Goldfish, one of the world’s three most famous ornamental fish, originated in China more than 1,700 years ago. Evolved from wild crucian carp with reddish-yellow coloration, they have been carefully bred over centuries into countless varieties with distinct appearances.

Among them, some breeds stand out as truly rare treasures due to their scarcity, breeding difficulty, and unique ornamental value. Today, let’s explore the Top 10 Most Valuable Goldfish Breeds and uncover what makes them so special.

1. Purple Robe with Red Cap (朱顶紫罗袍)

Features: purple body, black facial features, vivid red head growth, extremely rare

Often regarded as the “king” of goldfish, this variety boasts a deep purple body topped with a bright red head growth. Its eyes, nose membranes, and lips are black, giving it a doll-like face — hence the nickname “baby fish.”
Because only about 0.2% of its offspring inherit the ideal traits, genuine specimens are incredibly scarce. Premium ones can fetch $40,000–70,000 USD, making it one of the rarest goldfish in the world.

2. Double Black Bubble Eye (双挂黑水泡)

Features: jet-black body, four bubble eyes, extremely rare mutation

This breed is famous for its velvety black body and unusual four bubble eyes — two pairs beneath each eyeball. The bubbles grow larger with age, forcing the eyes upward and giving the fish a charming, almost pitiful expression.
Due to its rarity, a single Double Black Bubble Eye can cost around $15,000 USD.

3. Luminous-Scale Butterfly Tail (荧鳞蝶尾)

Features: tri-colored body (black, white, red), shimmering scales, butterfly-like tail

With patterns resembling an ink-wash painting, this goldfish has black, white, and red scales that shimmer even under dim light. Its wide butterfly-like tail makes it especially graceful. Often compared to Japanese Koi varieties like Showa Sanshoku, this breed is prized for its artistic beauty.

4. Red-Crowned Crane Goldfish (鹤顶红)

Features: silver body, bright red crown, symbol of good fortune

Named after the Japanese red-crowned crane, this fish features a snow-white body with a prominent red head growth. Its long, flowing fins resemble crane feathers, and in Chinese culture it symbolizes longevity and prosperity.
Specimens with a perfectly square, vivid red crown are the most valuable.

5. Black Dragon-Eye (墨龙睛)

Features: jet-black body, peacock-like tail, known as “Black Peony”

Dating back to 1592, this is the earliest known black goldfish variety. Its body is entirely black, with a broad tail resembling a peacock display. Individuals that maintain their deep black color throughout maturity are considered true treasures, earning it the nickname “Black Peony.”

6. Black Ranchu (黑兰寿)

Features: round black body, strawberry-shaped head growth, Chinese signature breed

The Black Ranchu is a hybrid between the Ranchu and Lionhead varieties. With a short, rounded body and strawberry-like head growth, it combines the Lionhead’s strong cranial growth with the Ranchu’s elegant curves. High-quality specimens display broad heads and bold proportions, making them highly sought-after by collectors.

7. Calico Ryukin (五花琉金)

Features: pastel blue base, multi-colored scales, striking triangular body

This Japanese hybrid between Ryukin and Calico Telescope goldfish has a plump, triangular body. Its bluish base is decorated with red, black, white, and blue speckles, creating a dazzling mosaic effect.
The butterfly-shaped tail variant is especially admired, making it one of the most popular premium breeds in Japan.

8. Jade-Seal Head Goldfish (玉印头鱼)

Features: red body, white crown-like head growth, elegant contrast

Also known as the White-Crowned Red Lionhead, this breed has a fully red body but a striking white head growth on top, resembling a jade seal. Its color contrast makes it even more eye-catching when kept together with the Red-Crowned Crane Goldfish in the same tank.

9. Phoenix Tail Dragon-Eye (凤尾龙睛)

Features: long flowing fins, phoenix-like swimming posture

Also called the “long-tail telescope,” this fish combines the bulging eyes of the Dragon-Eye with the elegant tail of a phoenix. Its fins are so long they often exceed the body length, trailing like silk ribbons. When swimming, it looks like a phoenix soaring through clouds, earning it widespread admiration.

10. Four-Pompon Goldfish (四绒球)

Features: four colorful nasal pompons, vibrant and playful

A rare variant of the twin-pompon breed, this fish grows four fluffy nasal outgrowths in red, white, or purple. As they sway while swimming, they resemble floating blossoms, making the fish appear both elegant and playful.

Final Thoughts

These top 10 luxury goldfish breeds represent not only the pinnacle of ornamental fish breeding but also a cultural legacy stretching back centuries. They are admired for their beauty, rarity, and symbolic meanings — true living artworks in the aquarium world.

animal tags： goldfish