Pom Pom Goldfish

Pompon or Hana Fusa is a type of goldfish that has loose and fleshy outgrowths between the nostrils on each side of the head. The fleshy outgrowth looks like pom poms, which inspired this goldfish’s name.

This cute goldfish is unique and fancy and is considered exotic.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about the pom pom goldfish in as much detail as I can.

So, let’s get started, shall we?

Let’s begin.

A Quick Introduction to the Pom Pom Goldfish

In this section of the article, I will go through a few basic things that you need to know about the pom pom goldfish.

Pom Pom Goldfish Appearance

The pom pom goldfish has a body and shape similar to that of the Oranda or the ​Lionhead goldfish.

However, instead of having a supportive a growth from the head, the pom pom goldfish has nasal outgrowths.

These outgrowths are basically an enlarged nasal septum, and they vary in pompom goldfish.

In some fishes, the outgrowths may even hang a little below the mouth. These outgrowths are a result of selective breeding. These fishes have either nacreous or metallic scalation, may or may not have dorsal fins.

The pompom can be seen in a wide range of colors including silver, orange, yellow, black and white.

The two bubble-like growths start from around the time that they are 18 weeks old, and the fish can easily be recognized by goldfish enthusiasts around this age. It takes several months for the pom poms to develop fully.

Once they become fully matured, the pom pom may even become so large that they can easily get sucked into the fish’s mouth when taking water in!

A fully grown pompom can easily be 4-6” in length, and the fish can live for several years, like any goldfish types.

History Of The Pom Pom Goldfish

According to Chinese, this variety of fish is also known as the ‘Velvet ball.’ 

By Lawrencekhoo 

Historic records from as far back and 1898 have mentioned the pom pom goldfish, which means that the fish has existed longer than that.

The fish was first imported to the United Kingdom in 1936 from Shanghai.

The fish were also displayed at an aquarium in Paris.

In early days, the pom pom goldfish was popular. However, in recent times the fish is rarely seen on display or is for sale.

Temperament and Care for Pom Pom Goldfish

Pom pom goldfish belong to one of the slower swimming goldfish varieties. So, the fish will likely get if you house it with a more speedy species like the shubunkin or the comet.

Because of the two nasal growths on the pom pom goldfish, you should take care of the aquarium décor to make sure that there aren’t any pinch points or sharp corners that can scratch or damage the fish’s nose.

It is not a good idea for first-time keepers to invest in a pom pom as they need a relatively experienced fish keeper who can provide them with adequate care.

Breeding Pom pom Goldfish: The Basics

The good thing about pom pom goldfish is that they don’t have any features that can make breeding a challenging task such as telescoping or upturned eyes. This makes the pom pom one of the easiest exotic goldfish varieties.

The male and female pompom are quite similar regarding appearance, which makes it difficult to tell apart.

Usually, female fish will have a body shape that is slightly slimmer than the male. However, during the mating season, male pom poms gain white tubercles on the gill plates and the edges of the pectoral fins. This helps in telling the sexes apart a much easier task.

Choosing a Pom pom Goldfish for Yourself

The pompom comes in various colors. However, no color is considered desirable above all the others.

When picking out a pom pom fish for yourself, you should look for a healthy and active fish. Keep in mind that the pom poms are slow moving, so, they may all appear sluggish which isn’t necessarily unhealthy.

Another thing you should keep in mind is that the nasal pom poms won’t develop fully until the fish is mature. So, younger fishes will have absent or small pom poms.

Final Words: The Pom Pom Goldfish

Pom pom goldfish is a variety of goldfish that has unique loose and fleshy outgrowths between the nostrils on each side of the head which have pom pom-like appearance, these outgrowths give the fish its name.

The pom pom goldfish belong to the slow-moving variety of goldfish and don’t do well with fast-moving fishes. Tankmate suggestions would be the Bubble Eye Goldfish, The Celestial Eye Goldfish or any other slow swimming Goldfish.