22 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
in the goldfish fancy. This is the ‘‘scaleless” variety. These fishes are 
really not without scales, but the scales are of such transparent character 
that they are scarcely observable 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 scaleless 
fishes. Among the scaled fishes these are not found. A further account 
of these colors will be found in the description of the Calico Telescope 
on page 31 and in the chapter on judging Goldfish Competitions, page 43. 
Another important peculiarity of the scaleless type is that they never 
go through the period of being silverfish, but at the age of about six weeks 
commence to develop their permanent colors. Their first color is white, 
sprinkled with small, black specks. A good idea of the final color may 
be had in ten weeks, although as elsewhere remarked, the very finest of 
the calico colors are not fully apparent under two or three years. Scale- 
less fishes have a charm of refinement distinctly their own and make most 
interesting inmates of the aquarium. So transparently scaled are some 
specimens that at the breeding season it is often possible to tell females 
by seeing the eggs through the translucent walls of the belly. The main 
objection to the scaleless goldfish is that the ribs or rays of the fins are 
rather weak. Soon after the fins have attained a high degree of develop- 
ment the fish is no longer able to hold them in a position where they will 
show to advantage. In the majority of instances the dorsal and caudal 
fins (hereafter in this work popularly referred to as “‘tails”) commence 
to droop and sag in from two to three years, while the scaled fish often 
maintains an admirable stiffness of fins for a long life. This we would 
call ten years in a highly-bred fish. Questions are frequently asked 
regarding the length of life of fancy goldfishes, but these are always 
difficult to answer satisfactorily. A large proportion die under the age 
of 6 weeks. Of the remainder there are quite a few which do not develop 
rapidly, always remaining the “runts” of the batch. A few of these drop 
off from time to time during the winter, but in the early spring months 
they, and all other weak fishes, go rapidly, so that very few of the under- 
sized fishes are left by the first of May. Those passing this period are 
generally good until the next spring, when the death toll is rather heavy 
again, but a fair number pass it successfully and they are likely to live 
several years more to an age of from four to six years. Anywhere from 
six to twelve years can be considered a long life for a fancy goldfish, 
although well authenticated instances exceeding this are known. 
