Believed to have been an urban legend for centuries, a recent Reddit post resurfaced a ‘lost’ species of goldfish. According to William Thornton in his Goldfish Varieties and Tropical Aquarium Fishes: A Complete Guide to Aquaria and Related Subjects, meteor goldfish are thought to have been first bred in the 19th to 20th century but died out due to their weak constitution and susceptibility to disease in low temperatures. However, with no pre-existing evidence or records that confirmed the species’ existence, it was commonly labeled as a ‘myth.’ Part of its ludicrosity had to do with one defining trait of meteor goldfish—unlike any other breed of goldfish; it has no tail. Instead, a smooth bump and long anal fin replaces where a tail fin would reside.
So when a short video of two goldfish, seemingly tailless, was uploaded onto Reddit, fish enthusiasts exploded. The original poster discovered them while cleaning out an old pond at their owner’s request and brought them home. And thus tailless “Chicken Nugget” and “Tater Tot” were labeled as the first meteor goldfish found in decades by the Reddit goldfish community. However, skeptics question whether Tater Tot and Chicken Nugget are actually meteor goldfish. Their anal fin is not as extended and prominent as what little records entail about them. Some people suspect that Tater Tot and Chicken Nugget are actually tailless because of a genetic mutation or injury they might’ve sustained when they were babies.
Regardless of whether or not Tater Tot and Chicken Nugget are actually meteor goldfish—they still pose an interesting dilemma with their exceedingly unique circumstances. Should the preservation of a rare breed be prioritized over the health and well-being of the animal? After all, these goldfish may never come back unless they are bred and pass on their genes. At the same time, meteor goldfish are so rare in the first place because of their fragility and lack of tail. If those defining features are what brings the animal suffering, isn’t it animal cruelty to continue to keep breeding them? Should goldfish be considered when examining animal cruelty?
It is a common and unfortunate reality that, in comparison to the rights of other animals, goldfish are often disregarded. A widespread misconception about goldfish is that they don’t live for long, they’re infamous for turning belly-side-up the day after they are purchased. However, this notion is completely false—a goldfish can live up to 15 years under proper care. Despite this, goldfish are subject to neglect and abuse because fish are often not met with the same amount of empathy as other pets are.
An example of an expensive and popular breed of goldfish is the bubble-eye goldfish. As popular as the breed is, it also happens to be one of the most unethical and egregious examples of man-made breeding in goldfish. Their fluid-filled eyes obstruct their ability to swim and, when popped, lead to deadly infections and diseases. Celestial goldfish face a similarly tragic fate; with the odd positioning of their eyes, they are forced to look up forever.
