Celestial Eye Goldfish

1 Breed Introduction

The Celestial Eye Goldfish is a variety of goldfish whose name reflects its most obvious trait: when viewed from above, you can clearly see its upturned eyes. Newly hatched fry actually have normal eyes; the change begins only about one to two months after hatching.

English name: Look on the fish eye

Type: Goldfish, temperate freshwater fish

Origin: China

Breeding: Egg-laying (oviparous)

Water quality: Clear

Care difficulty: Easy

Suitable water temperature: 8 to 23 C

2 Physical Characteristics

The Celestial Eye Goldfish has very special eyes: its eye axis is rotated 90 degrees upward, so when viewed from above you can clearly see its eyes. Because of this unique eye structure, it is best kept in a pond or ceramic tub.

The Celestial Eye’s eyes bulge like those of the Dragon Eye goldfish, but are turned upward, so they are clearly visible from above. Newly hatched fry have normal eyes; about one to two months after hatching the eyes begin to change, rotating 90 degrees upward, though some turn forward or to the side, with upward being best. It is one of China’s distinctive goldfish; when selecting, choose ones with round, large, properly set eyes looking straight up, a round full body, and a broad, even caudal fin.

3 Housing and Environment

Because of its unique eye structure, the Celestial Eye is a favorite of many aquarists. Though it is a goldfish variety and not hard to keep, raising a healthy one still requires a suitable environment.

Natural water (rivers, lakes, seas) has higher dissolved oxygen, 8 to 12 mg/L, but under artificial keeping, light is limited and stocking density is higher, so an air pump is needed to boost oxygen. At low density, run it about 8 hours a day; at high density, run it 24 hours continuously.

It is best to place the tank where it gets 1 to 2 hours of sunlight, using UV light to sterilize and prevent disease, reducing illness. Follow prevention first, medication second, and photosynthesis also keeps the fish’s color vivid and attractive.

4 Feeding

The Celestial Eye is a goldfish variety and, like most goldfish, not hard to keep. It is not picky, accepting both prepared food and live food, though many people overfeed goldfish to death.

Feed nutritious animal foods and white sesame. Animal foods include daphnia, earthworms, mealworms, and caterpillars. Earthworms and white sesame are staples; both red and black earthworms are fine. Do not use cheap commercial goldfish food, which is starch-heavy, poor in nutrition, hard to digest, and pollutes the water, slowing growth and causing disease. Goldfish do not die of overfeeding if the food is digestible. Feed once each morning and afternoon, not too much, only what is finished, or the water will foul.