Jenis Ikan Emas Hiasan: Ryukin, Bubble Eye, Wakin & Other Goldfish Types
There are two main jenis ikan emas (types of goldfish) in Malaysian shops: slim single-tail or long-bodied goldfish such as comet, shubunkin and wakin, which are hardy, fast and pond-friendly, and fancy goldfish such as ryukin, oranda, ranchu, pearlscale, bubble eye and celestial, which have round bodies and double tails and are best kept in tanks. Within the fancies, the eye-mutation types (bubble eye, celestial, telescope) are the most delicate. The table below sorts them by how well they handle Malaysian heat, ponds and community tanks.
All of these are ikan emas hiasan, ornamental goldfish (Carassius auratus), not the food fish sold under the same name.
Jenis Ikan Emas at a Glance
| Type | Body / tail | Heat tolerance* | Pond? | Beginner? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comet / common | Slim, single tail | Good | Yes | Yes | Fast, grows large |
| Shubunkin | Slim, single tail, calico | Good | Yes | Yes | Blue-calico colouring |
| Wakin | Slim body, double tail | Good | Yes | Yes | Japanese pond goldfish |
| Fantail | Egg-shaped, double tail | Fair | Shaded, careful | Yes | Simple fancy, no head growth |
| Ryukin | Deep body, high back | Fair | Not ideal | Yes | Robust fancy, can be pushy |
| Oranda | Round, wen on head | Fair | No | Yes, with care | Hood needs clean water |
| Ranchu / lionhead | Round, no dorsal fin | Fair to poor | No | Intermediate | Poor swimmer |
| Pearlscale | Ball-shaped, domed scales | Fair to poor | No | Intermediate | Scales lost don't regrow raised |
| Telescope / black moor | Protruding eyes | Fair | No | Yes, with smooth decor | Poor eyesight |
| Bubble eye | Fluid sacs under eyes, no dorsal | Poor | No | No | Sacs tear easily |
| Celestial | Upturned eyes, no dorsal | Poor | No | No | Can't see food well |
*Relative to each other. All goldfish prefer water below about 28°C and need strong aeration in Malaysian homes.
Single-Tail and Long-Bodied Goldfish
Comet and common goldfish
These are closest to the wild form. They are tough, fast, and can grow well past 20 cm. That makes them a poor choice for a 2-kaki tank but a good pond fish. They handle warm water better than fancies because their slim bodies swim efficiently in lower oxygen.
Shubunkin
A single-tail goldfish with calico (blue, red, black and white) colouring and nacreous scales. Care is the same as comet goldfish.
Ikan emas wakin
The wakin is a Japanese variety with a slim body like a comet but a double tail. It is one of the best goldfish for Malaysian outdoor ponds and large tanks: hardy, active and colourful (usually red and white). Browse wakin goldfish if you're stocking a pond. Keep wakin with other fast goldfish or koi-sized pond fish, not with slow fancies.
Fancy Goldfish for Tanks
Ikan emas ryukin
The ryukin has a short, deep body with a pronounced hump behind the head and a long double tail. It is one of the hardiest fancies and a good first choice for beginners who want the "fancy" look. Ryukin are lively and can bully slower types at feeding time. See ryukin listings.
Oranda
The goldfish with the raspberry-like hood. Popular colours include red cap, calico and chocolate. It needs clean water to keep the wen healthy. Our oranda care guide goes into wen growth and pricing.
Ranchu and lionhead
Both lack a dorsal fin and have a rounded back; ranchu has a more curved back and shorter tail, lionhead a more pronounced head growth. They are slow, wobbly swimmers, so keep them in shallower, gently filtered tanks.
Pearlscale
Ball-shaped with raised, pearl-like scales. Lost scales grow back flat. Pearlscales are prone to buoyancy problems, so feed sinking food.
Telescope and black moor
Telescope-eyed goldfish have eyes on short stalks. Black moors are the black form and are fairly sturdy. Their eyes are vulnerable, so use smooth decor and no sharp rocks.
Delicate Types: Bubble Eye and Celestial
Bubble eye goldfish
The bubble eye goldfish has large, fluid-filled sacs under each eye and no dorsal fin. The sacs can tear on decor, filter intakes or when other fish nip them. A torn sac can regrow over time but is an infection risk. They need:
- A bare or soft-sand tank with no sharp ornaments
- A sponge-covered filter intake
- Tank mates only of the same slow type (bubble eye or celestial)
- Very clean water
Browse bubble eye goldfish only if you can provide this gentle setup.
Celestial
Eyes turned to face upward, no dorsal fin. Celestials can't see well in front of them, so they lose out at feeding time with other goldfish. Keep them with bubble eyes or alone.
Which Goldfish for Your Setup?
| Your setup | Best types |
|---|---|
| Outdoor pond, partial shade | Comet, shubunkin, wakin |
| 2-kaki tank, first goldfish | 2× ryukin or 2× fantail or 2× oranda |
| 3-kaki display tank | Oranda, ryukin, ranchu, pearlscale (similar speeds together) |
| Gentle species tank | Bubble eye, celestial, telescope |
| Hot room with no fan | Reconsider goldfish; choose tropical fish instead |
Don't mix fast single-tails with fancies. The slim fish eat everything first and the fancies go hungry or get nipped. Tank sizing and filtration are covered in our goldfish care guide and our tank size guide.
Goldfish and Malaysian Heat
Every goldfish type would rather be cooler than a Malaysian living room. Long-bodied types cope best; round, compact fancies tire faster in warm, low-oxygen water. For any goldfish tank:
- Run an air pump all day and night
- Keep the tank out of direct sunlight
- Use a cooling fan when water regularly goes above 29–30°C
- Do 30–50% water changes weekly with anti klorin-treated tap water
Ponds have their own heat issue: shallow ponds in full sun can overheat in the afternoon. Provide shade over at least part of the surface.
Buying Goldfish Online in Malaysia
Check each listing for size, real photos or representative photos, the seller's location, and delivery or self-collect options. Delicate types such as bubble eye travel worse than ryukin or wakin, so ask the seller how they pack them. Our guide to buying live fish online covers what to do when the box arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ikan emas jenis apa yang paling mudah dijaga?
Ryukin, fantail dan oranda sesuai untuk pemula yang mahu ikan emas fancy dalam akuarium. Untuk kolam, wakin, comet dan shubunkin paling lasak.
Boleh campur ikan emas bubble eye dengan jenis lain?
Tidak digalakkan. Kantung mata bubble eye mudah koyak dan ia lambat semasa makan. Lebih baik campur dengan bubble eye lain atau celestial sahaja.
What is the difference between ryukin and oranda?
A ryukin has a pointed head with a tall hump behind it and no head growth. An oranda has a rounder back and a fleshy wen (hood) on its head.
Which goldfish can go in a pond in Malaysia?
Slim, fast types: comet, shubunkin and wakin. Give the pond partial shade and aeration, and never release goldfish into rivers or drains.
Do bubble eye sacs grow back?
A torn sac can slowly refill, but it is often uneven and the wound can become infected. Prevention (smooth decor, covered intakes) is better than cure.
Compare ryukin, bubble eye, wakin and all goldfish from sellers across Malaysia on FishyHub, with prices in RM.