When most people think of goldfish, they picture just that. A golden-hued fish that we often see in plastic bags, those often cared for poorly in a filterless bowl.
While we don’t condone the treatment of said stereotypical goldfish, it’s a revelation to many that goldfish are a species of fish that come in various shades and appearances.
In the world of Fancy Goldfish, the variety is huge and has a lot of fans in the hobby. And Fancy Goldfish are an entirely other sub-genre from your classic goldfish; let us be clear.
One of the most popular species in the Fancy Goldfish genre is the Black Moor Goldfish (Carassius auratus). It sounds like an anomaly, right? It’s called a goldfish, but actually, this creature is sooty black and has bulging eyes on either side of its head.
They have atypical anatomy from your bog-standard goldfish, and that makes this ornamental type an interesting addition to anyone who may have a suitable tank community to introduce these guys to.
In the trade, they may also be recognized as Black Telescope Fish, Moors, Dragon Eyes, or Demekin fish.
Originating from a wild carp species known as the Prussia Carp, this wild precursor can be found in most areas in the Northern Hemisphere. However, you can’t find the Black Moor Goldfish in the wild! They are derivatives of selective breeding which presents as their characteristic dark looks and telescopic eyes as key features.
Let’s get stuck into why this velvety black creature is so popular in the hobby and discover why a goldfish is never just a goldfish these days.
Black Moor Goldfish Behavior
We’ll discuss more on their appearance later, but let it be known that their ‘dragon eyes’ prohibit them from having great vision.
These fish are slow swimmers as a result, and they need to take care in their environment as they can otherwise injure themselves unexpectedly. Owners need to take care of the decor they provide in the tank for these fish also to prevent any clumsy accidents!
As a result of their inability to swim quickly coupled with poor vision, these fish startle easily. They prefer to be in groups for security and safety.
You should plan on a minimum of a group of three Black Moors for best success.
A small shoal will stick together and reduce their stress levels as they are unlikely to hide in decor because of potential injury to their eyes.
These fish are fond of the central layer in your water column, not hanging around the top or bottom layers. Being peaceful in nature, they prefer to be with their own kind, but you can add in other fancy goldfish of a similar peaceful temperament if you want a more colorful setup.
The idea is to keep them with other slow swimmers who won’t startle them or cause stress and anxiety by quick movements.
They are interesting to watch in the tank too. Considering that they don’t like to hide and are slow movers, they are easy and rewarding to watch almost all of the time.
It is often said that these fish can engage with their owners and will recognize feeding time. They can express excitement, and it’s a joy to behold your fish interacting with you.
Black Moor Goldfish Lifespan
If you cater to the needs of your Black Moor Goldfish, you could expect them to live for around 10 – 15 years. The quality of their tank conditions will impact their lifespan, as always, so you can expect a longer life if you meet their requirements meticulously.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Black Moor Goldfish Appearance
They most often have a velvety black body, although there are some who have a bronze undertone. Those with the bronze will often be more reddish color at maturity and be designated a Red Moor Goldfish in the hobby.
Most often, they are pure black and have a round, tubular body that is thicker in the middle, almost egg-shaped. As juveniles, they are paler, and they will gradually darken as they mature.
The black coloring is due to excess melanin in their scales, which is atypical in fish, and why these fish are prized in the hobby for their unusual looks.
Their trademark is their telescopic or ‘dragon’ eyes which bulge on either side of their head. These eyes will continue to grow as they age.
Visible nostrils are present between their eyes, indicative of their carp heritage.
At full maturity, they can reach 6 – 8 inches in length but have been known to grow even longer depending on the tank size.
These fish also have long-flowing fins. The dorsal and pectoral fins are an average size, but their anal and caudal fins are longer than average and more flowing.
Black Moor Goldfish Habitat And Tank Requirements
Since these fish don’t exist in the wild, the parameters we ascribe to keep them happy is from experience in the hobby.
A point to note here is that this type of Fancy Goldfish is not suited to pond systems.
You will also need to take into account that their fins are long, so they need space to accommodate them despite their compact body shape.
Tank Conditions
You might be forgiven for thinking that a fish with poor eyesight would mind bright lighting, but the reality is that these fish are sensitive to light, and you should stick to natural lighting.
For filtration, you’ll need something powerful as goldfish are known for producing copious amounts of waste. Canister-type filters are the best for keeping the nasties like ammonia and nitrates at bay in your setup.
Although the water temperature for these fish can be quite varied, it’s important to avoid rapid changes in temperature or any fluctuations which can be fatal.
As far as the substrate is concerned, you can do pretty much what you like since they don’t hang around the bottom. Sand, gravel, or even marbles will work well with these fish; just keep things smoother in texture.
Any decor you add needs to be carefully examined for sharp edges. These can be lethal for those visually challenged fish!
Live plants are a great addition to any goldfish tank to assist with the oxygenation of the water. Even though your Black Moor may nibble on the plants, they won’t consume the entire plant.
Good plants to include for these fish are things like Anubias nana, Java Fern, Hornwort, and Marimo Moss Balls. Free-floating Hornwort is also ideal.
Water changes need to be done weekly at least 25 – 30% to keep optimum water quality.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- pH of 6.5 – 7.5
- Water hardness between 5 – 19 dH
- Temperature between 50 – 75ºF (10 – 24ºC)
- Lighting conditions should be natural or standard, avoid bright lighting
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a single Black Moor would be 20 gallons, and for every additional one, you should add 10 more gallons.
Since we don’t advocate that you keep one solo and they enjoy a group of a minimum of three in a tank, you will really need a 40-gallon tank minimum.
Choosing Tank Mates For Black Moor Goldfish
When it comes to finding species appropriate for your Black Moors, you need to consider peaceful and slow-moving tankmates. They can’t escape bullying tactics and will be startled by fast-moving fish, which will only stress these fish out.
Some excellent tank mate pairings for you Black Moor Goldfish that would work well include:
- Fancy Goldfish like Oranadas
- Mollies
- Neon Tetras
- Zebra Danios
- Cherry Barbs
- Dwarf Gourami
- Angelfish
- Glass Catfish
- Kuhli Loaches
- Otocinclus
- Bristlenose Plecos
- Comet Goldfish
Snails and shrimp can be included to clean the tank as they are peaceful and useful for the waste your Black Moors will create also!
Avoid anything aggressive like Cichlids or known fin-nippers as your Black Moor Goldfish flowing fins will be too tempting to pass up.
Feeding Black Moor Goldfish
Black Moor Goldfish are omnivores, and like most goldfish species, they are not picky and will hoover up whatever you present them with for a food source.
You will need to provide a varied diet that includes plant matter as well protein, including fiber, so that your fish don’t get constipation causing serious illness. A Black Moor on the bottom of the tank is not a well Black Moor!
Live and frozen proteins are ideal and can include things like bloodworms, brine shrimp, tubifex, and daphnia.
Like most omnivores, you should offer blanched veggies like spinach, lettuce, and broccoli which will give them essential fiber and plant nutrients.
Sinking pellets or high-quality flakes are also a good option, but you should supplement with higher quality foods already described regularly.
Try to break up their feedings into smaller portions a few times a day to avoid your fish from overeating which can be a problem with goldfish. Allow what they can eat in a few minutes and remove what they can’t afterward, or they will scoff it.
Black Moor Goldfish Common Diseases And Illness
Black Moor Goldfish can have swim bladder issues. If you spot one of your Black Moors outside of his comfort zone in the middle, chances are there are any issues. If you spot one languishing at the bottom of the tank or floating haphazardly at the surface, they have a problem.
Adding in fibrous foods after a 24 absence of feeding can help regulate this.
Velvet disease is another affliction for these fish. It’s a parasite or bacterial infection that presents as a patchy color change on the fish. There are easily accessible medications from reputable suppliers that can help remedy this situation.
What owners need to be hyper-aware of is the delicacy of the eyes on these fish. Even a net can scratch their eyes and create an avenue for disease. They must be handled with extreme care if you are moving them from one location to another.
Breeding Black Moor Goldfish
For any hobbyist looking for an easy breeding project, Black Moor Goldfish are really easy to breed, if not the easiest to sex.
This species will require a separate breeding tank as the parents will inevitably consume the fry or fertilized eggs.
Although males are typically a little bit smaller than females, it’s still difficult to tell who’s who if they aren’t all the same age.
If you increase the water temperature in the breeding tank, you should spot the male courting your female provided you have the right mix of the sexes in the first place.
Typically a female can lay up to 10,000 eggs in one spawn, so be prepared for plenty of room!
Black Moor Goldfish fry will hatch hungry, so you will need to provide ample amounts of food for them to thrive and prevent infighting over the food supply.
The fry will be mature enough after around two months to transfer to the main tank and handle adult food sources.
There is clearly an appeal to having Fancy Goldfish as the hobby can attest. With such a wide variety of these goldfish having been selectively bred for the aquarist, they do make an enchanting option.
If you’re used to dealing with the waste goldfish species can produce, you will do well handing a Black Moor Goldfish and host one of the most unusual colored fish in the hobby.
They don’t require a lot of hard work and live for a long time, so they will potentially reward you with recognition in time as long as you look after them well.
Take a walk on the dark side and try a Black Moor Goldfish school on for size!
