T E L E S C O P E
Origin - China
Difficulty - Intermediate
Availability - Common (Dragonheads uncommon, Dragonbacks rare)
Price - Moderate to Expensive
Adult Size - 6 to 8 inches
Scales - Metallic or Matte (Nacreous for Calico)
History & Background
A calico dome-eyed Telescope
Probably the most heavily hybridized goldfish
after the Fantail, Telescopes are referred to as "Demekin" in Japan
(the term covers all goldfish with portruding eyes, including Celestials).
Sometimes also referred to as "Dragon Eyes" in the Orient.
In America, all Telescopes tend to be referred to as "Moors", though technically that label only applies to Black telescopes. Back to Top
Special Care
A black ("blue") globe-eye telescope...
as you can see the eyes can get quite large in some specimens They
are reasonably hardy when it comes to temperature range. They can survive
in a pond environment, but they cant see very well, so need to be protected
from predators like cats and birds to avoid becoming an easy meal. Their poor
eyesight means they are very clumsy when it comes to detecting and avoiding
danger.
If kept with other Goldfish make sure that they can get their share of food. They need an environment similar to what Bubble-Eyes require in that they can damage their eyes by bumping into stuff, so no sharp objects should be in their tank. The sacs of Bubble Eyes can grow back, but once a telescope's eye is punctured, its gone.
Ideal Characteristics
An excellent example of a Black Moor telescope
Though they have been hybridized with many other breeds, the ideal body type
for a Telescope is similar to a Fantail. Body depth should be 2/3 the length
of the body or more. The head is usually fairly broad to accomodate the enlarged
eye sockets. Some newer Telescopes have been bred with high backs that look
similar to a Ryukin.
The main feature of this breed is it's enlarged eye sockets, which project outward from it's skull. There are three types of eyes that are acceptable on this breed;
Dome Eyes are eyes that end in hemispheres (eyeballs that project halfway out of the skull). The cornea is rounded and the eyes are basically hemi-spherical.
Flat Eyes are eyes that end in a flat surface (like cylinders projecting from the head). These look like Dome eyes that have been chopped off at the ends.
Globe Eyes (also called "round eyes") are spheres that sit completely outside the skull. If the ends are flat, they may still be referred to as "flat eyes".
Regardless of eye type, the requirements are the same. Eyes should be clear (no white in the pupils), uniform size, and project away from the skull; they should not be pointing down or forward or up. Normal telescopes have no wen or nasal bouquets, but some sport varieties and variants do (see below).
This chart shows a top-view of the heads of the
three main types of Telescope goldfish. The standard fin type is similar
to a Fringetail. The Caudal fin is divided
and forked with a long trailing edge, and should be 3/4 the body length or
more. All other fins have a pointed appearance. All telescopes (except the
dragonback variant below) should have dorsal fins. Dorsal fin should be stiff,
tall, and erect, much like a Ryukin.
But there is really no single standard when it comes to fin types for Telescopes. They can have almost any fin type seen on any other breed of goldfish. Veiltail, Butterfly-tail and Ribbontail varieties are also available. All Telescopes have dorsal fins, and all fins except the dorsal should be paired. Standards should confom to whatever fin type the fish has.
Telescopes come in all colors and scale types. The most common seem to be Mottled varieties and the Black Moor variant (see below). Chocolate is a new color, and Calico is relatively common as well.
Color that saturates the fins is desirable, and the outside of the eye sockets should have opaque pigment as well. Back to Top
Known Variants
Great examples of Show Quality
Panda Moors
Black Moors are such a common variant,
most people associate them with being the default style for telescopes. They
look identical to standard telescopes save for their deep black color. They
come in all three eye types. Quality Black Moors will have no silver at all,
and a black color so deep as to appear like velvet. Ideally the scales should
be matte, though metallic is acceptable too.
Pandas (sometimes called "Panda Moors") look like Black and white versions of Black Moors. The ideal is panda-like coloring (black eyes and black back and fins, and white everywhere else), but the term is usually applied to any black and white Telescope goldfish. Panda moors should have a black that is deep, and a white that is actually white (not silver or transparent), with no fading between the two colors. Pandas can have metallic scales, but most seem to be matte.
Two Tri-color flat-eye Telescopes
Be warned,
some goldfish do go through color changes, and have phases where they may
look like Pandas, but only temporarily. Some unscupulous pet store
owners will try to pass these fish off as Panda Moors (and charge more for
them, naturally), but they are not the real thing, and the colors will fade.
Because of these horror stories, a lot of people claim that Panda Moors dont really exist...that all Pandas are just Telescopes going through a color change. But they do exist. Just make sure to get them from a reputable breeder, not a pet store. All goldfish colors fade with age, but real Panda Moors will maintain their colors well into adulthood. Real Pandas (like their namesake) are fairly rare and highly desired.
There are variants of Pandas which have a color in place of white (orange and black is common), and while they are striking and attractive, they are not true Pandas. They are simply telescopes with mottled coloration.
Example of a chocolate telescope, one of the newer
varieties being bred
One of the newest variants is a telescope with
a deep brown color (Chocolate) and red or orange nasal bouquets (pom poms).
These are hard to come by in the states though. They dont really have a name
yet. The pom pom telescopes are not recognized as a distinct breed, and are
considered sport fish.
Dragonheads are Telescopes that have half hoods (wen covering the top of their heads). They are sometimes considered to be an Oranda Variant instead of a Telescope Variant. These are fairly popular in China. Telescopes with full hoods are sometimes also referred to as Dragonheads as well.
Dragonbacks are basically dorsal-less telescopes. We dont see them much in the US, because Celestials steal their thunder, but they are still bred in China. Back to Top
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