Goldfish are by far the most popular fish for pond use. They are less expensive than koi, come in many color variations, and range from 10 to 12 inches at maturity. Goldfish will breed readily in your pond . Although this may be welcomed at first, over time, it can lead to an over population of your pond. Keep this in mind as you decide how many goldfish to buy.

There are many types of goldfish available for use in the backyard pond including:

• Carp-Like - These have similar body type and fin arrangement to the wild carp species. The key pond varieties are the Shubunkin, Calicoes, Orandas,  and Comets.
  
  

• Fancy Goldfish with Dorsal Fins - The most common of this type is the Fantail.
  
  

• Eye Type Goldfish - These strange looking fish fall into categories such as telescopic eyes, bubble eyes and celestials.