Goldfish factfile
☆ Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are a temperate, freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae. They are the domesticated cousin of the wild Prussian Carp, which originate in East Asia, where they have been kept as ornamental fish for nearly 2000 years!
☆ Goldfish have been selectively bred for hundreds of years. Therefore, today, we have a wide range of different breeds. They differ in every way imaginable, from body shape to scale type, and colour to fin shape and beyond! If they were left to breed with no interference, they would soon revert back to their wild carp form.
☆ Goldfish have been selectively bred for hundreds of years. Therefore, today, we have a wide range of different breeds. They differ in every way imaginable, from body shape to scale type, and colour to fin shape and beyond! If they were left to breed with no interference, they would soon revert back to their wild carp form.
☆ There are two main categories of Goldfish. Fancy Goldfish, which have a split caudal fin with four lobes, a deep, round body and long flowing fins and Single Tailed goldfish who have a sigla caudal fin, a slimmer, more stream lined body. This makes the Single Tailed Goldfish much more agile than their fancy relatives. Whilst they have similar needs in terms of care, Single Tailed Goldfish require much more room to swim around in, as they're much faster and they also grow larger than the fancies.
☆ Goldfish are a temperate fish. This means that they don't usually require a heater, but also that their water shouldn't be very cold. Goldfish can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, generally speaking, above freezing and below 30c though, they do best in the 16-24c range. Their metabolism relies greatly on the temperature of their environment thus, feeding should be temperature appropriate.
☆ Goldfish are a temperate fish. This means that they don't usually require a heater, but also that their water shouldn't be very cold. Goldfish can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, generally speaking, above freezing and below 30c though, they do best in the 16-24c range. Their metabolism relies greatly on the temperature of their environment thus, feeding should be temperature appropriate.
☆ Goldfish are omnivores. This means they eat lots of plant matter, as well as insects and crustaceans. They require more carbohydrates than some other fish, so their staple food should be suitable for Goldfish so as not to mess with their digestive system too much. Fancy Goldfish in particular, are prone to constipation and related swim bladder disorders, due to their deep body shape.
☆ They are a very sociable fish. Given adequate space and friends, they will display schooling behaviours. Goldfish require space and clean water over buddies, so if your tank is overstocked and you're worried about rehoming or separating friends, don't feel too bad. They will appreciate the space much more and you will be able to maintain good water quality much easier. After all, one healthy fish is going to be happier than a bunch of sick fish!
☆ They are a very sociable fish. Given adequate space and friends, they will display schooling behaviours. Goldfish require space and clean water over buddies, so if your tank is overstocked and you're worried about rehoming or separating friends, don't feel too bad. They will appreciate the space much more and you will be able to maintain good water quality much easier. After all, one healthy fish is going to be happier than a bunch of sick fish!
☆ Goldfish are generally peaceful fish. Although, like humans, they are all individual and you can get aggressive individuals. I often hear that Ryukins are the more aggressive breed, but in my house, it's a killer Oranda that causes issues. Don't judge a book by its cover and always look out for potential issues. If your tank size is adequate and the water is clean, the risk of aggression is greatly reduced.
☆ Goldfish are egg layers. This, combined with the fact that they are Piggies, means that they will eat their eggs and young. They don't raise their own fry, so don't have any attachment to them. It's a free meal to them and it tastes blooming marvellous! If you wish to breed your Goldfish, most of the time, you'll have to raise your own fry.
☆ Goldfish are egg layers. This, combined with the fact that they are Piggies, means that they will eat their eggs and young. They don't raise their own fry, so don't have any attachment to them. It's a free meal to them and it tastes blooming marvellous! If you wish to breed your Goldfish, most of the time, you'll have to raise your own fry.
☆ These are big fish. Don't underestimate them because they're cheap and cheerful. Given the correct care, they can easily reach 8" in body (single tails can easily reach over a foot!!) and live for years. The oldest recorded Goldfish was over 40, with some reports claiming their fish lived longer!
☆ Goldfish have teeth! They're located right at the back of the mouth and are used to grind up food, much like our own molars and are called Pharangyal teeth. They are constantly growing and falling out. You may find some in your aquarium.
☆ Goldfish have teeth! They're located right at the back of the mouth and are used to grind up food, much like our own molars and are called Pharangyal teeth. They are constantly growing and falling out. You may find some in your aquarium.