Tamasaba

Breeding season is all but over but don't tell that to our new tamasaba goldfish. If you have every visited Niigata, Japan to see Nishikigoi you probably have seen a small pond or aquarium with tamasaba goldfish. Sometimes the koi breeders put the large tamasaba with their koi. Their bodies are similar to ryukin but they have a long single tail. Many years ago we had some tamasaba with our koi that were at least a foot long. We have been trying to bring back tamasaba on our annual koi buying trip with no luck. It has been difficult to find a breeder that has the proper paperwork to export them. The tamasaba pictured here were a gift from a friend.

As soon as they were put into the breeding tank with the mop they started laying eggs. The fry are HUGE, compared to our other lionhead fry. We can't wait for them to grow up.