🥇 Panda Telescope – A Very Unusual GoldFish

Goldfishes are the most colorful and widely known fishes in any aquarium. A fancy variant of the ever-so-popular goldfish is the panda telescope goldfish. They are characterized by their gorgeous black and white-colored pattern and big, prominent eyes.

Scientifically known as “panda moors”, the panda telescope is a heavily hybridized goldfish variety. Similar to other goldfish varieties, this is also a cool water fish and should be strictly kept inside cool water only. The panda telescope fishes are a product of year after year of selective breeding.

If you are looking to know more about or buy the panda telescope goldfish, you have landed at the right place. In this guide, we are digging deep into the characteristics, features, diet, breeding conditions and much more that’ll make maintaining the panda telescope an easy-breezy affair!

The panda telescope can manage in both aquarium and pond environments. As per the temperature required, they are hardy in nature. They can have a reasonably long lifespan if they are given extensive care. They can be easily caught by the predators because of their weak eyesight so they need to be protected.

They can be easily identified through their distinctive black and white pattern and prominent eyes. The younger panda goldfishes feature bronze-colored tails and they develop big, bulgy eyes as they grow. A little more mature fishes can be found with a velvety look which they lose with their growing age.

The Panda Telescope goldfish are easily identified with a characteristic black-and-white color pattern and protruding eyes. The young ones resemble bronze fantails and their protruding eyes gradually develop with age. And the mature fish sport a velvet appearance. Although they may lose this velvet-like appearance with increasing age. They can even lose their panda coloration with age, and with age, they may become orange and white or any other color combination.

Panda Telescope | Panda Goldfish Origin

The ancestry of this goldfish variant can be traced back to East Asia where they were farm bred and mass-produced in fish farms. These goldfishes get their color by means of cross-breeding which results in these stunning colors.

In recent times, you can find goldfishes living in aquariums throughout the world. Another variant of this goldfish that features a long veiled tail can be found in China and Japan.

Panda Telescope Goldfish Care

Panda Telescope fish require the same amount of care as other varieties of telescope fishes do. All you need to ensure is clean, hygienic water, sufficient space to move and grow and a well-balanced diet.

However, do keep in mind that panda telescopes are a bit more delicate than their counterparts due to their bulgy eyes which can easily get damaged. So you will have to pay special attention to the tools and decoration you are using at the bottom of your fish tank as anything sharp like a rock can easily cut through their eyes.  If you have a busy schedule you might also consider investing in an automatic fish feeder to ensure your fish get there required nutrition regularly.

Panda Telescope Fish Size

On average, the panda telescope goldfish grows up to 7 inches long with a further potential of growing 8 to 9 inches at their maximum length including their tails.

Their size and rate of growth depend on a few things like health conditions of the water, size of the fish tank and the quality of diet they are being fed.

Ideal Tank Size for Panda Telescope Fish

It is probably a great idea to get home the biggest aquarium you can because it’s not about how big the fish currently is, it’s about how big the fish can grow in the future.  A safe measure is an aquarium worth 30 gallons per 1 or 2 goldfish. You can increase the gallons by 5 for every goldfish after that. Keep in mind that larger goldfishes would require more water per fish than this measurement, roughly about 10 gallons per goldfish.

If your are going to breed your own Fish, in considerable quantity,  the we recommend that you invest in a 40 Gallon Breeder Tank.

Potential Risks of Panda Telescope

The most striking feature of panda telescope goldfish can be attributed to their large, gorgeous eyes. What materials you use at the bottom of your fish tank can be a trouble-maker here. Anything that is too fine and sharp can instantly cause damage to their eyes. Keep in mind that these fishes are active diggers so even rocks are a big concern here. While digging, they can hit their body against the rock and the sharp edges can scratch their delicate eyes.

Apart from these concerns, there are also a few common aquatic diseases that you need to be aware of such as-

• Swim Bladder
• Goldfish ich
• Parasites
• Fin Rot
• Tail Rot
• Velvet Disease
• Fungal infections

Panda Telescope Behaviour

Similar to most goldfishes, the panda telescope fishes are active swimmers and diggers. Another pattern in their behavior is that they are highly unlikely to get aggressive with other tank mates or just in general.

Panda Telescope Compatibility

It is highly recommended to include the panda telescope with other varieties of goldfishes as they are greatly compatible with them.

Ideal temperature and water conditions

A moderate temperature between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is a generally normal environment for goldfishes to live comfortably. However, it has been found that they are most comfortable between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

When it comes to water, goldfishes are pretty tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Aim for a pH level of about 7 coupled with moderate hardness of the water.

Panda Telescope Lifespan

With proper care like clean water and a balanced diet, goldfishes can live up to several years.

Panda Telescope Gender

Female goldfishes are generally plumper, the same goes for male goldfishes too and hence it gets really difficult to differentiate between males and females species even when they are sufficiently matured.

However, one distinction can be that male species develop white specs on their gill cover once they mature.

Preparing To Get Your Panda telescope

 Choosing A Suitable Tank

A tank is probably the most important thing that your panda telescope will need. It needs to be the right size, have suitable stuff in it, and it needs to be kept in a good place that provides your panda telescope with the best conditions. 

When you get your panda telescope, it is likely that they will be babies, so they will be rather small. And this often leads people to buying small tanks for them—after all, you might not think that two baby panda telescope need a 50 liter tank…

Well, don’t let their current size fool you. They will grow! Panda telescope have the potential to reach 12 inches in length. 

As a general rule, two panda telescope should be kept in a tank that has a capacity of no less than 30 liters. This is because the fish need plenty of room, and plenty of oxygen in their water, to enable them to breathe, else they could suffocate.

It is for this reason that a long, thin tank is better than a tall, thin one, as this will increase the surface area of the water. The surface area of the water is where gas exchange will take place; the bigger the surface area, the more oxygen can be ‘brought’ into the water.

If fish have too little oxygen, they can drown. There are other ways to maximize oxygen levels in fish tanks as well, such as using real plants (these have to be panda telescope-safe, as they will nibble at them from time to time—pondweed is good) and through using pumps and filters—both of which are necessary. 

When you’re looking to buy a tank there are a number of things you should consider. It should be big enough to accommodate your fish. It should also have a lid—remember, panda telescope can jump! But, make sure that there are holes in the lid (a mesh is ideal) as you don’t want your fish to be starved of oxygen. 

Also, you should think about where you’ll be putting the tank. You need to have the tank in  a place that is out of direct sunlight, but not in the shade. Also, it is handy to have a sink nearby, ready for when you’ll be carrying out your weekly, partial-water changes.

Temperature is also important. Ideally, your fish should be kept in an environment that is around 17-22 degrees Celsius. If your fishes’ environment gets too hot, this can limit the amount of oxygen in the water. 

Is a panda telescope bowl suitable?

Contrary to common belief, panda telescope bowls are NOT suitable homes for panda telescope. This is because they are often too small, and the surface area of the water is also too small.

Decorating Your Fish Tank

One of the best parts of getting panda telescope, according to many people, is decorating the tank. There are many fish decorations that are available to buy in most garden centers and pet shops, that ‘liven’ up your tank. Before buying any, you should make sure that there are no sharp edges on any of them, as you don’t want your fish to get hurt. 

I, personally, think that natural ‘decorations’ look a lot better, and they’re more natural, right? There are many fish-friendly water plants that you can buy quite cheaply at most garden centers and fish houses. Using real plants not only looks great, but also has an extra benefit: plants will oxygenate the water, and they help control the ammonia/nitrate/nitrite cycle, which is of vital importance.

If you have decorated your tank before filling it with water, when you add the water, place a small dish at the bottom of the tank, and pour the water onto this—this will hopefully stop the decorations’ arrangement being disrupted too much. 

In the wild, fish are prey to many animals. It is for this reason that they need somewhere where they can hide and feel safe. 

Also, remember that you should treat tap water with water conditioner, before putting it in the tank, as tap water contains chlorine and various other chemicals, which are harmful to fish.

Choosing A Filter and Pump

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So, why do I need a filter and a pump? Are they really necessary?

First, we’ll look at filters. Fish produce a lot of ammonia in their excrement, and when ammonia levels build up, it can make the tank’s water deadly. Filters help to regulate the levels of chemicals in tanks, and rotate the water around, ensuring that there aren’t spots where ammonia or other chemicals are building up—these would be known as ‘toxic spots’.

In a newly set up tank, ammonia levels can get very high very quickly as it is likely that not enough good bacteria that ‘eats’ the ammonia will have established itself yet. After a while, the bacteria will grow to a suitable population, in order to cope with the demand. These bacteria convert this ammonia into nitrite—however, this can take up to two weeks to happen. In the meantime, your fish will be at risk. 

And, nitrite can also be deadly for fish too. Eventually nitrite will reach high, dangerous levels. This is where a second type of bacteria comes in. This second bacteria will convert nitrite into nitrate (again, this can take a number of weeks). This nitrate in the water isn’t ideal (although it’s better than having toxic ammonia). Most of the nitrate is got rid of through the weekly partial-water changes that you’ll be performing. 

Through having gravel at the bottom of the tank, you’ll be providing a place for this good bacteria to grow. Once a tank has gone through this ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle once, it should be ‘mature’. This means that ammonia and nitrite levels will be zero, and the nitrates should have begun to rise. You can buy water testing kits, to test this. 

So, do my panda telescope need a filter then? I hear you ask. The answer is ‘yes’. Filters help to keep ammonia levels low, reducing the possibility of ammonia poisoning, and they circulate the water, whilst filtering it, so it will be cleaner. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do partial-water changes now, it’s still necessary to, but filters help to keep the water cleaner. 

Filters also filter out any other debris in the water, such as old food—which if left, can go rotten and contribute towards higher ammonia levels. 

It is vital that you have a filter in a newly-established tank as it can take a long time for good bacteria that will convert ammonia to nitrites, and nitrites to nitrates to grow, and you don’t want your fish to be suffering in poisonous conditions. 

There are three different types of filters: biological, mechanical, and chemical. All of them work just as well, I believe, though they use different filtering methods. I use a Fluval internal underwater filter that has a foam pad inside which needs rinsing (not under tap water) twice a month, and replacing every four months.

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Some filters reintroduce water back to the tank, letting it ‘spurt’ back in, others have the water outlet under water. If you can, get one where the water outlet pipe is above the water’s surface, as when the newly-filtered water enters the tank again it will act like a pump and oxygenate the water too. 

Whichever type of filter you get, make sure that it is suitable for the size of tank you have. Most filters will say on their packaging the size of tank, or capacity of water, that they are suitable for. You don’t want to get a filter that is not powerful enough for your tank, as this can cause ammonia levels to rise. 

Filters should be left running for the minimum duration that it takes to filter the whole tank, every day. Ideally, the filter should be turned on the whole time. 

Pumps are also necessary in some tanks that have low oxygen levels (particularly if there are no real plants in there), as they will re-oxygenate the water. There are many different types of pumps that are available to buy. 

Both pumps and filters can usually be bought in most garden centers, aquatic shops and pet shops. Filters and pumps require regular maintenance of their own; read and take note of the instructions. 

Take care when installing filters and pumps, and read the instructions carefully, as water and electricity do not mix.

Other Equipment You’ll Need

Some owners like to have an underwater light in their tank, often for aesthetic reasons. If your tank is in a place that had good light (though not in direct sunlight) then it should be okay. 

If you have plants in the tank, then it may be a good idea to get a light source as plants need light to photosynthesis, and produce oxygen, which fish need.