When looking at small ryukins, is there a noticable difference in the finnage between broadtail and short tail ryukins? I'd like to get two small ryukins for my tank, but I want to make sure I get the broadtail. I've never really paid attention to ryukins in the lfs (always too busy looking at orandas ), so I'd like to be sure of what I'm getting before I fork over the money.

Most decidedly - you can see the difference at about 2 weeks of age.

A "Broadtail" is a tail that has a flat back.....kinda like a triangle. The point of the triangle is at the base of the tail where it attaches to the fish. The back of the tail is the flat, broad base of the triangle. This "flat" back is the definition of "Broadtail". The bigger the tail, the better. The fins on a broadtail are typically much larger and longer than average.

A "Standard" tail is like the boradtail in the fact that it is 90% divided, but the tail should be 3/4 to 1 1/2 times as long as the body of the fish, with rounded lobes at the back and moderate "forking". That means that the fish's tail has lobes - or it is shaped somewhat like a modified heart - the point of the "heart" is joined to the body and the rounded bumps are the back fins. The lobes are not as rounded as a standard heart, though.

In a "Short-tail" the tail is the same as the "Standard" tail, but is is 1/3 to 1/2 as long as the body of the fish.

All other aspects of the fish are pretty much the same - the same deep body and muscular hump - double if the fish is really nice.



I LOVE Ryukins.

Here....
Sorry about the pooir quality of the photos....

The calico is "Sterling", a Broadtail Ryukin

The red and whites are "Vincent and Dominick" - Standard Tail Ryukins.

The Black and WHite is "Toby" - a short tailed Ryukin

I cannot seem to get Toby's photo to load!!!

I will try again....

Hmmm..... this photo loaded. It is an older photo of Toby - you can still see the "short tail". He is a lot bigger, now.

Thank you Daryl! The photos and description helped alot. I never really paid that much attention to them before, but I'm finding myself sort of drawn to them after looking at photos here on Koko's. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for them when I go back to Mobile.

Sterling is a beauty! How big is he and how old? His fins are wonderful...that's the look that I'd like to have.

*sighs dreamily at the picture of Sterling*

Calicos are my favorite too... He is gorgeous

Wow~Sterling is gorgeous! Now my apolgies for not knowing any other way to put it....is he a stud?

He has fathered several thousand fry..... last year. This year, my eldest fry are a cross back using those fry - so I suppose you could call Sterling a "grandfather".

He chases the ladies - but with sedate and distinguished attention - and has never damaged a fin - either his lady love's or his own.

Such a gentleman!

Oh my, that's so romantic! Sterling sounds like sort of a "Sean Connery" of the fish world to me.

Yup - and "Chief" can be compared to a pro-hockey player when he is in "the mood"..... he body checks with abandon!

I wish he would take lessons from Sterling.

So - what should Chief's name be?

Sterling is the best finned fish I may have ever seen. As far as chief I think you should pick out a cool last name of a hockey player and name him that. Since you describe him checking the females like a NHL player. How about Domi, Gretzky, Belfour, Sundin, Modano etc.

Chief is amazing, too!! You have yourself some beautiful fish there, and I just know the fry are going to be stunning from both of those males.

My ryukin is a meanie o.o

excellent thread on the differences on the tails! Thanks for the info!

zandy your fish is not being mean in the sense that we know it. He is just doing what he was created to do and what is natural for him to do. Even Daryl mentions above that Chief is aggressive to, but doesn't mean he is trying to be mean. I know it has to be frustrating for you though.

What about ryukins with really long flowing lobed fins?

No problem with that they're very common

Thats what athena is, haha.
She's such a funny girl, and her tail is massive in comparison to her body. I happen to like that look!

In SOME places ribbon-tailed (there are many names for a long flowing lobed tail) Ryukins are very common. In many countries, they are so common that they are not even considered to be a proper conformation for a goldfish.

Just a couple of years back, I would several awards with one - for it was the "most unusual" fish ever seen - they are sooooo uncommon around here! Go figure.

(It was NOT considered a "Ryukin" though....)

What made your winning fish not considered a ryukin? What was it considered?

My ryukin, Polaris, is the first that I've seen in any local fish stores with the really long flowing fins and I just fell in love with her immediately. I really like the deep body combined with the long flowing fins. She's still a baby, I'm really excited for her to grow up and just have crazy finnage!