Celestial Goldfish Care Guide
The celestial eye is a dorsal-finless fancy goldfish whose eyes turn permanently upward, with very impaired sight requiring specialist care.
Overview
The celestial eye is a fancy goldfish with an elongate, egg-shaped body, no dorsal fin and a distinctive pair of telescope eyes turned vertically so the pupils appear to gaze skyward. The upward-focused eyes leave it with very limited vision.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Carassius
- Scientific name: Carassius auratus (Celestial variety)
Origin
The celestial eye is a selectively bred ornamental form of the goldfish Carassius auratus, arising in the 18th century as a mutation of the telescope goldfish; the earliest documentation appears on a Chinese scroll dated to 1772. Young fish develop the vertical, near 'cross-eyed' gaze within about six months of hatching, and typically show metallic orange-red and white colours.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 10-22 °C (50-72 °F)
- pH: 6.5-8.0
- GH: 5-18 °dGH
- Adult size: 12-18 cm
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
The celestial is an omnivore. Because its upward vision makes it unable to compete with vigorous breeds for food, meals should be offered where it can find them, roughly twice daily in measured portions of goldfish flakes or sinking pellets, frozen foods and blanched vegetables.
Compatibility
Despite their eye placement, celestials are described as active and agile swimmers, but their upward vision means they cannot compete with more vigorous goldfish at feeding time. They are best housed separately from faster or more aggressive breeds, with other gentle, vision-impaired fancy goldfish. Sharp tank décor must be avoided because the large eyes are vulnerable to injury, and cool water is preferred.