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Wakin Goldfish have a slender body, somewhat similar to Comet Goldfish, but with a double tail (fan-tail). They are a fast swimming variety with their origins dating back throughout Japan’s ornamental fish history. In Japan the fish has been kept for almost 500 years and the word “Wakin Goldfish” actually means “Japanese Goldfish”. Just like all other types of goldfish the Wakin originates from the Chinese Gibel Carp. As detailed in this early, circa 1909 painting by Hugh M. Smith.

We were given a gift of 6 Fish back in the early 2000's, and over a period of years we have been able to produce some truly exquisite varieties of Wakin Goldfish.  

Wakin’s have gained more and more popularity with hobbyists and are easily kept in ponds as well as aquariums. More and more people learn to appreciate their beauty and hardiness. One other reason behind the Wakin Goldfish increase in popularity, as a pond fish, is they tend to have a friendly temperament. If you feed your Wakin Goldfish regularly, you will notice how it comes up and shows itself when feeding time approaches. They do very well in the same pond with Koi and Butterfly Koi.

This variety of Goldfish is fairly difficult to produce in a red and white pattern, as well as the new Calico version, developed here at Blackwater Creek. The major colors of these fish are bright red and crisp white, which can form intriguing color patterns. The Wakin goldfish can be anything from almost completely red to white with just a few red stains. Every Wakin will display an individual color pattern and the fish usually looks most striking when watched from above. Because of the difficulties and the rarity of these “Color Variants”. People sometimes drive long distances, to our farm or our dealers’ locations, to find these fish. We sometimes offer them in our online store when we have some available.

These goldfish can grow very large, and the longest was 18 inches long. The largest specimens of Wakin Goldfish are kept in ponds. You will find most Wakin Goldfish in ponds, not aquariums, since they are superb pond fishes. You can keep your Wakin goldfish in an aquarium as well, as long as you provide it with at least 20 gallons of water. When it comes to Wakin Goldfish, more room is always better, and if you want the fish to grow really large you need to keep it in a pond.

The Wakin goldfish is very hardy and will survive even a cold winter in a pond. If the pond freezes, a hole must be kept open in the ice to allow for oxygen exchange and de-gassing. The Wakin Goldfish will not hibernate, Wakin’s like colder water and you can sometimes see them swimming around under a layer of ice.

Many common aquarium plants are out of the question when you decorate an aquarium for this species. Plastic plants, or pond plants that can be bought in garden centers, are often better choices than plants sold in aquarium shops. Crinum, Elodea, Anubias and Java moss can however survive the cold water and is frequently found in aquarium shops. The java moss is particularly suitable if you want to try breeding your Wakin Goldfish, since it will provide the fry with a place to hide.

The Wakin is not very aggressive, but it is a very fast fish and if you keep it in the same pond with “slower” swimming fishes the slower fish will probably never get a chance to reach the food. Koi, Butterfly Koi, Shubunkin Goldfish and Comet Goldfish are all examples of fast swimming species that will do well together, in a pond, with your Wakin Goldfish. Slower fish should be avoided, such as the:

• Bubble Eye Goldfish
• Black Moor Goldfish
• Celestial Goldfish

You can feed your Wakin Goldfish pretty much any low fat food, including pellets, flakes, fresh vegetables and frozen vegies. If they co-habitat a pond with Koi and Butterfly Koi a good quality Koi diet, such as the line of Aquatic Nutrition’s Koi foods will be fine. It is important to include some vegetable matter in the diet, (the algae growing in a pond is a good source), and to adjust the amount of food according to the water temperature in the pond or aquarium. The large appetite of the Wakin’s also means that any plants, in the pond or aquarium, will be eaten.