Wakin

Looks how to spot one

Scaled fish with metallic scales, a long streamlined body and usually a double (twin) tail

A long, streamlined goldfish that keeps much of the shape of its wild carp ancestors. Most wakin have a double tail and a paired anal fin, though in Japan single-tailed and three- or four-lobed tails are also counted as wakin. It is essentially a common goldfish body paired with fancy-style twin fins.215

Personality what they are like

Energetic and spirited, close in character to the wild form. Wakin are enthusiastic eaters and are best kept with fish of a similar size and speed.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. A strong, fast swimmer that does best with plenty of open space, ideally a pond once fully grown.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

A coldwater fish that normally needs no heater; about 16 to 21 C suits single-tailed goldfish, and pH guidance ranges from 6.0 to 8.0 (FishBase) to 7.0 to 8.4 (Aqueon). Good filtration and regular partial water changes with dechlorinated water are part of routine care.678

Home where they are happiest

Plenty of room: about 75 litres (20 US gallons) per adult is a common guideline, and FishBase gives a minimum tank length of 100 cm for the species. Fast single-tailed goldfish do especially well in a well-kept garden pond once mature, and in temperate climates they can stay outdoors all year.673

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivores. Offer a goldfish-specific pellet as the staple, which suits their need for less protein and more carbohydrate than many fish foods. Add chopped vegetables such as peas or spinach and small amounts of daphnia or brine shrimp as treats. Feed two or three small meals a day, giving only what is eaten within two to five minutes.93

Company who they like around

Sociable and peaceful with similar-sized fish; FishBase suggests groups of five or more goldfish. Best kept with other fast, single-tailed goldfish such as common goldfish, comets and shubunkins, or in a pond, rather than with slow fancy twin-tailed types.7610

The story where it all began

The wakin traces back to red mutant carp kept in China and reached Japan during the Muromachi period. Its name, meaning 'Japanese goldfish', set it apart from varieties that arrived later in the Edo period. It is regarded as the prototype from which twin-tailed fancy goldfish such as the ryukin, ranchu and oranda were developed.125