Black Moor Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Cyprinidae
About
The black moor is the velvet-black, telescope-eyed form of the fancy goldfish: a deep egg-shaped body, long flowing finnage and eyes protruding on stalks that leave it with famously poor vision. It reaches about 20 cm of body size with the fins on top of that - published figures span 10-25 cm - and lives well past a decade. Because it barely sees and swims slowly it cannot compete for food with quicker fish, and it damages those exposed eyes on sharp decor, so telescope-eyed goldfish should never share a tank with more active varieties and need an aquarium free of sharp or pointed objects. Warm water is often blamed for the black turning metallic orange, but the more usual change is age: the velvet look dulls and rust-coloured patches spread across the belly.
Care
Give one moor 150 L on a 110 cm footprint - PFK asks 120 x 60 cm for three adults - small rounded gravel and nothing sharp, gentle flow, and sinking food placed where it can find it. Only other slow, poor-sighted fancies belong in the same tank.
Diet
Omnivore that finds food by smell and touch more than sight; drop soaked sinking food in a consistent spot and allow extra feeding time.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (38)
Avoid (233)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Breeding tuberclesStrong · only in breeding condition — they vanish out of season
Goldfish and their cyprinid relatives grow small white bumps on the gill covers and leading pectoral rays when they come into breeding condition.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Black Moor Goldfish need?
- A Black Moor Goldfish needs an aquarium of at least 150 litres (39.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 110 cm (43.3 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Black Moor Goldfish need?
- Black Moor Goldfish does best at 10–26 °C (50–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 6–25 °dGH.
- What group size does a Black Moor Goldfish need?
- Black Moor Goldfish is a social species — keep a group of at least 2 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Black Moor Goldfish suitable for beginners?
- Black Moor Goldfish is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.