The Goldfish is a freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family of the Cypriniformes order. It is the most freshwater fish Goldie and is widely kept as a pet in indoor tanks. In places of North America, goldfish released into the wild have become an unwanted pest.
The size, body form, fin design, and coloring of goldfish breeds vary greatly. The goldfish is a tiny member of the carp family native to East Asia. Goldie have been domesticated and bred into a variety of attractive breeds for aquariums and water gardens.
Contents Overview
Goldfish Characteristics
- Country of Origin: Asia
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
- Environment: Freshwater fish
- Temperature: 55° – 78°F
- Type: Single Tail
- Diet: Omnivore
- Food: Pellets, flakes, live food, veggies and fruit
- Adult Size: 12 inches or more
- Lifespan: 10-15 years or more
- Weight: Up to 5 pounds
- Care Level: Easy for beginners
- Temperament: Friendly and social
Origin of Goldfish
The selective domestic breeding of goldfish was well established by the Song period. People outside the imperial family were no longer permitted to own Goldie, the imperial hue being yellow.
During the Ming dynasty, Goldie were also cultivated indoors, allowing for the selection of mutants that would not survive in ponds.
Goldie were introduced to Japan around 1603. Goldfish were imported to Portugal around 1611, and from there to the rest of Europe.
Goldfish were highly valued in southern Europe during the 1620s because of their metallic scales, which symbolized good luck and riches.
Goldie were originally introduced to North America around 1850 and rapidly became popular.
Goldfish Appearance
The Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, fin configuration, body shape, and coloration. Their body coloration are various combinations of white, orange, yellow, brown, red, and black are known.
The hue of the wild populations varies from gold to olive green to creamy white. They have an elongated, stocky build, and not all of them are the well-known bright gold color.
The Goldie generally have two sets of paired fins- pelvic fins and the pectoral fins. And have 3 single fins- the dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin.
They have no scales on their head, and they lack barbells on the upper jaw. They generally have exceptionally large eyes and acute senses of smell and hearing.
Goldie have pharyngeal teeth in their throats rather than actual teeth, which they use to crush food.
Lifespan of Goldfish
The newborn fish or fry are brown at first, and it may take up to a year for them to develop the gleaming gold of their species. However, they grow very quickly in order to avoid being eaten.
Predators may include adult nonspecific. Pet Goldie may live for up to 25 years if properly cared for, while wild goldfish can live for up to 40 years.
Goldfish Colors and Markings
Goldie may also lose their “golden” color, or rather any goldfish color, by being kept in a dark room. They come in dappled versions of black, white, gold, and orange, and there are many types of goldfish with different looks.
Colors of common Goldie include red, orange, and blueish-grey, brown, yellow, white, and black. The most common variant is a shiny-orange, with a mix of white and red and orange and white.
The range of goldfish colors and possible combinations make these fish quite attractive, especially to hobbyists. Goldie are hardy, inexpensive, and a good choice when you’re looking for variety.
Goldfish Habitat and Care
Habitat
Goldfish (C. auratus) are native to China, and they have spread all over the world as a pet or as an escapee into freshwaters. It is a hardy and long-lived fish that enjoys cold water and doesn’t mind turbid water.
Goldie are found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and virtually every freshwater habitat on the earth, varying from temperate to tropical.
They were used to control mosquitoes in several parts of the world. They may be found in pools, ponds, sluggish rivers, canals, and even drainage ditches, in addition to tanks and bowls.
Care
Goldfish get the reputation for being easy to care for, or that they make great pets for children. Interestingly, goldfish are more difficult to care for than most people believe. They require and deserve just as much care as any other pet.
As you can see there’s more to Finny care than may have thought however once the tank is set up, it’s fairly easy to maintain. Their requirements and demands you can spend many years with your pet goldfish.
They should not be kept in a fishbowl, but require an aquarium with proper water aeration and filtration. As long as regularly check the water conditions and keep a close eye on goldfish, they should live long and happy lives.
Tank Conditions
Goldie in big tanks and ponds may thrive without an air pump, but this Finny fish in small tank requires an air pump to provide enough oxygen levels in the water. They are found in ponds and slow-moving water bodies with depths of up to 20 meters in their natural habitat.
They are considered unsuitable even for living in a heated tropical fish tank since they are used to more oxygen in unheated tanks, and others claim that the heat burns them.
They exist in freshwater with a pH of 6.0–8.0, a water hardness of 5.0–19.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 40 to 106 °F, however, they will not survive at higher temperatures for long.
Goldie have been observed living for centuries in outdoor ponds where the temperature often reaches 86 °F. Goldfish have an olive green, greenish-brown, or grey tint when seen in nature.
Tank Mates of Goldfish
Rosy barbs, platy fish, and bristle nose plecos get along well with goldfish. Mystery snails are great companions for common goldfish.
Snails help keep the tank clean by consuming leftover food and algae, which can reduce the amount of waste produced by your fish.
Common Goldie are kind and non-aggressive. They are communal, gregarious fish who like being part of a community. Small fish will be mistaken for food, so pick tank mates of comparable size.
Avoid species known for being territorial and violent, such as betas, freshwater angelfish, dwarf gouramis, and discus.
Goldfish Diet and Feeding
Plants, insects, zooplankton, detritus, and tiny crabs are all consumed by wild Finny fish, who are omnivores. In captivity, they are fed a dried flake or pellet diet.
These fish benefit from freeze-dried Tubifex worms, bloodworms, Daphnia, mosquito larva, brine shrimp, and plants. Finny fish foods contain less protein and more carbohydrates.
Shelled peas, blanched green leafy vegetables, and bloodworms will be added to this diet by goldfish enthusiasts. The addition of brine shrimp to the diet of young goldfish is also beneficial.
As snacks, frozen and live foods, including hornwort plants, can be provided. To achieve the best results, rotate your fish’s food on a daily basis and feed only what they can consume in 2 to 3 minutes, once or twice a day.
Goldfish Breeding
Goldie can only mature for reproduction if they have enough water and proper nutrition. Most of these fish breed in captivity, particularly in ponds.
These fish often breed after a significant temperature shift, which occurs in the spring. The common goldfish is oviparous, which means it lays eggs and gives birth to little fry.
Their eggs are sticky and stick to aquatic vegetation, usually thick plants like Elodea or Cabomba or a spawning mop.
By bumping and prodding the gravid females, the males urge them to release their eggs. In most cases, the eggs hatch within 48 to 72 hours.
Summary
Goldfish may be smarter than you believe. Some goldfish are able to see and remember well enough to distinguish between people. They often notice and become pleased when they see the person who feeds them every day.
Goldie were originally meant to bring good luck, and it was usual for married men to offer one to their wives on their first wedding anniversary.
Goldfish have a strong sense of routine and may be trained to do simple tricks like swimming through hoops and pushing levers to release food.
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