Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Goldfish > Black Moor Goldfish

Black Moor Goldfish

Family: Cyprinidae

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Carassius auratus auratus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Black Moor Goldfish is basically a black version of the Telescope Goldfish, though the eyes usually don't protrude as far as they do on the Telescope!

   Rather than having the long slender body of the Common Goldfish or the Shubunkins, The Black Moor Goldfish is one of the more rounded or egg-shaped fancy gold fish. The rounded body shape of this beautiful goldfish is enhanced by large bulbous eyes protruding out on the sides of its head, metallic scales that give it a deep velvety black color, and long flowing finnage. Their hardiness and ability to live in cold temperatures makes them ideal pets.They are very popular gold fish and are found in collectors tanks throughout the world.

   The Black Moor is basically a black version of the Telescope Goldfish though its eyes don't protrude quite as far. These eyes have given rise to some descriptive names for this fish, such as the Dragon Eye Goldfish and Black Peony Goldfish. Juveniles are a dark bronze and without the protruding eyes, but as they mature they become black and their eyes begin to telescope. Most Black Moors stay black but their color can change with age, ranging from gray to black, or they can revert to a metallic orange when kept in warmer water. Though they once were available with a beautiful veil-tail, the specimens available today will have either a broad tail, ribbon tail, or butterfly tail.

   Black Moor Goldfish along with two other egg-shaped goldfish, the Fantail Goldfish and the Ryukin Goldfish, are recommended for the beginner, but unlike the Fantail and the Ryukin, the Black Moor must not be kept with highly competitive tank mates. These three varieties of goldfish along with the Common Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, the Shubunkin, are all considered good beginner goldfish. This is because they are hardy and can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day.

   For most of these goldfish, their hardiness and ability to live at colder temperatures makes them ideal for outdoor ponds as well. The Black Moor is the only possible exception to this, not because it lacks hardiness but because of its telescopic eyes. Its eyes cause it to have poor vision so it is not a good competitor for food, and they are subject to injury and infection. None of these hardy fish are really good companions for the Black Moor because they are all too competitive during feeding time. Better tank mates would be the similarly handicapped but less hardy Telescope Goldfish, Celestial Goldfish, and Water Bubble-Eye Goldfish.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Distribution:
   The Goldfish, a wild carp originally known by such names as the Crucian Carp, Gibel Carp, or Golden Carp, was described by Linnaeus in 1758. They originated in Asia; Central Asia and China. These fish inhabit the slow moving and stagnant waters of rivers, lakes, ponds, and ditches feeding on plants, detritus, small crustaceans, and insects.
   In the early 1600's these fish were exported first to Japan and then to Europe and were developed into the wonderful colors and forms of gold fish we see today. Today domesticated goldfish are distributed world-wide.
   The Black Moor Goldfish is a black version of the Telescope Goldfish which was believed to be developed in China in the early 1700's. It was known as the Dragon Eyes or the Dragon Fish. In the later part of the 1700's it was produced in Japan where it is known as the Demekin. The Black Moor is also referred to as the Dragon Eye Goldfish as well as the Black Peony Goldfish and the Black Demekin. It is one of the more than 125 captive bred fancy gold fish varieties.

Status:
   This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List, and presumably there are no wild populations of this captive bred variety.

Description:
   The Black Moor Goldfish is an egg-shaped variety of goldfish. The body is short and stubby and the head has large bulbous eyes protruding out on the sides. It has metallic scales that give it a deep velvety black color and it has long flowing finnage. Most Black Moors stay black but their color can change with age, ranging from gray to black, or they can revert to a metallic orange when kept in warmer water. Juveniles are a dark bronze and without the protruding eyes, but as they mature they become black and their eyes begin to telescope. Though they once were available with a beautiful veil-tail, the varieties available today will have either a broad tail, ribbon tail, or butterfly tail.

Size - Weight:
   Black Moor Goldfish will generally reach about 4 inches (10 cm), though some hobbyist report their Black Moors reaching up to a whopping 10" (25 cm)!

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous, the Black Moor Goldfish will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. To care for your Black Moor Goldfish feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), blood worms, Daphnia, or tubifex worms as a treat. It is usually better to feed freeze-dried foods as opposed to live foods to avoid parasites and bacterial infections that could be present in live foods. Due to the protruding eyes they have poor vision and a harder time seeing their food, so need extra time to feed. When it comes to feeding, they will not thrive well with fast competitive tank mates.
   Black Moor Goldfish are some of the hardier species of goldfish. They are very undemanding of water quality and temperature. They can do well in a fishbowl, an aquarium, or even a pond if the environment is safe and their tank mates are not competitive. Many people will keep goldfish in small one or two gallon bowls with no heater or filtration. But for the best success in keeping goldfish, provide them the same filtration, especially biological filtration, that other aquarium residents enjoy.
   The shape and size of the aquarium is important and depends upon the number of fish you are going to keep. Goldfish need a lot of oxygen and produce a lot of waste.

• A large surface area of water will help minimize goldfish suffering from an oxygen shortage. Surface area is determined by the shape of the tank. For the same volume of water, an elongated tank offers more surface area (and oxygen) than a tall tank. In a fish bowl, filling the bowl to the middle offers more surface area (and oxygen) than filling the bowl to the top. Always provide the maximum amount of surface area.
• Providing a large amount of water per fish will help dilute the amount of waste and reduce the number of water changes needed.
• A general rule of thumb for young fish only is: 1 inch of fish (2.54 cm) per 1 gallon of water. This rule applies only to young fish and is not adequate as they grow. Larger gold fish consume much more oxygen than young fish so maintaining this formula for growing fish will stunt them, and can contribute to disease and even death.
• Keep the tank size and shape in mind when you are buying your fish. To allow for growth, either buy fewer fish than the maximum number of fish (based on the above formula) or be prepared to get a larger tank.

   Because goldfish produce a lot of waste, good filtration is very helpful in maintaining the water quality of the aquarium. Regular weekly water changes of 1/4 to 1/3 is strongly recommended to keep these fish healthy. Be careful when netting these fish, as their eyes are easily damaged.
   Use a gravel substrate. You can add some decor but keep in mind that its eyes are a handicap, and these fish have very poor vision. Make sure that all ornamentation is smooth with no protruding points or sharp edges. Plants would be the best choice but this fish is a digger, so live plants may be uprooted. Artificial plants make a good substitute and silk plants are safer than plastic ones. Other decor, such as smooth rocks or driftwood, should be used sparingly if at all. A cover for the tank is desirable as it reduces evaporation and though they are not prone to jumping, on occasion some gold fish will jump out. Most aquariums come with a cover that includes lighting. It is not essential for goldfish, but will help if you have live plants.
   Goldfish are subject to the same diseases as tropical fish. A couple of the more common problems are Ich, Swim Bladder disease, and external parasites including flukes, lice and anchor worms. To learn about these and other diseases and how to treat them see: Aquarim Fish Diseases & Treatments.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   The Black Moor Goldfish are one of the most hardy varieties of goldfish and can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day. A quick temperature drop can kill them, so if you live in a very cold climate a heater is advisable.
   Temp: Goldfish are a cold water fish and will do best at temperatures between 65 - 72° F (18°- 22° C)
   Hardness: 5 - 19° dGH
   Ph: 6.0 to 8.0

Social Behaviors:
   Goldfish are very social animals and thrive in a community. Not only are they a great community fish but they are great scavengers as well. The Black Moor Goldfish, along with the Telescope Goldfish and the Celestial Goldfish, are all visually handicapped. They cannot readily compete for food with other types of goldfish so should may not fare well if housed with them, but they will do well housed together. It is really not necessary to add other scavengers or other bottom feeders to the aquarium when you have goldfish.

Sexual Differences:
   Although is it impossible to sex Goldfish when they are young and not in breeding season, the male is usually smaller and more slender that the female. In the breeding season the male has white prickles, called breeding tubercles, on its gill covers and head. Seen from above the female will have a fatter appearance as she is carrying eggs.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Buy Black Moor Goldfish From LiveAquaria.com

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Black Moor Goldfish are egg layers that spawn readily in the right conditions. See Breeding Freshwater Fish - Goldfish for more information on breeding Goldfish.

Availability:
   The Black Moor Goldfish is readily available and is fairly inexpensive.

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Latest Comments
Hi, I have a Black Moor and its name is Black Jack. And I'm very young and would really like to know how to breed them. I plan to get more Black Moors and plan to breed them. Please help. By the way, awesome site! Iloveblackmoors 2008-11-16
Well this helped me so much being able to read thru these comments, I was starting to freak out because my Black moor was starting to turn orange on the lower half of his body. I didn't know if he was sick or if it was the new food we got. Now that I know that it is normal I'm excited to see what else happens. I was wondering if he will turn completley orange or other colors. butterflymamma 2008-10-22
Yes this is a great way to learn about your moor goldfish. However if the lady at walmart knew, or anyone for that matter, that when I put my black moor in the tank with my goldfish, three to be exact, that I would wake up one less I would have seperated the fat fart. Even fatter now, he ate my biggest out of the three. However I have now seperated him and am very interested to see if he can entertain me and change colors. His name is RUDE DUDE and he has a huge appetite, besides fish. He eats several times a day. He is cute, but will have to live a lonely life... SHEENAPATTERSON 2008-10-08
Well awhile ago I put up on here I got a black moor, and his/she with its tanks mates is doing just fine. But one thing, it's turning a nice orangish/goldish color on the top spine area with black still, and on the fins and mid to bottom of its body its turning that color! Looks awesome! Asian Fisherman5893 2008-09-23
I just got (today) a Black Moor and a very colorful Shubunkin. And with two tank mates, pleco and a cory, all four are doing fine as of now. The two new mates have adapted very well and are just eating away at the left over food. The Shubunkin is about 7 inches and the Black Moor is at about 4 inchs. Both are very hardy eaters and the way things are it is a nice home for them both. I will have a new tank up soon and all my fish will be in a nice home to roam around in without any problems. Asian Fisherman5893 2008-09-16
Some of the coolest comments:
Hello, I don't technically have a moor, but I do have two "black" pandas, and they have telescopic eyes as well. My one true panda is Chubbs and I believe she is living true to her name as she is now the biggest in the tank, and likes to bully her tankmates around on occasion. My other "panda" is Angel and she was all white except for a wee bit of black on her eyes and on the tips of her fins. The food I am feeding them is great and she has developed two orange spots on her lateral fins. They are in a tank with another fancytail goldfish who is all orange and whose body shape makes her waddle as she swimms so she has been dubbed Ducky. I had some goldfish years ago and switched to tropical, but you just can't get the personality from tropical fish like goldfish. Only my Bettas and catfish come close! Nat 2007-02-12
Our black moors name is Stubs and he is the newest member of our 55 gallon goldfish tank. He is smaller than the other fish but he seems to be fitting in rather nicely. Stubs is the star of the tank. He may be small but he is fiesty and friendly. He does not take any guff from the other fish and he is always swimming with one of the others. He seems to be very social and learns quickly. We got a feeding ring to control their food a bit better and he figured it out before any of the others. Now he is taking food right from my fingers. He is not scared of me at all. He is by far the most entertaining fish I have ever had and I have had many fish. Tracy 2005-05-04
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
Hi, I LOVE Black Moors! Awesome Site! Olivia 2008-11-16
This site is great! I'm very pleased to learn what it takes to keep my Black Moor Fish happy and healthy. I will be checking back here anytime I have a "fishy" question. leviathon713 2008-11-05
Hi! I'm about to get a goldfish and I am VERY excited! I had a gold fish when I was about 5 and it lasted about two years. I have done A LOT of research and I know what I'm in for. Your website has helped me HEAPS and if I get my gold fish I will for sure be a regular visitor and comment poster. Now, I know that fish bowls aren't the ideal housing for a goldfish but I have an absolutely MASSIVE fish bowl which I just HAD to have. I have estimated that it takes over 21 liters probable about 30 liters. I have some really nice, natural gravel, and I will get some weed soon. Though I would like to know what sort of lighting goldfish like. I am hoping to keep it in my bedroom which is a softly lit room and doesn't get too bright. I am not exactly sure which type of goldfish I'll get but I am leaning towards a black moor. I have a bit of exprince from when I was 5 and lot from the classroom goldfish at school and I also have a goldfish enthusiast across the road from me who owns goldfish that are over 7 years old! If you have any answers to my questions or tips on which goldfish types are good or other advice please share. Thank you! Alii 2008-10-31

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Author: David Brough. CFS.

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