THE GOLDFISH 173 



Colors in Goldfishes. There are two great divisions among fancy gold- 

 fish—the scaled and the so-called "scaleless" classes. The scaled speci- 

 mens are those having a metallic lustre, usually of red, white, olive-gray 

 or black. The great majority of commercially bred stock belongs to the 

 scaled division. The more prized colors in common goldfish are deep 

 red (called "gold"), white (called "pearl") and a combination of the two. 



Those of smoke-color are known as silverfish, their color and metallic 

 lustre somewhat resembling tarnished silver. It is the ancestral carp 

 color, and every "scaled" goldfish first passes through this color period. 

 Breeders call them "uncolored," because they have not yet turned to one 

 of the more desirable colors. Goldfish of the metallic or "scaled" type 

 are liable to change color at any time, the least liable to turn being the 

 white or pearl fishes. In young fishes the turning takes about a month 

 after it starts, but in older ones it may take half a. year. After the first 

 change from "silver," the rule is to progress towards a lighter color, that 

 is, from black to red or from red to white. Exceptions are very rare. It 

 will also be found that the lighter colors are the more persistent in breed- 

 ing, and as these are considered the least desirable, it is well to avoid light- 

 colored fish when it comes time to select breeding stock. 



The interesting patterns of red and black we often see and admire 

 are not permanent. They are turning red. 



Solid black is a color which for some unknown reason is confined 

 exclusively to the telescope goldfish. In breeding telescopes it not infre- 

 quently happens that the abnormal eye development never takes place. 

 These fish may develop any or all of the color peculiarities of their parent- 

 stock except that of being black. In the breeding of fancy goldfish any 

 freak combination of characteristics seems liable to occur, but the writer 

 has never seen a good black fish without telescopic eyes, although a num- 

 ber of reported cases have been investigated. 



We have referred to "scaled" goldfish. The other division, not 

 known to the general public, but which plays a highly important part 

 in the goldfish fancy, is the "scaleless" variety. These fishes are really 

 not without scales, but the scales are of such transparent character that 

 they are scarcely perceptible to the eye. However, they usually show 

 with moderate distinctness in a clear photograph. "Scaleless" fishes do 

 not have the metallic sheen of the ordinary goldfish. The colors are more 

 refined and present a far greater range of variety. The most important 

 difference is the presence of blue and lavender tints. Among the scaled 

 fish these are not found. A further account of these colors will be found 

 in the description of the Calico Telescope on Page 184 and the chapter 

 on Judging Goldfish Competitions, Page 194. Figure number 110 shows 

 an unusually fine specimen of a young scaleless goldfish of the Calico type. 



