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{{Short description|Freshwater fish common in aquariums}}
{{Taxobox
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
| color = pink
{{use American English|date=December 2024}}
| name = Goldfish
{{About|the fish species|other uses|Goldfish (disambiguation)}}
| status = {{StatusSecure}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
| image = Goldfish.jpg
{{pp-move}}
| image_width = 250px
{{Speciesbox
| regnum = ]ia
| image = Gold fish1.jpg
| phylum = ]
| status = LC
| classis = ]
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| ordo = ]
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Huckstorf, V. |author2=Freyhof, J. |date=2013 |title=''Carassius auratus'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T166083A1110472 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T166083A1110472.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| familia = ]
| genus = '']'' | taxon = Carassius auratus
| display_parents = 3
| species = '']''
| authority = (], ])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=508 |title=USGS-NAS, Non-indigenous Aquatic Species |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref><ref name="fishbase">{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?GenusName=Carassius&SpeciesName=auratus%20auratus |title=''Carassius auratus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) |publisher=Fishbase |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref>
| subspecies = '''''C. a. auratus'''''
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|title=List of synonyms|
| trinomial = ''Carassius auratus auratus''
* ''Carassius discolor'' {{small|(Basilewsky, 1855)}}
| trinomial_authority = (], ])
* ''Carassius burgeri'' {{small|(Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)}}
* ''Carassius coeruleus'' {{small|(Basilewsky, 1855)}}
* ''Carassius encobia'' {{small|(Bonaparte, 1845)}}
* ''Carassius grandoculis'' {{small|(Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)}}
* ''Carassius pekinensis'' {{small|(Basilewsky, 1855)}}
* ''Cyprinus auratus'' {{small|(Linnaeus, 1758)}}
* ''Cyprinus gibelioides'' {{small|(Cantor, 1842)}}
* ''Cyprinus mauritianus'' {{small|(Bennett, 1832)}}
* ''Cyprinus chinensis'' {{small|(Gronow, 1854)}}
* ''Cyprinus maillardi'' {{small|(Guichenot)}}
* ''Cyprinus nigrescens'' {{small|(Günther, 1868)}}
* ''Cyprinus thoracatus'' {{small|(Valenciennes 1842)}}
* ''Neocarassius ventricosus'' {{small|(Castelnau, 1872)}}
}} }}
}}
The '''goldfish''' (''Carassius auratus auratus'') was one of the earliest ] to be ], and is still one of the most commonly kept ]. A relatively small member of the ] family (which also includes the ] and the ]), the goldfish is a domesticated version of a dark-gray/olive/brown carp native to ] (first domesticated in ]) that was introduced to ] in the late 17th century. It may grow to a maximum length of 23 inches (59&nbsp;cm and a maximum weight of 6.6&nbsp;pounds (3.0&nbsp;kg), although this is rare; most individual goldfish grow to under half this size. In optimal conditions goldfish may live more than 20 years (the ] is 49 years); however, most household goldfish will only live six to eight years because owners keep them in tanks under the size of 20 U.S. gallons (150 L).
{{Infobox Chinese
|c=金鱼
|l="gold fish"
|p=jīnyú
}}
].]]
].]]
The '''goldfish''' ('''''Carassius auratus''''') is a ] in the ] ] of ] ]. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor ]s, and is one of the most popular ]. Goldfish released into the wild have become an ] in parts of North America and Australia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helmore |first=Edward |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/12/goldfish-dumped-minnesota-lakes-threatening-ecosystems |title=Goldfish dumped in lakes grow to monstrous size, threatening ecosystems |work=] |date=12 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210713205042/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/12/goldfish-dumped-minnesota-lakes-threatening-ecosystems |archive-date=13 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="Lynch 2024 l054">{{cite web | last=Lynch | first=Jacqueline | title=Ozfish volunteers trap dumped pet goldfish from Vasse River amid concerns about water quality | website=ABC News | date=2024-04-23 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-24/pest-goldfish-vasse-river-water-quality-concerns/103742088 | access-date=2024-04-27}}</ref>


Native to ], the goldfish is a relatively small member of the ] family (which also includes the ] and the ]). It was first ] for color in ] more than 1,000 years ago, where several distinct ]s were developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration, and coloration (various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known).
== History ==
During the ], it was popular for Chinese ponds to have carp. As the result of a ] one of these carp displayed "gold" (actually yellowish orange) rather than silver coloration. This mutation is associated with a dominant gene which also makes the breeding of this trait rather easy. The gold strain became popular for keeping in containers. Afterwards, the people began to breed the gold variety instead of the silver, and began to keep them in small containers to watch.


==History==
In 1162, the empress ordered the building of a pond to collect the red and gold variety of those carp. By this time people outside the royal family were forbidden to keep gold fish. An order was given to the keepers to kill all fish that were gold in color because it offended the court, since this itself was the royal color. This is why there are more orange goldfish than yellow goldfish, even though genetically yellow is easier to breed.
] painting by Liu Cai ({{c.|1080–1120}})|alt=painting of many swimming fish, mostly in shades of tan]]
] showing lots of ] ]s which appear at ].]]
].]]
[[File:Ryukin goldfish plate.jpg|thumb|Ryukin goldfish, Plate XIX in ''Goldfish and Their Culture in Japan'', by Shinno


suke Matsubara.]]
As bred in captivity, more mutations occurred producing more colours and fancy goldfish appeared.
According to old books, the occurrence of other colours were first recorded in 1276.
The first occurrence of fancy tailed goldfish was recorded in the ]. In 1502, goldfish were introduced to Japan, where the the Ryukin and Tosakin varieties were developed.


Various species of ] (collectively known as ]) have been bred and reared as ] for thousands of years in ]. Some of these normally gray or silver species have a tendency to produce ], or ] ]s; this was first recorded in ], during the ].<ref name="Ocean Park">{{cite web|url=http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/html/en/learning/facts/goldfish.html |title=Goldfish |publisher=Ocean Park |access-date=2009-11-16}}</ref><ref name=roots>{{cite book|last=Roots|first=Clive|title=Domestication|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport|isbn=978-0-313-33987-5|pages=20–21}}</ref>
In 1611, goldfish were introduced to Portugal and from this starting point they were introduced to other parts of Europe. Goldfish were introduced to North America in 1874.


During the ] (AD 618–907), it was popular to raise carp in ornamental ponds and ]s. A natural genetic mutation produced gold (actually yellowish orange) rather than silver coloration. People began to ] the gold variety instead of the silver variety, keeping them in ponds or other bodies of water. On special occasions at which guests were expected, they would be moved to a much smaller container for display.<ref name="bristol" /><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413152258/http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/Nutrafin_No4_English.pdf |date=2007-04-13 }}, 2004, Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. (USA) and Rolf C. Hagen Corp. (Montreal, Canada)</ref>
==Aquarium conditions==
The goldfish is quite hardy which accounts in part for its popularity. Their supposed reputation in some areas for dying quickly is often due to poor care amongst uninformed buyers, especially children, looking for a "cheap" pet. The goldfish is a ], and can live in an unheated ] or in an outdoor ]. In a pond, it will even survive brief periods of ] forming on the surface, so long as there is enough ] remaining in the water and the pond does not freeze solid.


By the ] (AD 960–1279), the selective domestic breeding of goldfish was firmly established.<ref name=smartt>{{cite book|last=Smartt|first=Joseph|title=Goldfish varieties and genetics: A handbook for breeders|url=https://archive.org/details/goldfishvarietie00smar|url-access=limited|year=2001|publisher=Blackwell Science|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-85238-265-3|page=}}</ref> In 1162, the ] of the Song dynasty ordered the construction of a pond to collect the red and gold variety. By this time, people outside the imperial family were forbidden to keep goldfish of the gold (yellow) variety, ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Duo |last2=Zhang |first2=Qing |last3=Tang |first3=Weiqi |last4=Huang |first4=Zhen |last5=Wang |first5=Gang |last6=Wang |first6=Yongjun |last7=Shi |first7=Jiaxian |last8=Xu |first8=Huimin |last9=Lin |first9=Lianyu |last10=Li |first10=Zhen |last11=Chi |first11=Wenchao |last12=Huang |first12=Likun |last13=Xia |first13=Jing |last14=Zhang |first14=Xingtan |last15=Guo |first15=Lin |date=2020-11-24 |title=The evolutionary origin and domestication history of goldfish ( Carassius auratus ) |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=117 |issue=47 |pages=29775–29785 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2005545117 |doi-access=free |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=7703540 |pmid=33139555|bibcode=2020PNAS..11729775C }}</ref>
Like most carp, goldfish produce a large amount of waste both in the feces and through their gills, releasing harmful chemicals in the water. This also happens because goldfishes cannot digest an excess of proteins, unlike most tropical fish.
Build-up of this waste to toxic levels can occur in a relatively short period of time, often the cause of a fish's sudden death. Although goldfish were historically displayed in small "goldfish bowls", a healthy and happy adult goldfish requires at least 40 US gallons of water in order to live a full life. In fact, for single tailed varieties, such as commons or comets, it may even become necessary to have 55 gallons (for adult fish). Other goldfish experts say that it is the amount of ''water surface area'', not the water volume, that decides how many goldfish may live in a container; one square foot of water surface area for every inch of goldfish length (370 cm²/cm). For example, if you had 3 goldfish of length 4 inches each, you might need 12 square feet of water surface area. Surface area is an approximate measure of how much oxygen may be absorbed into the water from the air. If the water is being further aerated by way of water pump, filter or fountain, more goldfish may be kept in the container.


During the ] (1368–1644), goldfish also began to be raised indoors,<ref name=roots/> which permitted selection for mutations that would not be able to survive in ponds.<ref name="bristol"/> The first occurrence of -tailed goldfish was recorded in the Ming dynasty. In 1603, goldfish were introduced to ].<ref name="bristol"/> In 1611, goldfish were introduced to ] and from there to other parts of ].<ref name="bristol">{{cite web | url=http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/info.htm | title=Background information about goldfish | publisher=Bristol Aquarists' Society | access-date=2006-07-28}}</ref>
An important thing to remember is that airstones do not increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. You cannot simply "pump" air into the water. Rather, the ripples they create at the surface of the water increase the surface area and therefore facilitate oxygen exchange at the surface of the tank. For the beginner aquiring a goldfish, the best advice that can be given is to get a 20 gallon long tank, these are typically inexpensive, have a huge surface area, and will be a suitable fish home for over 2 years. Beginner filtration can simply be provided by a box filter hung over the back of the tank, though filtration should be rated for 60+ gallons, as the ammonia levels produced by goldfish are much higher than those produced by the tropical fish fliters are typically rate d for. It is also imperative that adequate biological filtration is provided, as the breakdown of nitrates occurs much more slowly at the colder temperatures goldfish are kept at. One useful compromise is to keep the aquarium heated to a constant 72 F, as this temperature keeps the fish active while at the same time aiding bacterial growth.


During the 1620s, goldfish were highly regarded in southern Europe because of their metallic scales, and symbolized good luck and fortune. It became a tradition for married men to give their wives a goldfish on their first anniversary, as a symbol for the prosperous years to come. This tradition quickly died, as goldfish became more available, losing their status. Goldfish were first introduced to ] around 1850 and quickly became popular in the ].<ref name=Brunner>{{cite book | last = Brunner | first = Bernd | title = The Ocean at Home | publisher = Princeton Architectural Press | year = 2003 | location = New York | isbn = 978-1-56898-502-2 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/oceanathomeil00brun }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mulertt |first=Hugo |title=The Goldfish And Its Systematic Culture With A View To Profit |year=1883|url=https://archive.org/details/goldfishitssyste00mule |access-date=2009-07-07|publisher=Cincinnati }}</ref>
In the end, it may be easier to transfer the goldfish to a pond rather than a 100 gallon tank, as few homes can support the size. This is an area where most serious aquaculturists will agree, ponds are superior to tanks in the long run for goldfish.


==Biology==
==Starting Aquarium==


===Taxonomy===
For many goldfish owners, the discovery that their cute little fishy will eventually grow into a giant carp can come as a bit of a surprise. Building a goldfish pond or aquiring a 55+ gallon tank is usually more of an investment than most pet owners were expecting. Thankfully there are inexpensive ways to keep goldfish in more humane conditions until such an environment can be arranged for them. One simple trick is to construct an emergency home for them out of a large plastic container. Any 60+ quart plastic box will do, simply rinse it well with water, fill 3/4 of the way, add water conditioner, and allow it to sit overnight before adding the fish. At 3/4 these containers are usually holding about 12~15 gallons of water, and will house your fish much better than a small bowl. Simply change 20% of the water twice a week (replacing with declorinated aged water) and use an aquarium vacuum to clean any dropping off of the bottom during water changes.
], around 6 months old, 7 cm, from ].]]
There has been considerable debate about the taxonomy of the goldfish. Previously, the goldfish was believed to be either a subspecies of the ] (''Carassius carassius''), or of the ] (''Carassius gibelio'').<ref>{{cite web |last1=Laboratory |first1=NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research |title=NOAA National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species (NCRAIS) |url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=508&Potential=N&Type=0 |website=nas.er.usgs.gov |access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="Evolutionary origin ">{{cite journal|last=Komiyama |first=Tomoyoshi |author2=Hiroyuki Kobayashi |author3=Yoshio Tateno |author4=Hidetoshi Inoko |author5=Takashi Gojobori |author6=Kazuho Ikeo |title=An evolutionary origin and selection process of goldfish |journal=Gene |date=February 2009 |volume=430 |issue=1–2|pmid=19027055 |pages=5–11 |doi=10.1016/j.gene.2008.10.019}}</ref><ref name="matsui">{{cite web|title=Common Gold Fish |work=Aquarticles |author=Les Pearce |url=http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/ponds/Pearce_Common_Goldfishhtml.htm |access-date=20 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528173947/http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/ponds/Pearce_Common_Goldfishhtml.htm |archive-date=28 May 2006 }}</ref> However, modern genetic sequencing has suggested otherwise, and that modern goldfish are domesticated varieties of ''C. auratus'' that are native to Southern China.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wang |first=Shu-Yan |author2=Jing Luo |author3=Robert W. Murphy |author4=Shi-Fang Wu |author5=Chu-Ling Zhu |author6=Yun Gao |author7=Ya-Ping Zhang |title=Origin of Chinese Goldfish and Sequential Loss of Genetic Diversity Accompanies New Breeds |journal=PLOS ONE |date=19 March 2013 |volume=430 |issue=3 |pages=e59571 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0059571|pmid=23527220 |pmc=3602300 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...859571W |doi-access=free }}</ref> ''C. auratus'' are differentiated from other ''Carassius'' species by several characteristics. ''C. auratus'' have a more pointed snout, while the snout of ''C. carassius'' is well rounded. ''C. gibelio'' often has a grayish/greenish color, while crucian carp are always golden bronze. Juvenile crucian carp have a black spot on the base of the tail, which disappears with age. In ''C. auratus'', this tail spot is never present. ''C. auratus'' have fewer than 31 scales along the lateral line, while crucian carp have 33 scales or more.


Goldfish can ] with some other ''Carassius'' species of carp. ] and ] may also interbreed with goldfish to produce sterile hybrids.
A more ideal eventual solution for the goldfish owner on a budget would be to get a 20 gallon long tank. These measure 30" x 12" x 12" and have a much larger surface area than a ten gallon tank. Increasing tank size is usually exponentially more expensive, but for goldfish the most important factor is surface area. The 20 gallon long is the smallest appropriate tank, and the fish will be much happier here than in the standard 10 gallon.


===Size===
Starting filtration should be provided by a box filter that hangs on the back of the tank. Undergravel filters have their uses, but they are inappropriate in a goldfish tank as they will quickly clog with detrious. Another excellent arguement against undergravel filters is that the beneficial bacteria can sometimes die off, yet the filter will still appear to be working. The resulting spike in nitrates is often enough to kill every fish in the tank. Canister filters are another excellent choice, but usually well outside the budget of a beginning aquaculturist. Wet-dry and protein skimmer options are usually reserved for marine aquariums, so it would be extreme overkill to use them here. Simply put, the best option is to purchase a box filter rated for twice the volume of your tank, as coldfish produce copious amounts of waste due to their large size.
Wild goldfish typically grow to between 4.7 inches (12 cm) and 8.7 inches (22 cm) but can reach 16 inches (41 cm).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Page |first1=Lawrence M. |title=A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico |last2=Burr |first2=Brooks M. |date=1991 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |others=National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Foundation, Roger Tory Peterson Institute |isbn=978-0-395-35307-3 |series=The Peterson field guide series |location=Boston}}</ref> The size of pet goldfish depends upon its breed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goldfish history, colour and finnage, diseases, how to keep them, and how to breed them |url=https://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/info.htm |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk}}</ref>


As of April 2008, the largest goldfish in the world was believed by the ] to measure {{convert|19|in|cm}}, in the ].<ref name=BBC17Apr2008>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7352909.stm |title=Giant goldfish 'simply amazing' |work=BBC News |date=17 April 2008 |access-date=17 July 2010}}</ref> At the time, a goldfish named "Goldie", kept as a pet in a tank in ], England, was measured as {{convert|15|in|cm}} and over {{convert|2|lb|kg}}, and named as the second largest in the world behind the Netherlands fish.<ref name=BBC17Apr2008/> The secretary of the Federation of British Aquatic Societies (FBAS) stated of Goldie's size, "I would think there are probably a few bigger goldfish that people don't think of as record holders, perhaps in ornamental lakes".<ref name=BBC17Apr2008/> In July 2010, a goldfish measuring {{convert|16|in|cm}} and {{convert|5|lb|kg}} was caught in a pond in ], England, thought to have been abandoned there after outgrowing a tank.<ref name=BBC15Jul2010>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10649008 |title=Surrey schoolboy catches 5lb goldfish in Dorset lake |work=BBC News |date=15 July 2010 |access-date=17 July 2010}}</ref> On November 16, 2020, a {{convert|15|in|cm|adj=on}} goldfish weighing {{convert|9|lb}} was found in a {{cvt|16|acre|ha}} lake in ], while conducting a population survey of Oak Grove Lake.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Massive' goldfish weighing 9 pounds found in South Carolina lake|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/massive-goldfish-weighing-9-pounds-found-south-carolina-lake-n1250396|access-date=2021-05-17|website=NBC News|date=8 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
Lighting is the one area where someone on a budget can avoid investing money initially. Goldfish need day and night cycles to be healthy, but for tanks under 29 gallons the room lights will be sufficient, at least temporarily. Another excellent area to save money is on the full hoods often sold at a great cost than the tanks themselves at the pet store. A much more economical cover for the tank can be constructed out of the plastic mesh backing used for making loop-and-stitch rugs. This can be easily found at any craft store, and can be cut to fit the filters for your tank. Suitable covers can also be constructed out of particle board, which can be found at any hardware store.


===Vision===
One last point that should be made for beginning goldfish owners is on the use of a heater. Goldfish may be coldwater fish, but this does not mean they can tolerate rapid changes in temperature. The sudden shift in temperature the comes at night, for example in an office building where a goldfish might be kept in a small office tank, could do them in, especially in winter. Therefore I recommend a tank heater be set to 68 to 72 degrees F and left in the tank year round. This is especialy important for fancy varieties of goldfish, as they are less hardy than their breathern.
As a domestic fish, thus an easily accessible ], goldfish have one of the most studied senses of ].<ref name = "Neumeyer">{{cite book |title=Sensory Processing in Aquatic Environments |url=https://archive.org/details/sensoryprocessin00bull |url-access=limited |last=Neumeyer |first=C.|editor=Collin, S.P. |editor2=Marshall, N.J. |chapter=Color Vision in Fishes and Its Neural Basis |year=2003|publisher=Springer-Verlag |location=New York |page=|isbn=9780387955278}}</ref> Goldfish have four kinds of ]s, which are respectively sensitive to different colors: red, green, blue and ]. The ability to distinguish between four different ]s classifies them as ].<ref>{{cite book| last = Neumeyer| first = Christa | title = Das Farbensehen des Goldfisches: Eine verhaltensphysiologische Analyse|year = 1988| publisher = G. Thieme| isbn = 978-3137187011}}</ref>


==Tips on Care== ===Hearing===
Goldfish have one of the most studied senses of ].<ref>Ladich, F., & Fay, R. R. (2013). Auditory evoked potential audiometry in fish. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 23(3), 317–364.</ref> They have two ]s, permitting the detection of sound particle motion, and ] connecting the ] to the otoliths, facilitating the detection of ].<ref>Fay, R. R., & Popper, A. N. (1974). Acoustic stimulation of the ear of the goldfish (Carassius auratus). Journal of Experimental Biology, 61(1), 243–260.</ref>


===Reproduction===
There exists a great deal of conflicting information on the best way to care for a goldfish, or rather, on the best feasable ways to care for one. The ultimate best solution would be to build an indoor pond, as this would provide the benefits of an outdoor pond without the risk presented by racoons, kingfishers, children, and weather. As for indoor care, there are a few general tips that should be noted.
]
]


Goldfish can only grow to ] with enough water and the right nutrition. Most goldfish ], particularly in pond settings. Breeding usually happens after a significant temperature change, often in spring. Males chase ] female goldfish (females carrying eggs), and prompt them to release their eggs by bumping and nudging them.
*Get a quality mechanical filtration system rated for at least twice the volume of your tank. Goldfish produce copious amounts of waste, and this must be dealt with to prevent ammonia spikes.


Goldfish, like all ]s, are egg-layers. Their eggs are ] and attach to aquatic vegetation, typically dense plants such as '']'' or '']'' or a spawning mop. The eggs hatch within 48 to 72 hours.
*Don't use undergravel filtration, these systems require up to six months to establish, and goldfish produce far too much waste. The filter plate will clog with detrious and become useless. Not only that, but these systems are only really effective in tanks under 40 gallons, while most goldfish pairs or treos will need to be moved to 55+ gallon tanks by the time they are two years old.


Within a week or so, the ] begins to assume its final shape, although a year may pass before they develop a mature goldfish color; until then they are a metallic brown like their wild ancestors. In their first weeks of life, the fry grow quickly—an adaptation born of the high risk of getting devoured by the adult goldfish (or other fish and insects) in their environment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thefishvet.com.au/pdf/Care_Gf_byRL.pdf|title=Goldfish (''Carassius auratus'')|first=Richmond|last=Loh|publisher=The Fish Vet.com|access-date=December 31, 2013|archive-date=January 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127141326/http://thefishvet.com.au/pdf/Care_Gf_byRL.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Floating pellets, and eventually floating pond pellets are one of the best staple foods to feed to your fish. Uneaten food can be removed easily, the fish have no trouble finding the food before it dissolves, and it is much easier to measure out an appropriate amount of food for someone who is tank sitting.


Some highly ] goldfish can no longer breed naturally due to their altered shape. The artificial breeding method called "hand stripping" can assist in breeding, but can harm the fish if not done correctly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1991 |title=Techniques for Taking and Fertilizing the Spawn of Fish |url=https://fisheries.tamu.edu/files/2013/09/SRAC-Publication-No.-426-Techniques-for-Taking-and-Fertilizing-the-Spawn-of-Fish.pdf |access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref> In captivity, adults may also eat young that they encounter.
*Starting with a twenty gallon long tank is fine. While you will eventually have to upgrade to a 55+ gallon tank, it is best for the beginner to have a tank that doesn't create additional problems. Larger tanks require more planning, much more intial invesment, and a bit of a mechanical inclination in setting it against the right walls & floor joists of the home, setting up large filtration systems, and dealing with emergencies. It is also nice in the long run to have the twenty gallon tank to use in case of emergency (such as a bigger tank breaking) or as a hospital/quarantine tank.


===Respiration===
*Don't skimp when purchasing filtration for your tank. It is nice to plan your filter so that when you move to a larger tank the filter can handle it as well. An excellent idea when moving from a smaller (10~20 gallon) to a medium (37~55 gallon) tank is to use your old filter, and add an additional identical unit on the opposite end of the tank. Two medium size mechanical filters working in conjunction will do wonders for your water quality, as well as ensure that if a filter were to break, there is at least some filtration until a replacement can be obtained.
Goldfish are able to ] short periods of entirely ]. Survival is shorter under higher temperatures, suggesting that this is a ]. Researchers speculate that this is specifically an adaptation to survival in ] over winter.


Energy is obtained from ] ]. This process depends upon a ] – the first known in ]s.<ref name="Walker-1977">{{ Cite journal | url=http://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/z77-170 | title=Walker, R. M., & Johansen, P. H. (1977). Anaerobic metabolism in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 55(8), 1304–1311. doi:10.1139/z77-170 | year=1977 | doi=10.1139/z77-170 | pmid=902178 | last1=Walker | first1=R. M. | last2=Johansen | first2=P. H. | journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology | volume=55 | issue=8 | pages=1304–11 | url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Fagernes-2017">{{ Cite journal | url= | title=Fagernes, C.E., Stensløkken, K., Røhr, Å.K. et al. Extreme anoxia tolerance in crucian carp and goldfish through neofunctionalization of duplicated genes creating a new ethanol-producing pyruvate decarboxylase pathway. Sci Rep 7, 7884 (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07385-4 | year=2017 | doi=10.1038/s41598-017-07385-4 | pmid=28801642 | last1=Fagernes | first1=C. E. | last2=Stensløkken | first2=K. O. | last3=Berenbrink | first3=M. | last4=Ellefsen | first4=S. | last5=Nilsson | first5=G. E. | journal=Scientific Reports | volume=7 | issue=1 | page=7884 | pmc=5554223 }}</ref>
*Air pumps are becoming outdated for most standard filtration setups. Air-driven mechanical filters are simply not powerful enough to deal with larger tanks, and should be reserved for fry tanks. The noise of most air pumps is also annoying. Most decorations driven by these air pumps do little to improve the oxygenation of the water. Another simple arguement against the air pump is that it does not deal with the problem of tank overcrowding - if fish are gasping for air (lack of dissolved oxygen) is it almost always better to remove fish from the tank rather than resort to gimmicks to try and increase the air. You never want your fishes lives to depend on an electrical device being able to run constantly, as in the event of a failure their lives would be endangered.


===Salinity===
*Lastly, keep the tank cold, goldfish cannot be mixed with tropical fish, and indeed it is not even a good idea to mix them with other fish. Most catfish that can be kept in coldwater get too big (plectos) to keep in the tank, and they are a danger to the goldfish. Numerous accounts can be found of cases where a goldfish was injured, and a catfish will take a liking to sucking on the wounds. There are also a few horror stories of celestial goldfishes eyeballs being sucked out by a wandering algae eater. The bottom line, don't mix.
Although they are a freshwater fish, goldfish have been found in ] with a ] of 17.<ref name="Tweedley-2017">{{ Cite journal | title=Tweedley, J.R., Hallett, C.S. & Beatty, S.J. Baseline survey of the fish fauna of a highly eutrophic estuary and evidence for its colonisation by Goldfish (Carassius auratus). Int Aquat Res 9, 259–270 (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s40071-017-0174-1 | journal=International Aquatic Research | date=September 2017 | volume=9 | issue=3 | pages=259–270 | doi=10.1007/s40071-017-0174-1 | s2cid=59358196 | last1=Tweedley | first1=James R. | last2=Hallett | first2=Chris S. | last3=Beatty | first3=Stephen J. | doi-access=free }}</ref>


==Behavior==
==Native Environment==
Goldfish natively live in ]s, and other slow or still moving bodies of water in depths up to 20 m (65 ft). Their native climate is ] and they live in ] with a 6.0–8.0 ], a water hardness of 5.0–19.0 ], and a temperature range of 40 to 106 &deg;F (4 to 41 &deg;C) although they will not survive long at the higher temperatures. Indeed, they are considered ill-suited even to live in a heated tropical fish tank, as they are used to the greater amount of oxygen in unheated tanks as well as the heat burns them. When found in nature, the goldfish are actually an olive green color, and will return to this color if domesticated and then released.
In the wild, the diet consists of ]s, ]s, and plant matter.


Goldfish are gregarious, displaying ] behavior, as well as displaying the same types of feeding behaviors.
While it is true that goldfish can survive in a fairly wide temperature range, the optimal range for indoor fish is 68 to 75 &deg;F (20 to 23 &deg;C). Pet goldfish, as with many other fish, will usually eat more food than it needs if given, which can lead to a fatal intestinal blockage. They are omnivorous and do best with a wide variety of fresh vegetables and fruit to supplement a flake or pellet diet staple.


Goldfish have learned behaviors, both as groups and as individuals, that stem from native carp behavior. They are a ] species with varied feeding, breeding, and ] avoidance behaviors that contribute to their success. As fish, they can be described as "friendly" towards each other. Very rarely does a goldfish harm another goldfish, nor do the males harm the females during ]. The only real threat that goldfish present to each other is competing for food. ], ], and other faster varieties can easily eat all the food during a feeding before varieties can reach it. This can lead to stunted growth or possible ] of fancier varieties when they are kept in a pond with their single-tailed brethren. As a result, care should be taken to combine only breeds with similar body type and swim characteristics.
Sudden changes in water temperature can be fatal to any fish, including the goldfish. When transferring a store-bought goldfish to a pond or a tank, the temperature in the storage container should be equalized by leaving it in the destination container for at least 20 minutes before releasing the goldfish. In addition, some temperature changes might simply be too great for even the hardy goldfish to adjust to. For example, buying a goldfish in a store, where the water might be 70 °F (approximately 21 °C), and hoping to release it into your garden pond at 40 °F (4 °C) will probably result in the death of the goldfish, even if you use the slow immersion method just described. A goldfish will need a lot more time, perhaps days or weeks, to adjust to such a different temperature.


==={{anchor|Intelligence}}Cognitive abilities===
Because the goldfish likes to eat live plants, keeping it with plants in an aquarium can be quite a problem. Only a few of the aquarium plant species can survive in a tank with goldfishes, for example '']'' and '']'' species, but they require special attention so that they are not uprooted.
<!-- This Anchor tag serves to provide a permanent target for incoming section links. Please do not remove it, nor modify it, except to add another appropriate anchor. If you modify the section title, please anchor the old title. It is always best to anchor an old section header that has been changed so that links to it will not be broken. See ] for details. This template is {{subst:Anchor comment}} -->
Goldfish have strong ] abilities, as well as ] skills. In addition, their ] acuity allows them to ]. Owners may notice that fish react favorably to them (swimming to the front of the glass, swimming rapidly around the tank, and going to the surface mouthing for food) while hiding when other people approach the tank. Over time, goldfish learn to associate their owners and other humans with food, often "begging" for food whenever their owners approach.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Plumer |first=Brad |date=2016-06-09 |title=This is unsettling: fish can recognize human faces |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/6/9/11889508/fish-facial-recognition |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref>


Goldfish that have constant visual contact with humans also ]. After being kept in a tank for several weeks, sometimes months, it becomes possible to feed a goldfish by hand without it shying away.
==Varieties of domesticated goldfish==
] over centuries has produced several color variations, some of them far removed from the "]en" color of the originally domesticated fish. There are also different body shapes, ] and ] configurations. Some extreme versions of the goldfish do need to be kept in an ] &mdash; they are much less hardy than varieties closer to the "wild" original, however more robust variations such as the Shubunkin are more hardy. The main varieties are:


Goldfish have a ] of at least three months and can distinguish between different shapes, colors, and sounds.<ref>Research by the School of Psychology at the ] in 1994. Goldfish were trained to push a ] to earn a food reward; when the lever was fixed to work only for an hour a day, the fish soon learned to activate it at the correct time. See: {{Cite journal | date=July 1994 | title=Temporal discrimination learning of operant feeding in goldfish | journal=Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior | volume=62 | issue=1 | pmid=16812735 | pmc=1334363 | pages=1–13 | last1 = Gee | first1 = P | last2 = Stephenson | first2 = D | last3 = Wright | first3 = DE | doi=10.1901/jeab.1994.62-1}}</ref><ref>The ]'s show '']'' tested the contemporary legend that goldfish only had a memory span of three seconds and were able to prove that goldfish had a longer memory span than commonly believed. The experiment involved training the fish to navigate a ]. It was evident that they were able to remember the correct path of the maze after more than a month. {{usurped|1=}}</ref> By using ], goldfish can be trained to recognize and to react to light signals of different colors<ref>Demonstrated in a 1994 public experiment at the ] science museum. The experimental details and results are described in: {{Cite journal
]
| date=April 1994
| title=Poissons rouges: la mémoire dans l'eau
| journal=Revue du Palais de la Découverte
| volume=217
}}</ref> or to perform tricks.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://abcnews.go.com/story?id=4803721|title=Send Your Fish to School
|date=May 7, 2008|work=ABC News|access-date=December 28, 2012}}</ref> Fish respond to certain colors most evidently in relation to feeding.<ref name=":0" /> Fish learn to anticipate feedings provided they occur at around the same time every day.


==Classification==
*]
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*]


===Western===
===Chinese Goldfish Classification===
{{Main|List of goldfish varieties}}
In Chinese goldfish keeping, goldfish are classified into 4 main types, which are not commonly used in the west.
As with many other examples of ], ] of goldfish over centuries has produced several color variations, some of them far removed from the "]" color of the original fish. There are also different body shapes, and ] and ] configurations. Some extreme versions of the goldfish live only in ]s—they are much less hardy than varieties closer to the "wild" original. However, some variations are hardier, such as the Shubunkin. Currently, there are about 300 breeds recognized in China.<ref name=roots/> The vast majority of goldfish breeds today originated from China.<ref name=roots/> Some of the main varieties are:


{| class="wikitable"
*Dragon Eye - Goldfish with extended eyes, e.g. ], ], and ]
|-
*Egg - Goldfish without a dorsal fin. e.g. ] (note that a Bubble Eye without a dorsal fin belongs to this group)
! colspan="2"|]
*Wen - Goldfish with dorsal fin and a fancy tail. e.g. ]
! colspan="2"|]
*Ce (may also be called "grass") - Goldfish without anything fancy. Which is the type that is used for Japanese carnivals, especially for "goldfish scoops".
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| '''Common Goldfish''' come in a variety of colors including red, orange, "gold", white, black, and yellow ('lemon') goldfish.
| ]
| The '''Black Telescope''' is a black-colored variant of ] that has a characteristic pair of protruding eyes. It is also referred to as popeye, moor, {{transliteration|ja|kuro-demekin}} in ] and dragon-eye in ].
| ]
| The small '''Bubble Eye''' has no dorsal fin and upward pointing eyes accompanied by two large fluid-filled sacs.
| ]
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''Celestial eye goldfish''' or ''Choten gan'' has a double tail and a breed-defining pair of upturned, telescope eyes with pupils gazing skyward.
| ]
| The '''comet''' or '''comet-tailed goldfish''' is a single-tailed variety in the ]. It is similar to the ], except slightly smaller and slimmer, and is mainly distinguished by its long, deeply forked tail.
| ]
| The '''Fantail''' goldfish is the western form of the ] and possesses an egg-shaped body, a high dorsal fin, a long ] caudal fin, and no shoulder hump.
| ]
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''lionhead''' has a hood. This ] is the ] to the ].
| ]
| The '''oranda''' is characterised by a prominent raspberry-like hood (also known as ''wen'' or head growth) that encases the whole head and some with the entire face, except for the eyes and mouth.
| ]
| The '''pearlscale''' or {{transliteration|ja|chinshurin}} in ], is spherical-bodied with finnage similar to the ] and ]. Its scales are protruded into white domes that resemble pearls.
| ]
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''Pompoms''', '''pompons''' or '''hanafusa''' have bundles of loose fleshy outgrowths between the nostril, called nasal boquettes, on each side of the head.
| ]
| The '''ryukin''' has a short, deep body with a characteristic shoulder hump.
| ]
| The ]ese {{nihongo||朱文金|shubunkin}} (translated literally as "red brocade") have a single tail with ] scales, and a pattern known as ].
| ]
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''telescope''' is characterized by its protruding eyes. It is also known as the '''globe eye''' or '''dragon eye''' goldfish.
| ]
| The Japanese '''ranchu''' is hooded. The ] refer to it as the "king of goldfish".
| ]
| The '''panda telescope''' is another colored variant of ].
| ]
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''veiltail''' is known for its extra-long, flowing double tail. Modern veiltail standards require little or no indentation of the trailing edges of the caudal fins, as in a wedding veil for a bride.
| ]
| The '''butterfly tail moor''' or '''butterfly telescope''' is of the telescope-eye lineage, with twin broad tails best viewed from above. The spread of the caudal fins resembles butterflies underwater.
| ]
| The '''meteor goldfish''' is a strange-looking variety that has been developed by specialist breeders of goldfish. It has no tail fin, hence its name.<ref name=Bristol>, retrieved on: June 20, 2007</ref><ref name="autogenerated2002">Andrews, Dr. Chris. "An Interpet Guide to Fancy Goldfish", Interpet Publishing, 2002 - {{ISBN|1-902389-64-6}}</ref>
|
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''Lionchu''' or '''lionhead-ranchu''' is a goldfish that has resulted from crossbreeding ] and ]s.<ref name="Ponzio">{{cite web|url=http://www.goldfishpages.com/Articles/What%20is%20a%20Lionchu.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725073933/http://www.goldfishpages.com/Articles/What%20is%20a%20Lionchu.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-25|title="What is a Lionchu?" by Peter Ponzio, an article from the Goldfish Pages Website (Goldfish Society of America), date retrieved: 28 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="GFSA">{{cite web|url=http://www.goldfishpages.com/Articles/GFSA%20Ask%20the%20Judges%2C%20Ranchus.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725074035/http://www.goldfishpages.com/Articles/GFSA%20Ask%20the%20Judges%2C%20Ranchus.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-25|title="GFSA - Ask the Judges", an article about the Lionchu by Larry Christensen, Peter Ponzio, Scott Taylor, Tony Reynolds and John Parker, from the Goldfish Pages Website (Goldfish Society of America), date retrieved: 28 February 2013}}</ref>
| ]
| The '''egg-fish goldfish''' is a goldfish that lacks a ] and has a pronounced egg-shaped body.<ref name=Andrews>Andrews, Chris, Dr. An Interpet Guide to Fancy Goldfish, Interpet Publishing, 2002. - {{ISBN|1-902389-64-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/more.cfm |title=Nutrafin Aquatic News, Issue #4, 2004, Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. (USA) and Rolf C. Hagen Corp. (Montreal, Canada) |publisher=Hagen.com |access-date=2011-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121090523/http://hagen.com/usa/aquatic/more.cfm |archive-date=2011-11-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| ]
| The '''Shukin''' is a Ranchu-like goldfish developed from ]s and ]s at the end of the 19th century in Japan.
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''Curled-gill''' or '''Reversed-gill''' goldfish is another uncommon variety of goldfish that has been developed by specialist ]. It owes its name to the out-turned appearance of its gill covers.<ref name="autogenerated2002"/><ref>Johnson, Dr. Erik L., D.V.M. and Richard E. Hess. Fancy Goldfish: A Complete Guide to Care and Collecting, Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2001 - {{ISBN|0-8348-0448-4}}</ref>
| ]
| The '''Tamasaba''' or ] is an uncommon Japanese variety of goldfish with a body shaped similar to the ] and a very long, flowing, single tail that is similar to that of a ], hence its other name, ]-tail ryukin.
| ]
| The '''Tosakin''' is a very distinctive breed of goldfish with a large tail fin that spreads out horizontally (like a fan) behind the fish, followed by the bottom tips folding behind its caudal fin. Though technically a divided tail, the two halves are attached at the center, forming a single fin.
| ]
|-
! colspan="2"|]
! colspan="2"|]
|-
| The '''White telescope''' is a white variant of ] that has a white body and a characteristic pair of protruding eyes.
|
|The '''Jikin''' is a breed of ''']'''-like goldfish developed in Japan.
|]
|}


===Chinese===
==Goldfish in ponds==
Chinese tradition classifies goldfish into four main types.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnaquafish.com/html_news/QiYeXinWenTest-2-3.html |title=Evolution and Varieties of Goldfish |access-date=2015-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110164203/http://www.cnaquafish.com/html_news/QiYeXinWenTest-2-3.html |archive-date=2016-01-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These classifications are not commonly used in the West.
Goldfish can also be kept in ponds. Common goldfish, London and Bristol shubunkins and comet can be kept in a pond all year round in Britain. Bristol shubumkin, fantail, veiltail, oranda and lionhead are only safe in the summer. Goldfish make great pondfish. They are small, inexpensive, very hardy and add much colour to the pond.
* Crucian (also called "grass") — Goldfish without anatomical features, similar to Crucian carp or ] except for their coloration. These include the common goldfish, comet goldfish and Shubunkin.
* Wen — Goldfish having a tail, e.g., fantails and veiltails. "Wen" is also the name of the characteristic headgrowth on such strains as oranda and lionhead.
* Dragon Eye — Goldfish having extended eyes, e.g., ], ], and ]
* Egg — Goldfish having no dorsal fin, usually with an 'egg-shaped' body, e.g., ]. This group includes a bubble eye without a dorsal fin.


==Cultivation==
Small to large ponds are fine though the depth should be at least 80 cm (30 in) to avoid freezing. During winter golfish will become slow, stop eating and often stay on the bottom. This is completly normal and in spring they will become active again. A filter is important to clear waste and keep the pond clean. Plants are not essential but can be added. Oxygenating plants are beneficial since they raise oxygen levels.
]]]
]'' by ], 1912]]


===In aquaria===
Compatible fish include ], ], ] and ] but the latter will require specialised care. Ramshorn snails are helpful by eating any algae that grows in the pond.
Like most species in the carp family, goldfish produce a large amount of waste both in their ] and through their ], releasing harmful ]s into the water. Buildup of this waste to ] levels can occur in a relatively short period of time, and can easily cause a goldfish's death. For common and comet varieties, each goldfish should have about {{convert|20|usgal}} of water. Smaller fantail goldfish should have about {{convert|10|usgal}} per goldfish. The water surface area determines how much ] diffuses and dissolves into the water. A general rule is have {{convert|1|sqft}}. Active ] by way of a ], ] or ] effectively increases the surface area agitation.


The goldfish is classified as a ], and can live in unheated ] at a temperature comfortable for humans. However, rapid changes in temperature, for example in an office building in winter when the heat is turned off at night, can kill them, especially if the tank is small. Care must also be taken when adding water, as the new water may be of a different temperature. Temperatures under about {{convert|10|C|F}} are dangerous to fancy varieties, though commons and comets can survive slightly lower temperatures. Extremely high temperatures (over {{convert|30|C|F}}) can also harm goldfish. However, higher temperatures may help fight ]n infestations by accelerating the ]'s life cycle—thus eliminating it more quickly. The optimum temperature for goldfish is between {{convert|20|and|22|C|F}}.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mypets.net.au/flex/goldfish/528/1 |title=Goldfish |publisher=Mypets.net.au |access-date=2011-11-19 |archive-date=2010-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728043700/http://www.mypets.net.au/flex/goldfish/528/1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Wild Goldfish and relationship to ]==
Fancy goldfish are unlikely to survive for long in the wild as they are handicapped (for example by fin colors), however it is not beyond the bounds of possiblilty that such a fish, especially the more hardy varieties such as the Shubunkin, could survive long enough to breed with its wild cousins.


Like all fish, goldfish do not like to be petted. In fact, touching a goldfish can endanger its health, because it can cause the protective slime coat to be damaged or removed, exposing the fish's skin to infection from bacteria or water-borne parasites. However, goldfish respond to people by surfacing at feeding time, and can be trained or acclimated to taking pellets or flakes from human fingers. The reputation of goldfish dying quickly is often due to poor care.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/goldfish |title=Goldfish |publisher=Experiencefestival.com |access-date=2011-11-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212210227/http://www.experiencefestival.com/goldfish |archive-date=2011-12-12 }}</ref> The lifespan of goldfish in captivity can extend beyond 10 years.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/29210991 | title=Goldfish has brain operation| work=BBC News| date=2014-09-15}}</ref>
Research by suggests that there are subtle differences which demonstrate that while the crucian carp is the ancestor of the goldfish, they are not the same fish.


If left in the dark for a period of time, goldfish gradually change color until they are almost gray.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-08-25 |title=Frequent question: Why do Goldfish Change Color? |url=https://www.nativefish.org/frequent-question-why-do-goldfish-change-color/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Native Fish |language=en-US}}</ref> Goldfish produce pigment in response to light, similarly to how human skin becomes ] in the sun. Fish have cells called ]s that produce pigments that reflect light and give the fish coloration. The color of a goldfish is determined by their diet, water quality, and exposure to light, along with age and health.<ref name=":1" />
==Behaviour==
It is often said that goldfish have a memory span of only a few seconds, but this is not entirely true. Goldfish have what could be called a selective memory; that is to say, they have some kind of ] of what has happened on previous occasions, but may not be sure exactly what it was. They can learn to eat from a certain ring inside their tank, or even from their caretaker's hand, because they will remember that there is something good in that area, but might not remember what.


Because goldfish eat live plants, their presence in a ] can be problematic. Only a few aquarium plant species, such as '']'' and '']'', can survive around goldfish, but they require special attention so that they are not uprooted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Planted Tanks for Goldfish |url=https://injaf.org/aquarium-fish/the-goldfish-section/planted-tanks-for-goldfish/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=INJAF |language=en-US}}</ref>
This behavior, or type of learning is an example of classical conditioning. If a predatory animal such as a heron is around, they will likely hide away for quite a while, but they probably do not know what it is they are hiding from; they simply know it is worth avoiding. Goldfish have a sense of time, and in captivity may be able to recognize a set feeding schedule, becoming excited before food even appears. Contrary to the notion that goldfish have poor memory, they will respond to a visit by a predator such as a raccoon, which may completely trash a small pond traumatizing the resident goldfish, which may remain extremely shy and jittery to any approach thereafter.


===In ponds===
On the television show '']'', ] and ] explored the idea by each trying to train goldfish to navigate a maze over a 45-day period. The result was that the fish could definitely be trained to navigate the maze.
]]]
]
Goldfish are popular pond fish, since they are small, inexpensive, colorful, and very hardy. In an outdoor pond or ], they may even survive for brief periods if ] forms on the surface, as long as there is enough ] remaining in the water and the pond does not freeze solid. Common, London and Bristol shubunkins, jikin, wakin, comet and some hardier fantail goldfish can be kept in a pond year-round in temperate and subtropical climates. Moor, veiltail, oranda and lionhead can be kept safely in outdoor ponds year-round only in more tropical climates and elsewhere only in summer months.


Compatible fish include ], ], ] and ], but the last require specialized care. ]s are helpful by eating any ] that grows in the pond. Without some form of ], goldfish ponds can easily become overstocked. Fish such as ] consume goldfish eggs.
Recently, a goldfish has been 'trained' to shoot a ball into a net inside his tank. The owners say that they did it by offering treats to him as soon as he performed the trick.


Ponds small and large are fine in warmer areas, though goldfish can "overheat" in small volumes of water in the summer in tropical climates.{{cn|date=October 2024}} In frosty climes, the depth should be at least {{convert|80|cm|in|sp=us}} to preclude freezing. During winter, goldfish become sluggish, stop eating and often stay on the bottom of the pond. This is normal; they become active again in the spring. Unless the pond is large enough to maintain its own ecosystem without interference from humans, a filter is important to clear waste and keep the pond clean. Plants are essential as they act as part of the filtration system, as well as a food source for the fish. Plants are further beneficial since they raise oxygen levels in the water.
*


Like their wild ancestors, common and comet goldfish as well as shubunkin can survive, and even thrive, in any climate that can support a pond. In general, when released into the wild, goldfish quickly take over the waterways as an ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goldfish |url=https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species/meet-the-species/fish-and-invertebrates/goldfish/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Invasive Species Centre |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yin |first=Steph |date=2016-09-22 |title=In the Wild, Goldfish Turn From Pet to Pest |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/science/discarded-goldfish-invasive-species.html |access-date=2024-02-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==Feeding==
Like most fish, goldfish are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat whenever food is available, whether they are hungry or not. This habit can be fatal. Their digestive tract can become so jammed with food that the intestines tear open, killing the fish. Also, an excess of food means more waste and feces, which pollute the tank. Goldfish should only be fed as much food as they can consume in 3 to 4 minutes, and no more than twice a day.


===Feeding===
A good way to tell if your goldfish is being properly fed is to look as their faeces. They should be short and chunky, the same color as the food the fish is eating. Long strings of waste that trail behind the fish as they swim could be a sign of over-feeding.
]
{{See also|Fish food}}


In the wild, the diet of goldfish consists of ]s, ]s, and various ] matter. Like most fish, they are opportunistic feeders and do not ] on their own accord. Overfeeding can be deleterious to their health, typically by blocking the ]. This happens most often with selectively bred goldfish, which have a convoluted intestinal tract. When excess food is available, they produce more waste and ], partly due to incomplete ] digestion. Overfeeding can sometimes be diagnosed by observing feces trailing from the fish's ].
Care has to be taken when choosing the right food for them, because goldfishes need less protein (which they cannot digest in excess) and more of the easy to digest carbohydrates. However, specialised food for them can be found on the market.


Goldfish-specific food has less protein and more ] than conventional fish food. Enthusiasts may supplement this diet with shelled ]s (with outer skins removed), ] ]s, and ]. Young goldfish benefit from the addition of ] to their diet. As with all animals, goldfish preferences vary.
The oldest known goldfish was called Fred, and lived to 49 years.{{fact}}


===For mosquito control===
==Breeding==
Like some other well-known aquarium fish, such as the ] and ], goldfish (and other carp) are frequently added to ] bodies of water in an attempt to reduce ] populations, which spread the ] such as ], ], and ]. However, ] goldfish has often had negative consequences for local ]s,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lNkwt3gX-2cC&q=goldfish+released+into+the+wild&pg=PA154|title=Biotechnology Deskbook|author1=William L. Arnold|author2=William L. Anderson|page=154|year=2001|publisher=Environmental Law Institute|isbn=978-1-58576-029-9}}</ref> and their efficacy as ] has never been compared to those of native fishes.
Goldfish, like all ]s, are egglayers. They produce adhesive eggs which attach themselves to aquatic vegetation. The eggs hatch within 48-72 hours, releasing fry large enough to be described as appearing like "an eyelash with two eyeballs". Within a week or so, the fry begin to look more like a goldfish in shape, although it can be as much as a year before they take their mature goldfish color, until then they are a metallic brown like their wild forebears. In their first weeks of existence, the fry grow remarkably fast; an adaptation borne of the high risk of getting devoured by the adult goldfish (or other fish and insects) in their environment.


===Market===
Goldfish can only grow to sexual maturity if given enough water and the right nutrition. However if kept well, they may breed indoors. Breeding usually happens after a significant change in temperature, often in ]. Eggs should then be separated into another tank, as the parents will likely eat any of their young that they happen upon. Dense plants such as ''Cabomba'' or ''Elodea'' or a spawning mop are used to catch the eggs.
The market for live goldfish and other crucian carp usually imported from China was $1.2{{nbsp}}million in 2018. Some high quality varieties cost between $125 and $300.<ref>{{cite news |last=Selyukh |first=Alina |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/16/768553956/the-goldfish-tariff-fancy-pet-fish-among-the-stranger-casualties-of-the-trade-wa |title=The Goldfish Tariff: Fancy Pet Fish Among The Stranger Casualties Of The Trade War |work=] |date=2019-10-16 |access-date=2019-10-17 }}</ref>


== Welfare concerns ==
Most goldfish can and will breed if left to themselves, particularly in pond settings. Males chase the females around, bumping and nudging them in order to prompt the females to release her eggs, which the males then fertilize. Due to the strange shapes of some extreme modern bred goldfish, certain types can no longer breed among themselves. In these cases, a method of artificial breeding is used called "hand stripping". This method keeps the breed going, but can be dangerous and harmful to the fish if not done correctly.
]]]
] are detrimental to the health of goldfish and are prohibited by ] legislation in several municipalities.<ref name="The Times">{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1844070,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20060105045820/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1844070,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 5, 2006 | title=Rome bans goldfish bowls, orders dog owners on walks&nbsp;– World&nbsp;– Times Online | access-date=2006-07-21 | location=London | work=The Times | first1=Sam | last1=Knight | date=2005-10-26}}</ref><ref name="Council bans goldfish bowls">{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-07-24/council-bans-goldfish-bowls/2014352 | title=Council bans goldfish bowls | access-date=2015-04-21 | work=ABC Australian Broadcast Corporation | date=2004-07-23}}</ref> The practice of using bowls as permanent fish housing originated from a misunderstanding of Chinese "display" vessels: goldfish which were normally housed in ponds were, on occasion, temporarily displayed in smaller containers to be better admired by guests.<ref name="bristol" />


Goldfish kept in bowls or "mini-aquariums" suffer from death, disease, and ], due primarily to the low oxygen and very high ]/] levels inherent in such an environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goldfishcareguide.com/2008/03/05/5-reasons-not-to-use-goldfish-bowls/|title=5 reasons not to use goldfish bowls|access-date=2009-02-01|date=2008-03-05|publisher=Goldfish Care Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525162142/http://goldfishcareguide.com/2008/03/05/5-reasons-not-to-use-goldfish-bowls/|archive-date=2018-05-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> In comparison to other common aquarium fish, goldfish have high oxygen needs and produce a large amount of waste due to the fact they lack a stomach;<ref>{{cite web|url= https://injaf.org/aquarium-fish/the-goldfish-section/goldfish-and-their-diet/ | title=goldie
==Mosquito control==
|accessdate=1 February 2022|work=goldfishsection}}</ref> therefore they require a substantial volume of well-filtered water to thrive. In addition, all goldfish varieties have the potential to reach {{convert|5|in}} in total length, with single-tailed breeds often exceeding {{convert|1|ft}}. Single-tailed varieties include common and comet goldfish.
In certain parts of the world, goldfish and other carp are frequently added to stagnant bodies of water in order to reduce the ] populations, especially now with the arrival of ] which relies on mosquitoes to migrate. Their ] often had unfortunate consequences for local ]s, however.


In many countries, ] and ] operators commonly give goldfish away in ] bags as ]s. In late 2005 ] banned the use of goldfish and other animals as carnival prizes. Rome has also banned the use of "goldfish bowls", on animal cruelty grounds,<ref name="The Times"/> as well as ], Italy, in 2004.<ref name="Council bans goldfish bowls"/> In the ], the ] proposed banning this practice as part of its Animal Welfare Bill,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/index.htm |title=Defra, UK&nbsp;– Animal Health and Welfare&nbsp;– Animal Welfare&nbsp;– Animal Welfare Bill |access-date=2006-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820191520/http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/index.htm |archive-date=2006-08-20 }}</ref><ref>
==Edibility and cruelty==
] - </ref> though this has since been amended to only prevent goldfish being given as prizes to unaccompanied minors.<ref>
Although edible, the goldfish is rarely eaten. A fad among ] college students for many years was swallowing goldfish as a ] and as an initiation process for ]. The first recorded instance was in ] at ].{{fact}} The practice gradually fell out of popularity over the course of several decades.
] - </ref>


In ], during summer festivals and religious holidays (]), a traditional game called ] is played, in which a player scoops goldfish from a basin with a special scooper. Sometimes ]s are substituted for goldfish.
In many countries, the operators of ]s and ]s commonly give goldfish away in plastic bags as ] for winning games. In the ], the ] proposed banning this practice as part of its Animal Welfare Bill, though early ] reports suggest that this idea has been dropped. However, in Rome, Italy, the city passed a law in late 2005, which banned the use of goldfish or other animals as carnival prizes. ] has also banned the keeping of goldfish in "goldfish bowls", on the premise that it's cruel to the fish to live in such a small space.{{fact}}


Although edible and closely related to some fairly widely eaten species, goldfish are rarely eaten. A fad among ] college students for many years was ] as a ] and as a ] initiation process. The first recorded instance was in 1939 at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.thinkquest.org/3205/SwalG.html |title=Swallowing Goldfish |access-date=2006-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618034748/http://library.thinkquest.org/3205/SwalG.html |archive-date=2006-06-18 }}</ref> The practice gradually fell out of popularity over the course of several decades and is rarely practiced today.
While being otherwise unkind to fish may now be prohibited, killing fish (humanely) for human consumption or benign purposes (such as putting down an ill fish) is still legal in most countries (provided of course that the fish is not a protected fish caught in the wild, a fish in protected reserves or in water where the person concerned has no right to collect the fish). In the UK it is understood to be illegal to sell live fish, such as goldfish, as "feeder fish" for consumption by other fish or animals


Some animal advocates have called for boycotts of goldfish purchases, citing industrial farming and low survival rates of the fish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greenprophet.com/2012/03/goldfish-nowruz-iranian-new-year/|title=5 Million Goldfish Die for Nowruz – the Iranian New Year|first=Tafline|last=Laylin|website=Green Prophet|date=2012-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalvoices.org/2012/03/16/iran-a-nowruz-new-year-without-goldfish/|title=Iran: A Nowruz New Year Without Goldfish? · Global Voices|date=16 March 2012}}</ref>
Never flush a dying fish down the toilet, clorine poisoning is not a humane way to kill a goldfish. If a goldfish must be put down (get an expert opinion before you do this) using some kind of tranquilizer to render the fish unconscious, and then freezing it is the most humane way to end its life. However, a well cared for goldfish should never have to be put down. Most diseases can be prevented by avoiding overcrowding and using proper filtration.

== In popular culture ==
{{seealso|The Golden-Headed Fish|The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish|The Gold-Children}}
]
In ] history, goldfish was seen "as a symbol of luck and fortune". Moreover, only members of the ] could own goldfish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gulliver |first=Katrina |date=2012-11-01 |title=The Great Goldfish Invasion: How an Exotic Carp Took Over America |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/the-great-goldfish-invasion-how-an-exotic-carp-took-over-america/264420/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> In ] and among the international ], goldfish is a traditional part of ] celebrations. Goldfish are usually placed on '']'' tables as a symbol of progress.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nowruz: Persian New Year's Table Celebrates Spring Deliciously|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/20/471174857/nowruz-persian-new-years-table-celebrates-spring-deliciously|access-date=2021-03-24|website=NPR.org|date=20 March 2016 |language=en|last1=Fulton |first1=April |last2=Ardalan |first2=Davar }}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ] - other members of carp family
* ]
* ] for plant species compatible with a goldfish
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons|Carassius auratus}}
* - Online Goldfish Forum, Information, And A Goldfish Store.
* {{ITIS |id=163350 |taxon=Carassius auratus |access-date=5 October 2004}}
* - The goldfish blog regarding importing goldfish from GoldfishQueen's farm in China. There are lots of introduction with photographs regarding more than 100 different goldfish varieties updating everyday.
* {{FishBase_species alt|ID=271|taxon=Carassius auratus auratus|year=2004|month=September}}
* - Photographs and descriptions of the different goldfish varieties
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207015905/https://goldfishmania.com/goldfish-types/ |date=2022-12-07 }}&nbsp;— Description of 50 plus varieties of goldfish with pictures
]
* &nbsp;— Photographs and descriptions of the different goldfish varieties
* - Goldfish directory
* - A resource on the genetics of the goldfish with a focus on the originator, crucian carp, and how their basic genetic package gave rise to the varieties of modern goldfish.
* - Site of a now defunct goldfish rescue organization.
*] -
*] -
*
*
*
*
*http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/disease.html
*
*


{{Goldfish breeds}}
== References ==
{{Portal bar|Fish|Marine Life|Animals|Biology}}
*{{ITIS|ID=163350|taxon=Carassius auratus|year=2004|date=5 October}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q123141}}
*{{FishBase_species_alt|ID=271|taxon=Carassius auratus auratus|year=2004|month=September}}
{{Authority control}}
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Latest revision as of 01:22, 22 December 2024

Freshwater fish common in aquariums

This article is about the fish species. For other uses, see Goldfish (disambiguation).

Goldfish
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Cyprininae
Genus: Carassius
Species: C. auratus
Binomial name
Carassius auratus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
List of synonyms
    • Carassius discolor (Basilewsky, 1855)
    • Carassius burgeri (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
    • Carassius coeruleus (Basilewsky, 1855)
    • Carassius encobia (Bonaparte, 1845)
    • Carassius grandoculis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
    • Carassius pekinensis (Basilewsky, 1855)
    • Cyprinus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
    • Cyprinus gibelioides (Cantor, 1842)
    • Cyprinus mauritianus (Bennett, 1832)
    • Cyprinus chinensis (Gronow, 1854)
    • Cyprinus maillardi (Guichenot)
    • Cyprinus nigrescens (Günther, 1868)
    • Cyprinus thoracatus (Valenciennes 1842)
    • Neocarassius ventricosus (Castelnau, 1872)
Goldfish
Chinese金鱼
Literal meaning"gold fish"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinjīnyú
Feral goldfish found in Essex County, Ontario.
Carassius auratus by Alexander Francis Lydon.

The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Goldfish released into the wild have become an invasive pest in parts of North America and Australia.

Native to China, the goldfish is a relatively small member of the carp family (which also includes the Prussian carp and the crucian carp). It was first selectively bred for color in imperial China more than 1,000 years ago, where several distinct breeds were developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration, and coloration (various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known).

History

painting of many swimming fish, mostly in shades of tan
Three goldfish from Fish Swimming Amid Falling Flowers, a Song dynasty painting by Liu Cai (c. 1080–1120)
Male Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio) showing lots of epithelial tubercles which appear at spawning time.
A drawing in brown ink on an ocher background. A rectangular glass aquarium tank sits on a wooden stand with carved, curled legs, and contains two fish as well as plants with wavy grass-like leaves.
An aquarium of the 1850s of the type that contained Goldfish among other coldwater species.
Ryukin goldfish, Plate XIX in Goldfish and Their Culture in Japan, by Shinno suke Matsubara.

Various species of carp (collectively known as Asian carp) have been bred and reared as food fish for thousands of years in East Asia. Some of these normally gray or silver species have a tendency to produce red, orange, or yellow color mutations; this was first recorded in Imperial China, during the Jin dynasty (266–420).

During the Tang dynasty (AD 618–907), it was popular to raise carp in ornamental ponds and water gardens. A natural genetic mutation produced gold (actually yellowish orange) rather than silver coloration. People began to selectively breed the gold variety instead of the silver variety, keeping them in ponds or other bodies of water. On special occasions at which guests were expected, they would be moved to a much smaller container for display.

By the Song dynasty (AD 960–1279), the selective domestic breeding of goldfish was firmly established. In 1162, the empress of the Song dynasty ordered the construction of a pond to collect the red and gold variety. By this time, people outside the imperial family were forbidden to keep goldfish of the gold (yellow) variety, yellow being the imperial color.

During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), goldfish also began to be raised indoors, which permitted selection for mutations that would not be able to survive in ponds. The first occurrence of -tailed goldfish was recorded in the Ming dynasty. In 1603, goldfish were introduced to Japan. In 1611, goldfish were introduced to Portugal and from there to other parts of Europe.

During the 1620s, goldfish were highly regarded in southern Europe because of their metallic scales, and symbolized good luck and fortune. It became a tradition for married men to give their wives a goldfish on their first anniversary, as a symbol for the prosperous years to come. This tradition quickly died, as goldfish became more available, losing their status. Goldfish were first introduced to North America around 1850 and quickly became popular in the United States.

Biology

Taxonomy

Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius), around 6 months old, 7 cm, from Haarlem, Netherlands.

There has been considerable debate about the taxonomy of the goldfish. Previously, the goldfish was believed to be either a subspecies of the crucian carp (Carassius carassius), or of the Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio). However, modern genetic sequencing has suggested otherwise, and that modern goldfish are domesticated varieties of C. auratus that are native to Southern China. C. auratus are differentiated from other Carassius species by several characteristics. C. auratus have a more pointed snout, while the snout of C. carassius is well rounded. C. gibelio often has a grayish/greenish color, while crucian carp are always golden bronze. Juvenile crucian carp have a black spot on the base of the tail, which disappears with age. In C. auratus, this tail spot is never present. C. auratus have fewer than 31 scales along the lateral line, while crucian carp have 33 scales or more.

Goldfish can hybridize with some other Carassius species of carp. Koi and common carp may also interbreed with goldfish to produce sterile hybrids.

Size

Wild goldfish typically grow to between 4.7 inches (12 cm) and 8.7 inches (22 cm) but can reach 16 inches (41 cm). The size of pet goldfish depends upon its breed.

As of April 2008, the largest goldfish in the world was believed by the BBC to measure 19 inches (48 cm), in the Netherlands. At the time, a goldfish named "Goldie", kept as a pet in a tank in Folkestone, England, was measured as 15 inches (38 cm) and over 2 pounds (0.91 kg), and named as the second largest in the world behind the Netherlands fish. The secretary of the Federation of British Aquatic Societies (FBAS) stated of Goldie's size, "I would think there are probably a few bigger goldfish that people don't think of as record holders, perhaps in ornamental lakes". In July 2010, a goldfish measuring 16 inches (41 cm) and 5 pounds (2.3 kg) was caught in a pond in Poole, England, thought to have been abandoned there after outgrowing a tank. On November 16, 2020, a 15-inch (38 cm) goldfish weighing 9 pounds (4.1 kg) was found in a 16 acres (6.5 ha) lake in Greenville, South Carolina, while conducting a population survey of Oak Grove Lake.

Vision

As a domestic fish, thus an easily accessible model organism, goldfish have one of the most studied senses of vision in fishes. Goldfish have four kinds of cone cells, which are respectively sensitive to different colors: red, green, blue and ultraviolet. The ability to distinguish between four different primary colors classifies them as tetrachromats.

Hearing

Goldfish have one of the most studied senses of hearing in fish. They have two otoliths, permitting the detection of sound particle motion, and Weberian ossicles connecting the swim bladder to the otoliths, facilitating the detection of sound pressure.

Reproduction

Goldfish eggs.
Newly hatched goldfish fry (Ryukin).

Goldfish can only grow to sexual maturity with enough water and the right nutrition. Most goldfish breed in captivity, particularly in pond settings. Breeding usually happens after a significant temperature change, often in spring. Males chase gravid female goldfish (females carrying eggs), and prompt them to release their eggs by bumping and nudging them.

Goldfish, like all cyprinids, are egg-layers. Their eggs are adhesive and attach to aquatic vegetation, typically dense plants such as Cabomba or Elodea or a spawning mop. The eggs hatch within 48 to 72 hours.

Within a week or so, the fry begins to assume its final shape, although a year may pass before they develop a mature goldfish color; until then they are a metallic brown like their wild ancestors. In their first weeks of life, the fry grow quickly—an adaptation born of the high risk of getting devoured by the adult goldfish (or other fish and insects) in their environment.

Some highly selectively bred goldfish can no longer breed naturally due to their altered shape. The artificial breeding method called "hand stripping" can assist in breeding, but can harm the fish if not done correctly. In captivity, adults may also eat young that they encounter.

Respiration

Goldfish are able to survive short periods of entirely anoxic conditions. Survival is shorter under higher temperatures, suggesting that this is a cold weather adaptation. Researchers speculate that this is specifically an adaptation to survival in frozen water bodies over winter.

Energy is obtained from liver glycogen. This process depends upon a pyruvate decarboxylase – the first known in vertebrates.

Salinity

Although they are a freshwater fish, goldfish have been found in brackish water with a salinity of 17.

Behavior

Goldfish are gregarious, displaying schooling behavior, as well as displaying the same types of feeding behaviors.

Goldfish have learned behaviors, both as groups and as individuals, that stem from native carp behavior. They are a generalist species with varied feeding, breeding, and predator avoidance behaviors that contribute to their success. As fish, they can be described as "friendly" towards each other. Very rarely does a goldfish harm another goldfish, nor do the males harm the females during breeding. The only real threat that goldfish present to each other is competing for food. Commons, comets, and other faster varieties can easily eat all the food during a feeding before varieties can reach it. This can lead to stunted growth or possible starvation of fancier varieties when they are kept in a pond with their single-tailed brethren. As a result, care should be taken to combine only breeds with similar body type and swim characteristics.

Cognitive abilities

Goldfish have strong associative learning abilities, as well as social learning skills. In addition, their visual acuity allows them to distinguish between individual humans. Owners may notice that fish react favorably to them (swimming to the front of the glass, swimming rapidly around the tank, and going to the surface mouthing for food) while hiding when other people approach the tank. Over time, goldfish learn to associate their owners and other humans with food, often "begging" for food whenever their owners approach.

Goldfish that have constant visual contact with humans also stop considering them to be a threat. After being kept in a tank for several weeks, sometimes months, it becomes possible to feed a goldfish by hand without it shying away.

Goldfish have a memory-span of at least three months and can distinguish between different shapes, colors, and sounds. By using positive reinforcement, goldfish can be trained to recognize and to react to light signals of different colors or to perform tricks. Fish respond to certain colors most evidently in relation to feeding. Fish learn to anticipate feedings provided they occur at around the same time every day.

Classification

Western

Main article: List of goldfish varieties

As with many other examples of animal, selective breeding of goldfish over centuries has produced several color variations, some of them far removed from the "golden" color of the original fish. There are also different body shapes, and fin and eye configurations. Some extreme versions of the goldfish live only in aquariums—they are much less hardy than varieties closer to the "wild" original. However, some variations are hardier, such as the Shubunkin. Currently, there are about 300 breeds recognized in China. The vast majority of goldfish breeds today originated from China. Some of the main varieties are:

Common goldfish Black Telescope Bubble Eye
Common Goldfish come in a variety of colors including red, orange, "gold", white, black, and yellow ('lemon') goldfish. The Black Telescope is a black-colored variant of telescope goldfish that has a characteristic pair of protruding eyes. It is also referred to as popeye, moor, kuro-demekin in Japan and dragon-eye in China. The small Bubble Eye has no dorsal fin and upward pointing eyes accompanied by two large fluid-filled sacs.
Celestial Eye Comet Fantail
The Celestial eye goldfish or Choten gan has a double tail and a breed-defining pair of upturned, telescope eyes with pupils gazing skyward. The comet or comet-tailed goldfish is a single-tailed variety in the United States. It is similar to the common goldfish, except slightly smaller and slimmer, and is mainly distinguished by its long, deeply forked tail. The Fantail goldfish is the western form of the Ryukin and possesses an egg-shaped body, a high dorsal fin, a long quadruple caudal fin, and no shoulder hump.
Lionhead Oranda Pearlscale
The lionhead has a hood. This fish is the precursor to the ranchu. The oranda is characterised by a prominent raspberry-like hood (also known as wen or head growth) that encases the whole head and some with the entire face, except for the eyes and mouth. The pearlscale or chinshurin in Japanese, is spherical-bodied with finnage similar to the fantail and veiltail. Its scales are protruded into white domes that resemble pearls.
Pompom Ryukin Shubunkin
The Pompoms, pompons or hanafusa have bundles of loose fleshy outgrowths between the nostril, called nasal boquettes, on each side of the head. The ryukin has a short, deep body with a characteristic shoulder hump. The Japanese shubunkin (朱文金) (translated literally as "red brocade") have a single tail with nacreous scales, and a pattern known as calico.
Telescope Ranchu Panda Telescope
The telescope is characterized by its protruding eyes. It is also known as the globe eye or dragon eye goldfish. The Japanese ranchu is hooded. The Japanese refer to it as the "king of goldfish". The panda telescope is another colored variant of telescope goldfish.
Veiltail Butterfly tail Meteor goldfish
The veiltail is known for its extra-long, flowing double tail. Modern veiltail standards require little or no indentation of the trailing edges of the caudal fins, as in a wedding veil for a bride. The butterfly tail moor or butterfly telescope is of the telescope-eye lineage, with twin broad tails best viewed from above. The spread of the caudal fins resembles butterflies underwater. The meteor goldfish is a strange-looking variety that has been developed by specialist breeders of goldfish. It has no tail fin, hence its name.
Lionchu Egg-fish goldfish Shukin
The Lionchu or lionhead-ranchu is a goldfish that has resulted from crossbreeding lionheads and ranchus. The egg-fish goldfish is a goldfish that lacks a dorsal fin and has a pronounced egg-shaped body. The Shukin is a Ranchu-like goldfish developed from Ranchus and Orandas at the end of the 19th century in Japan.
Curled-gill goldfish Tamasaba Tosakin
The Curled-gill or Reversed-gill goldfish is another uncommon variety of goldfish that has been developed by specialist enthusiasts. It owes its name to the out-turned appearance of its gill covers. The Tamasaba or Sabao is an uncommon Japanese variety of goldfish with a body shaped similar to the Ryukin and a very long, flowing, single tail that is similar to that of a comet goldfish, hence its other name, comet-tail ryukin. The Tosakin is a very distinctive breed of goldfish with a large tail fin that spreads out horizontally (like a fan) behind the fish, followed by the bottom tips folding behind its caudal fin. Though technically a divided tail, the two halves are attached at the center, forming a single fin.
White Telescope Jikin
The White telescope is a white variant of telescope goldfish that has a white body and a characteristic pair of protruding eyes. The Jikin is a breed of wakin-like goldfish developed in Japan.

Chinese

Chinese tradition classifies goldfish into four main types. These classifications are not commonly used in the West.

  • Crucian (also called "grass") — Goldfish without anatomical features, similar to Crucian carp or grass carp except for their coloration. These include the common goldfish, comet goldfish and Shubunkin.
  • Wen — Goldfish having a tail, e.g., fantails and veiltails. "Wen" is also the name of the characteristic headgrowth on such strains as oranda and lionhead.
  • Dragon Eye — Goldfish having extended eyes, e.g., black moor, bubble eye, and telescope eye
  • Egg — Goldfish having no dorsal fin, usually with an 'egg-shaped' body, e.g., lionhead. This group includes a bubble eye without a dorsal fin.

Cultivation

Pool Fisheries, a goldfish farm in Lonoke, Arkansas
Goldfish by Henri Matisse, 1912

In aquaria

Like most species in the carp family, goldfish produce a large amount of waste both in their feces and through their gills, releasing harmful chemicals into the water. Buildup of this waste to toxic levels can occur in a relatively short period of time, and can easily cause a goldfish's death. For common and comet varieties, each goldfish should have about 20 US gallons (76 L; 17 imp gal) of water. Smaller fantail goldfish should have about 10 US gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) per goldfish. The water surface area determines how much oxygen diffuses and dissolves into the water. A general rule is have 1 square foot (0.093 m). Active aeration by way of a water pump, filter or fountain effectively increases the surface area agitation.

The goldfish is classified as a coldwater fish, and can live in unheated aquaria at a temperature comfortable for humans. However, rapid changes in temperature, for example in an office building in winter when the heat is turned off at night, can kill them, especially if the tank is small. Care must also be taken when adding water, as the new water may be of a different temperature. Temperatures under about 10 °C (50 °F) are dangerous to fancy varieties, though commons and comets can survive slightly lower temperatures. Extremely high temperatures (over 30 °C (86 °F)) can also harm goldfish. However, higher temperatures may help fight protozoan infestations by accelerating the parasite's life cycle—thus eliminating it more quickly. The optimum temperature for goldfish is between 20 and 22 °C (68 and 72 °F).

Like all fish, goldfish do not like to be petted. In fact, touching a goldfish can endanger its health, because it can cause the protective slime coat to be damaged or removed, exposing the fish's skin to infection from bacteria or water-borne parasites. However, goldfish respond to people by surfacing at feeding time, and can be trained or acclimated to taking pellets or flakes from human fingers. The reputation of goldfish dying quickly is often due to poor care. The lifespan of goldfish in captivity can extend beyond 10 years.

If left in the dark for a period of time, goldfish gradually change color until they are almost gray. Goldfish produce pigment in response to light, similarly to how human skin becomes tanned in the sun. Fish have cells called chromatophores that produce pigments that reflect light and give the fish coloration. The color of a goldfish is determined by their diet, water quality, and exposure to light, along with age and health.

Because goldfish eat live plants, their presence in a planted aquarium can be problematic. Only a few aquarium plant species, such as Cryptocoryne and Anubias, can survive around goldfish, but they require special attention so that they are not uprooted.

In ponds

Coldwater goldfish pond in Bury, England
Red Oranda (Wen) goldfish reared in a small outdoor pond with lilies

Goldfish are popular pond fish, since they are small, inexpensive, colorful, and very hardy. In an outdoor pond or water garden, they may even survive for brief periods if ice forms on the surface, as long as there is enough oxygen remaining in the water and the pond does not freeze solid. Common, London and Bristol shubunkins, jikin, wakin, comet and some hardier fantail goldfish can be kept in a pond year-round in temperate and subtropical climates. Moor, veiltail, oranda and lionhead can be kept safely in outdoor ponds year-round only in more tropical climates and elsewhere only in summer months.

Compatible fish include rudd, tench, orfe and koi, but the last require specialized care. Ramshorn snails are helpful by eating any algae that grows in the pond. Without some form of animal population control, goldfish ponds can easily become overstocked. Fish such as orfe consume goldfish eggs.

Ponds small and large are fine in warmer areas, though goldfish can "overheat" in small volumes of water in the summer in tropical climates. In frosty climes, the depth should be at least 80 centimeters (31 in) to preclude freezing. During winter, goldfish become sluggish, stop eating and often stay on the bottom of the pond. This is normal; they become active again in the spring. Unless the pond is large enough to maintain its own ecosystem without interference from humans, a filter is important to clear waste and keep the pond clean. Plants are essential as they act as part of the filtration system, as well as a food source for the fish. Plants are further beneficial since they raise oxygen levels in the water.

Like their wild ancestors, common and comet goldfish as well as shubunkin can survive, and even thrive, in any climate that can support a pond. In general, when released into the wild, goldfish quickly take over the waterways as an invasive species.

Feeding

On a blue background, two large light red wafers at the upper left, a light gray compressed cube at the upper right, small brown pellets at the middle left, and, at the middle right and bottom, various yellow-green and red flakes
Various types of prepared fish food
See also: Fish food

In the wild, the diet of goldfish consists of crustaceans, insects, and various plant matter. Like most fish, they are opportunistic feeders and do not stop eating on their own accord. Overfeeding can be deleterious to their health, typically by blocking the intestines. This happens most often with selectively bred goldfish, which have a convoluted intestinal tract. When excess food is available, they produce more waste and feces, partly due to incomplete protein digestion. Overfeeding can sometimes be diagnosed by observing feces trailing from the fish's cloaca.

Goldfish-specific food has less protein and more carbohydrate than conventional fish food. Enthusiasts may supplement this diet with shelled peas (with outer skins removed), blanched green leafy vegetables, and bloodworms. Young goldfish benefit from the addition of brine shrimp to their diet. As with all animals, goldfish preferences vary.

For mosquito control

Like some other well-known aquarium fish, such as the guppy and mosquitofish, goldfish (and other carp) are frequently added to stagnant bodies of water in an attempt to reduce mosquito populations, which spread the vectors of diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue. However, introducing goldfish has often had negative consequences for local ecosystems, and their efficacy as pest control has never been compared to those of native fishes.

Market

The market for live goldfish and other crucian carp usually imported from China was $1.2 million in 2018. Some high quality varieties cost between $125 and $300.

Welfare concerns

View from above of children gathered around a pale blue rectangular tub filled with many small orange fish swimming in water. A girl at the top of the scene leans over the tub, with a pink scoop in her right hand and a white bowl in her left hand.
The Japanese game of goldfish scooping

Fishbowls are detrimental to the health of goldfish and are prohibited by animal welfare legislation in several municipalities. The practice of using bowls as permanent fish housing originated from a misunderstanding of Chinese "display" vessels: goldfish which were normally housed in ponds were, on occasion, temporarily displayed in smaller containers to be better admired by guests.

Goldfish kept in bowls or "mini-aquariums" suffer from death, disease, and stunting, due primarily to the low oxygen and very high ammonia/nitrite levels inherent in such an environment. In comparison to other common aquarium fish, goldfish have high oxygen needs and produce a large amount of waste due to the fact they lack a stomach; therefore they require a substantial volume of well-filtered water to thrive. In addition, all goldfish varieties have the potential to reach 5 inches (130 mm) in total length, with single-tailed breeds often exceeding 1 foot (0.30 m). Single-tailed varieties include common and comet goldfish.

In many countries, carnival and fair operators commonly give goldfish away in plastic bags as prizes. In late 2005 Rome banned the use of goldfish and other animals as carnival prizes. Rome has also banned the use of "goldfish bowls", on animal cruelty grounds, as well as Monza, Italy, in 2004. In the United Kingdom, the government proposed banning this practice as part of its Animal Welfare Bill, though this has since been amended to only prevent goldfish being given as prizes to unaccompanied minors.

In Japan, during summer festivals and religious holidays (ennichi), a traditional game called goldfish scooping is played, in which a player scoops goldfish from a basin with a special scooper. Sometimes bouncy balls are substituted for goldfish.

Although edible and closely related to some fairly widely eaten species, goldfish are rarely eaten. A fad among American college students for many years was swallowing goldfish as a stunt and as a fraternity initiation process. The first recorded instance was in 1939 at Harvard University. The practice gradually fell out of popularity over the course of several decades and is rarely practiced today.

Some animal advocates have called for boycotts of goldfish purchases, citing industrial farming and low survival rates of the fish.

In popular culture

See also: The Golden-Headed Fish, The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish, and The Gold-Children
Goldfish is one of the items used among the Haft-sin symbols of Nowruz. These are related to elements of Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the three life forms of Humans, Animals and Plants.

In Chinese history, goldfish was seen "as a symbol of luck and fortune". Moreover, only members of the Song dynasty could own goldfish. In Iran and among the international Iranian diaspora, goldfish is a traditional part of Nowruz celebrations. Goldfish are usually placed on Haft-sin tables as a symbol of progress.

See also

References

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External links

Breeds of goldfish
Portals:
Taxon identifiers
Carassius auratus
Categories: