The fish are an interesting variation in the TY Beanie Babies Collection. The Company has often used the same pattern and material for different creations, for example the colored Teddies, Chilly and Peking, Cubbie and Blackie, and the cats, etc. By this method, they were able to reduce cost and still design different little Beanies for all to enjoy! All three of these cute eight inch critters basically shared the same pattern with some minor variations outside of the colors.

Goldie, the goldfish, style #4023, was the first introduced in 1994. The Company decided decided the goldfish should share the same orange plush fabric as Digger, the original orange crab, style #4027. This was probably done to reduce cost on Goldie and use up the material from the orange crab which eventually became the current red crab. Goldie has some slight physical differences from Coral and Bubbles in that she has stitching on her fins. This same material is used on the 1996 release Scoop the Pelican, style #4107. The fabric is used on the web feet and the large bill. Inch, the inchworm, style #4044, Chocolate the moose, style #4015, and Waddle the penguin, style #4075, all share the orange fabric.

The following spring in 1995, Coral and Bubbles made their debut! Coral, the tropical fish, style #4079, was retired in early 1997. Coral has a smaller rear fin and the rest are more rounded. The tropical beauty shared the same bright, multi-color tie-dye fabric as the darling Garcia, the tie-dye Teddy, style #4051. The Ty Company did retire Garcia on May 11, 1997!

The last of the three original fish was Bubbles, style #4078. Bubbles also has more rounded fins. I am of the personal opinion he was introduced to use up the fabric from the retired Bumble the bee, style #4045.

Goldie has had all four TY Tags! Coral and Bubbles have been distributed with the older tags but not the very first single TY tag. In mid 1996, all three fish were reintroduced with the fourth TY tag with the poem. I don't really like to speculate in these articles, but I believe that Bubbles will be the next to be retired, possibly in the spring of 1997. Bubbles did retire on May 11, 1997!! If this occurs, Goldie will be retired shortly thereafter.

Crunch, the shark, style #4130, was released in January 1997. Sharks are large and often ferocious with very sharp teeth, but the Beanie Crunch is a soft blue grey, white bellied, cuddly little critter. Boys love him!! His fabric is the same as the recently retired Lefty the Donkey, style #4085 and the current Scoop the pelican, style #4107.

I did not include Flash, Splash or Manny in this article as they are mammals and will be discussed in a future article.

If your collection does not include these cute little fish, I would highly recommend that you acquire them while they are still available!

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