor pond. It is generally recommended to put them in a fish tank indoors.

Conclusion

Goldfish add a lot of beauty and diversity regardless of being put in an outdoor pond or a fish tank.

Even though most of them are low maintenance, some do require extra care.

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