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Goldfish Realms

COMING SOON

What Will You Discover?

Step beyond the surface and into Goldfish Realms—a dazzling new gallery where shimmering koi, surreal landscapes, and dreamlike habitats create a world unlike anything you’ve seen before. Glowing waters. Twisted tales. Scales that sparkle like treasure. This is not your average fish tale—this is a portal into something truly unforgettable.

Bubble Eye Bubble Eye

Bubble Eye

The bubble eye (Carassius auratus auratus) is a unique dorsal-less goldfish known for its upward-facing eyes and delicate, fluid-filled cheek sacs.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

3 to 6 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

The eyes of the bubble eye goldfish are forced upwards from pressure caused by the fluid sacs.

Lionchu (without Dorsal Fin) Lionchu (without Dorsal Fin)

Lionchu (without Dorsal Fin)

The lionchu (Carassius auratus auratus) is a Thai-bred hybrid of the lionhead and ranchu, known for its larger body, lack of dorsal fin, and head growth.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

Up to 6 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

The lionchu lacks a dorsal fin and has fanned twin tails.

Black Moor Black Moor

Black Moor

The black moor (Carassius auratus auratus) is a popular goldfish known for its deep black color, rounded body, and protruding telescopic eyes. Black moors can grow quite large and thrive in both aquariums and outdoor ponds.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

4 to 8 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

The black moor goldfish is a black variant of the telescope goldfish.

Ryukin Ryukin

Ryukin

The ryukin (Carassius auratus auratus) is a hardy goldfish with a pointed head, tall dorsal fin, and a distinctive hump behind the head. It features flowing fins and can have triple or quadruple-lobed tails, sometimes twice as long as its body.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

6 to 8 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

The body of the ryukin goldfish is taller than it is long.

Ranchu (without Dorsal Fin) Ranchu (without Dorsal Fin)

Ranchu (without Dorsal Fin)

The ranchu (Carassius auratus auratus) is a goldfish known for its egg-shaped body and lack of dorsal fin. Bred from lionhead goldfish, ranchus are recognized by their rounded form and distinctive head growth, or "wen."

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

6 to 8 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

The backs of the ranchu goldfish are very arched, curving sharply from their head down to their tail.

Red Cap Oranda Red Cap Oranda

Red Cap Oranda

The red cap oranda (Carassius auratus auratus) is a goldfish known for its signature "wen," a raspberry-like head growth that begins developing around 3 to 5 months of age. Originally bred in China and refined in Japan, this fish features flowing fins and comes in colors like red, white, black, and blue.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

8 to 12 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

Oranda goldfish are believed to date back to the 1500s during China’s Ming Dynasty.

Oranda (with Dorsal Fin) Oranda (with Dorsal Fin)

Oranda (with Dorsal Fin)

Oranda goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) are known for their distinctive head growth, called a wen, which gives them a unique, bumpy appearance. They come in many colors and tail shapes and are among the most popular goldfish in North America.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

6 to 12 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

Oranda goldfish originated in Japan and China in the late 1700s.

Telescopes Telescopes

Telescopes

The telescope goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus), also known as the “google eye,” is easily recognized by its large, bulging eyes. These striking eyes begin developing about a month after hatching and can take up to three months to fully protrude.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

4 to 8 inches

Diet

Insects, plants, algae, zooplankton, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

Although they have unique looking eyes, telescope goldfish have very poor vision.

Koi, Small Butterfly Koi, Small Butterfly

Koi, Small Butterfly

Butterfly koi (Cyprinus carpio) are long-finned ornamental koi with graceful, flowing fins resembling butterflies in motion.

Conservation Status

Domesticated

Size

12 to 15 inches.

Diet

Insects, algae, aquatic plants, worms, and crustaceans

Did You Know?

Butterfly koi have an average lifespan of about 25-35 years!

Koi, Large Assorted Koi, Large Assorted

Koi, Large Assorted

Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) are colorful ornamental carp bred in Japan and admired for their beauty, symbolism, and longevity. They thrive in clean, shaded outdoor ponds.

Conservation Status

Domesticated

Size

36 inches or more

Did You Know?

Koi are prone to sunburn.

Diet

Insects, algae, aquatic plants, worms, and crustaceans

Koi, Small Standard Koi, Small Standard

Koi, Small Standard

Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) are colorful ornamental carp bred in Japan and admired for their beauty, symbolism, and longevity. They thrive in clean, shaded outdoor ponds.

Conservation Status

Domesticated

Size

12 to 15 inches

Diet

Insects, algae, aquatic plants, worms, and crustaceans

Did You Know?

Koi’s wild ancestor, the Amur carp, is vulnerable due to habitat loss and genetic pollution.

Koi Koi

Koi

Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) are colorful carp bred in Japan and admired for their beauty, symbolism, and longevity. They thrive in shaded outdoor ponds.

Conservation Status

Domesticated

Size

22 to 26 inches

Diet

Insects, algae, aquatic plants, worms, and crustaceans

Did You Know?

With over 100 varieties in vivid colors and patterns, koi are social fish that symbolize love, luck, and prosperity in Japanese culture.

Shubunkin Shubunkin

Shubunkin

The shubunkin (Carassius auratus) is a single-tailed goldfish known for its calico coloring, a speckled mix of white, orange, and black. This active swimmer thrives in spacious ponds. Unlike wild carp, shubunkins lack mouth barbels.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

12 to 14 inches

Diet

Worms, plants, and small crustaceans

Did You Know?

Shubunkins are often called “Harlequin” or “Speckled” goldfish due to their mottled appearance.

Comet Goldfish Comet Goldfish

Comet Goldfish

Comet goldfish (Carassius auratus) are fast-swimming freshwater fish known for their long forked tails that resemble a comet streaking across the sky. Bred in the late 1800s, they are a hybrid variant of goldfish descended from the Prussian carp.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Size

12 to 14 inches

Did You Know?

Comet goldfish can live from 15 to 20 years!

Diet

Pellets, Freeze dried shrimp, various vegetation

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

Rio Amazon

Step into one of the oldest living ecosystems on the planet to discover arapaima, piranhas, caimans, and more!

Meet the Species
  • Rio Amazon

    Rio Amazon

    Step into one of the oldest living ecosystems on the planet to discover arapaima, piranhas, caimans, and more!

    Meet the Species
  • Ocean Wonders

    Ocean Wonders

    Be mesmerized by fish, camouflaged creatures, rare orange lobsters, and much more!

    Meet the Species
  • Tropical Rainforest

    Tropical Rainforest

    Come face-to-face with amphibians like axolotl, iguanas, and other reptiles of the rainforest!

    Meet the Species
  • Friendship Flats

    Friendship Flats

    Make a new friend and reach out to a ray as they glide through this tropical lagoon.

    Meet the Species
  • Planet Jellies

    Planet Jellies

    Immerse yourself among hundreds of otherworldly jellies and experience their underwater planet like never before.

    Meet the Species
  • Penguin Playhouse

    Penguin Playhouse

    Embrace your silly side and discover the playful personalities of endangered African penguins in this unique habitat.

    Meet the Species
  • Goldfish Realms

    Goldfish Realms

    This is not your average fish tale—this is a portal into something truly unforgettable.

    Meet the Species
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Swirling Pinstripe backdrop

Woah! The aquarium sounds like alotl fun! But what are you doing all the way down here with the axolotls – some of the most secretive salamanders in the world?!

Did you know the spotted salamander is the state amphibian of South Carolina? It earned the title in 1999 thanks to a campaign led by a class of Spartanburg third graders.