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Contents
Overview
The telescope goldfish is instantly recognizable by its protruding eyes, which stick out from each side of the head like little binoculars. It has a short, rounded body, a dorsal fin and a twin tail that may be short or veiled. The best-known form is the black moor, a velvety all-black fish, but telescopes also come in red, calico and panda (black and white).
Developed in China centuries ago, it is the same species as the common goldfish. The eyes are not there at hatching: they develop after a few months. It is a calm, slow, good-natured fish that stands out in any coldwater aquarium, but its eyesight is poor and its eyes are easily injured, so it needs a setup designed around it.
Care and tank setup
For a pair, provide at least 30 gallons (120 L) with a generous footprint. What sets its care apart from other goldfish is protecting the eyes.
- Risk-free decor: no jagged rocks, pointy driftwood, ornaments with narrow holes or hard plastic plants. Use sand or smooth coarse gravel, rounded stones and hardy live or silk plants.
- Guarded intake: cover the filter intake with a sponge so it cannot suck in an eye or the tail.
- Clean water: eye injuries get infected easily; change 30-50% weekly and keep nitrates low.
- Gentle flow and moderate lighting.
Because it sees poorly, it is slow to find food: keep it only with other telescopes, calm orandas or lionheads, never with comets, commons or fish that nip fins or eyes. A damaged eye can be lost, so watch for swelling or white patches. Like every goldfish, it never belongs in a bowl and must never be released outdoors.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Offer quality fancy-goldfish pellets that sink slowly so it can find them on the bottom, along with blanched, shelled peas, spinach and frozen brine shrimp or bloodworms. Feed in the same spot every time so it learns where to look, and make sure it is actually eating before you remove leftovers.
Breeding
It breeds like other goldfish: in spring, males with breeding tubercles chase females, which scatter sticky eggs among plants or onto a spawning mop. Fry hatch with normal eyes and develop the telescope shape over several months; many will not have well-formed eyes. If you breed them, decide beforehand what you will do with the young.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Telescope goldfish. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) 
Guppy Poecilia reticulata 14 gal (54 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Panda cory Corydoras panda 16 gal (60 L) · 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) 
Otocinclus catfish Otocinclus vestitus 16 gal (60 L) · 70–79 °F (21–26 °C) 
Common goldfish Carassius auratus 79 gal (300 L) · 50–75 °F (10–24 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Telescope goldfish, and why.
- Tiger barb: nips long fins
- Discus: incompatible temperatures
- Clown loach: incompatible temperatures
- Oscar: incompatible temperatures, incompatible temperaments
- Ram cichlid: incompatible temperatures
- Celestial pearl danio: one may eat the other due to size
- Ember tetra: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Neon tetra: one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Telescope goldfish healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Telescope goldfish need?
At least about 120 liters for a group of at least 2 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Telescope goldfish need?
Between 15 and 24 °C: it’s a coldwater species that doesn’t need a heater in a normal home. pH 6.5 to 8.
What fish can live with the Telescope goldfish?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Bronze cory, Zebra danio, Guppy and Platy. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Telescope goldfish be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
