Goldfish were the first fish to be raised as pets, and are by far the best known of all aquarium fish!
Many historians believe goldfish were the first fish to be raised as pets and date back to 800 AD in China. In ancient China, goldfish were considered a symbol of wealth and were kept in ornamental bowls and water ponds. People soon realized that goldfish could recognize their humans. They would also exhibit social behaviors. Today goldfish are one of the most popular pets in the world.
An interesting goldfish fact is that goldfish have been shown to have a memory span of up to three months. They can distinguish between various shapes, colors and sounds. Some have been trained via positive reinforcement to accomplish tricks such as fetching and soccer.
Goldfish are an excellent choice for the aquarium. They are interesting in their social behaviors and there is a great deal of variety. Goldfish colors range from gorgeous metallic gold and reds to a variety of other shades and sheens. Forms are also quite variable with fancy goldfish that have single or twin tail fins, elongate to rounded bodies, and different shaped heads and eyes.
In a planted aquarium or water pond, goldfish will provide a beautiful and mesmerizing hobby. These hardy, undemanding fish are not too fussy about their food or water conditions. Put them in an aquarium with plant thickets and some rocks and you have a wonderful display. Goldfish simply make great pets!
In spite of their good nature and low demands however, taking care of goldfish does mean a bit of work and some common sense. The life span of your gold fish and the level of attachment formed between you will depend on the care you provide. Read about the type of Goldfish you are considering. You will learn about its unique characteristics and how to care for it. Taking care of goldfish is not only fun, but will ensure a long, happy life for your pet!
The keeping of goldfish dates back to 800 AD. The fancy goldfish we see today are the descendants of a wild carp from Asia (Siberia), the Prussian Carp Carassius gibelio (syn: Carassius auratus gibelio) described by Bloch in 1782. For many years it was believed that goldfish had originated from the Crucian Carp or Golden Carp Carassius auratus auratus described by Linnaeus in 1758, but more recent research is pointing toward the former.
Goldfish were originally developed in China, but by the 1500's goldfish were traded to Japan. They were finally traded to Europe in the 1600's and to America in the 1800's. During the early times, it wasn't easy transporting freshwater fish around the globe. There weren't filtration systems or airplanes back then and many fish died in route. Those that did survive were worth considerable money. By the late 1800's many of the problems regarding keeping fish as pets started to be resolved. Fish farms were set up and new varieties were once again established.
There are estimated to be over 125 varieties of fancy goldfish, but only about 20 types of goldfish are regularly sold in pet stores.
- Goldfish facts
Goldfish start out small, usually an inch or two, but they can grow quite large. A size of more than 20 inches is not unusual. Many grow to the size of 12 inches and 5 pounds. These are not small fish. They are considered hardy and relatively long living with an average goldfish lifespan of 10 – 15 years, though 20 years is not uncommon.
- Goldfish breeding
Selective goldfish breeding has produced a wide variety of goldfish available to pet enthusiasts at a reasonable price. If you think of any anatomical fish characteristic, you can count on the fact that goldfish will carry it in the extreme. They can have bulging eyes and bodies but fins so delicate, they seem translucent.
- Goldfish Colors
Originally, the goldfish was the descendent of a rather plain fish, a wild carp, primarily a gray or silver color. However, through selective breeding, the Chinese were able to produce a variety of goldfish colors and body shapes. The red and gold variety was selectively bred. The goldfish colors can also be metallic, flat, or iridescent.
The colors of goldfish can change as they age, or goldfish colors can revert to a metallic orange when kept in warmer water. They will also change their coloring based on the spectrum of lighting used. Goldfish produce a pigment in response to light and their cells will cause a different coloration or reflection based on light.
Goldfish are often put into two main categories called single or double tailed. Types of goldfish with a single tail usually have longer sleeker bodies and a short single tail fin. The double tailed goldfish usually have rounder bodies with a double tail fin and are slower swimmers.
- Beginner goldfish
There are many goldfish types to select from but some are hardier than others. The easiest to start with are the Common Goldfish. They are some of the hardiest, are readily available, and are inexpensive. Other good beginner gold fish include the Comet Goldfish, Fantail Goldfish, Ryukin Goldfish, and Shubunkin Goldfish,
- Fancy goldfish
As you become more confident in keeping goldfish, you may want to try your hand at some of the more exotic looking types or the more delicate types. Some readily available and less expensive fancy goldfish for sale include the all-time favorite Black Moor along with the Telescope Goldfish. These two are very hardy, but due to their poor vision need a bit more specialized housing.
The Black Moor and the Telescope Goldfish will thrive best housed with each other, or with other similarly handicapped gold fish like the less hardy Bubble Eye Goldfish, Lionhead Goldfish, and Celestial Goldfish.
- Exotic fancy goldfish
Some other favorite fancy goldfish for sale include Veiltail Goldfish, Oranda Goldfish and Redcap Oranda Goldfish, Ranchu Goldfish, and Pearlscale Goldfish,
Other interesting types of goldfish, though a bit harder to find, include Butterfly Tail Moor, Orange Bubble-eye, Bronze Bubble-eye, Hama Nishiki, Chocolate Pom Pom, Panda, and even more exotic species too numerous to mention.
The first consideration when getting a goldfish is what to house it in. Once you have determined what aquarium you want for your pet goldfish, there are some additional basic goldfish supplies you'll need.
Here is a list of the basic supplies you'll need:
- Goldfish supplies
- Fish Tank
- Tank Hood with cover and light
- Filter and filter media
- Gravel and tank decorations
- Water conditioning treatments for chlorine and PH
- PH testing kit
- Fish net
- Gravel vacuum
There are special things to consider in choosing the goldfish tank, filtration, and lighting. One questions that always comes up is, Can I keep my goldfish in a bowl, or should I keep it in a tank? There are a number of good reasons to ultimately opt for goldfish aquariums for the health and long life of your fish.
- Goldfish bowl
Although a goldfish can be adequately maintained for a while in a goldfish bowl, it is recommended that you invest in a goldfish tank.
- Your goldfish will eventually outgrow a bowl. Goldfish can get quite large, with some reaching up to 20".
- A goldfish bowl is less convenient to set up with a filtration system to help maintain good water quality for the health of your fish.
- A large surface area is essential for oxygen exchange and goldfish need lots of oxygen. A goldfish bowl that tapers near the top won't provide the same oxygenation as goldfish aquariums with larger surface areas.
- Goldfish tank
Keeping goldfish aquariums rather than goldfish bowls are recommended. Why? Because an aquarium is easier to take care of and more economical overall. Given the standard rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water, it's best to start with a 20 - 30 gallon tank for your first goldfish and then increase the size of the tank by 10 gallons for each additional goldfish.
This formula works great when you are first introducing small fish, however it does not work well for large fish. Larger goldfish consume much more oxygen than young fish. Overtime as your fish grows, it will need more oxygenated water than this formula allows. Too little water can actually stunt them, and can also contribute to disease and even death.
To allow for growth, either buy fewer fish than the maximum number of fish (based on the above formula) or be prepared to get a larger tank.
Because goldfish do not have a stomach and they eat a lot, they produce a great deal of waste. Waste leads to rising ammonia levels, which is toxic to gold fish and must be kept to a minimum.
Filtration systems remove much of the detritus, excess foods and waste. This helps keep the tank clean and maintain the general health of the goldfish. Providing good filtration, especially biological filtration, is very helpful in maintaining the water quality of an aquarium.
Goldfish are fairly cold hardy and you don't need light to keep the water warm but more for showing off your goldfish to their best advantage. Aquarium kits and hoods (light fixtures) can come with either fluorescent or incandescent lighting. Choosing fluorescent rather than incandescent lighting will help you'll save on electricity and it will give off less heat. Keep the lighting on for about ten hours daily.
Goldfish will change their coloring based on the spectrum of lighting used. They produce a pigment in response to light and their cells will cause a different coloration or reflection based on light. This is similar to us humans tanning. Removed from light, they will eventually return to their grayish color.
There are several types of filtration systems available, see Freshwater Aquarium Basics and Aquarium Setup to learn more about them. It will help when setting up a goldfish aquarium. Then all you have to do is set up your tank, select your goldfish, and you're ready to enjoy.
Taking care of goldfish is fairly simple. Provide good water quality and temperature range, the right goldfish food, and have a regular maintenance schedule.
If there is chlorine is in your water, you will need to add a de-chlorinator each time you add water to the tank. Chlorine will kill your goldfish. You can talk to your local fish store regarding your water, and it can be checked with a chlorine testing kit. If you are unsure, to be on the safe side adding a de-chlorinator with each water addition will not have any ill effects on your tank.
The pH for your goldfish aquarium should be maintained between 7.2 and 7.6. You should be able to get a pH testing kit from a local fish store or most pet stores. You can also check with the agricultural department to insure there are not toxins dangerous to humans or fish in your tap water.
Goldfish are cold water animals so do well in a cooler aquarium. Keep the temperature of the aquarium between 65°- 68° F (18°- 20° C) but not higher than 72° F (22° C). Although goldfish are cold hardy, they do not do well in extreme temperature changes.
If you are in a building which becomes quite cold at night and the heat is turned off, it is recommended that you do check the temperature and stabilize it. You may wish to add a an aquarium heater, as most models commonly have a build in thermostat to maintain a relatively constant temperature.
Goldfish have done well in water ponds even when the water has frozen over. However, the temperature was decreased gradually and the fish tolerated it. They are cold hardy but don't do well with extreme drops in temperature so if you do keep them in a water pond outside, make sure it is deep enough - over 30 inches deep. If there is enough oxygen in the water and ice forms on the top, the fish will go to the bottom, remain fairly sluggish almost in hibernation throughout the winter. They should become active again in the spring. Plants help to further add oxygen to the water pond.
- goldfish food
Goldfish are omnivores and they will eat just about anything. Most fish are considered opportunistic eaters in that they will eat most anything and will not stop of their own accord. Goldfish are no exception. Goldfish do differ from most tropical fish, however, in the fact they do not have a stomach. They will produce excessive feces when they are feed too much.
There are a variety of goldfish food products available ranging from pellets, flakes, even live foods such as brine shrimp. A rule of thumb is feed your goldfish several times a day but not more than they can consume in a 5 minute period of time.
Goldfish will overeat and produce excess feces which will cause the tank to be dirty, the pH to raise, and become unhealthy for the fish. Goldfish do eat live plants so choose plants for your aquarium that are goldfish tolerant.
- Aquarium Maintenance
A weekly water change of 25 - 30 % is recommended. Snails can be added as they reduce the algae in the tank, helping to keep it clean
You can find goldfish supplies and goldfish food in pet stores, or on-line, see: goldfish food and aquarium supplies.
In properly maintained goldfish aquariums or ponds, goldfish illness is largely preventable. Even so goldfish illnesses can occur. Goldfish diseases are mostly the same as those that afflict other freshwater fish, symptoms and treatment of goldfish diseases are also similar. The main types of fish diseases include bacterial infections, fungal infections, parasites, and protozoa. There are also other ailments caused by injury, poor nutrition, or bad water conditions.
If left untreated a goldfish diseases can prove fatal to your pet. But goldfish are hardy and if treated in a timely manner most will make a full recovery. When treating for a goldfish illness, it is advisable to move the afflicted fish into a hospital tank. Using a separate aquarium isolates not only the sick fish but also the disease. The tank should have no gravel or plants, and the water will need to be changed regularly. If however, the disease is apparent throughout the main tank, it may be best to do the treatments there.
Whether treating a hospital tank or your main tank, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for any medication. Some medications can adversely affect the water quality by destroying beneficial bacteria. You may also need to remove the carbon from the filtration system, as carbon will absorb many medications making the treatment ineffective.
Here is a list of common goldfish diseases, with links for more in-depth information on the Fish Diseases page, where you'll also find symptoms and treatments.
- Bacterial Infections
Dropsy is a bacterial infection in the kidneys. Fluids build up in the body making the fish bloat and its scales protrude. It generally only affects weakened fish, but can be fatal if not treated quickly.
- Fish Tuberculosis
Fish Tuberculosis is indicated by the fish becoming emaciated, having a hollow belly. There are also a number of other possible symptoms including lethargy, becoming deformed, lost or frayed fins, lost scales, and more. Tuberculosis may be caused by over-crowding. There is no absolute treatment and can be fatal. Though rare, there is a slight risk for humans to contract this disease.
- Tail Rot and Fin Rot
Though often a bacterial infection, reduced tail or fins can be caused by a number of factors. Other fish fin nipping or bullying, or poor tank conditions are often the source, then causing another infection that can be either bacterial or fungal. First identify the problem, and then treat accordingly.
- Fungal Infections
Fish fungus looks like tufts of gray or whitish cotton-like growths on the skin. It is usually the result of poor water quality and can accompany other types of goldfish diseases.
- Anchor Worm
Anchor worms are parasites that burrow into the skin of goldfish, lay eggs, and then die. They leave an ugly hole behind that can become infected. They look like threads coming out of your fish.
- Black Spot - Black Ick
One type of Black Spot on goldfish is the result of healing wounds, usually from ammonia burns.
A rare second type of Black Spot, also known as Black Ick, is a caused by a parasite usually found in ponds and rarely in the aquarium. This infection looks like black specks or smudges on the body of the fish, and possibly around the mouth.
- Fish Lice (Argulus)
Fish louse are flattened mite-like crustaceans about 5 mm long that attaches themselves to the body of the goldfish. Fish lice can be a problem for goldfish but are fairly easy to treat, either the individual fish or the whole tank.
- Flukes - Skin Flukes
Flukes are flatworms about 1 mm long, with hooks around their mouth. They infest the gills or body of the fish, much like Ick. But unlike Ick, using a magnifying lens, you can usually see movement and eye spots. Fish will race around the tank, and you may see black or red nodules beneath the skin. Heavy infestation can be fatal, so treat as quickly as possible.
- Protozoan Diseases
Costia is a protozoan disease that causes a cloudiness of the skin. It can be fatal within days.
- Ick - Goldfish Ick, White Spot
Ick is easy to identify, it looks like your fish is sprinkled with salt. It can be fatal but is easily treated if caught quickly.
Chilodonella will cause a blue white cloudiness on the skin. It irritates the fish, causing them to glance off rocks or plants, and they may have clamped fins and difficulty breathing. It is a dangerous protozoan disease, but is easy to treat.
- Miscellaneous Goldfish Illnesses
- Cloudy Eye
Eye problems stem from a variety of things. They can be due to poor nutrition, bad water quality, rough handling, or results of other ailments like bacterial infections.
Symptoms of constipation are loss of appetite and swelling of the body. The cause is almost always diet.
- Swim-bladder Disease
Swim bladder problems are indicated by fish swimming in abnormal patterns and having difficulty maintaining their balance. This can be caused by a number of things from constipation or poor nutrition to a physical deformity or a parasitic infection. Feeding frozen peas (defrosted) has been noted to help alleviate the symptoms and correct the problem in some cases.
- Wounds and Ulcers
Wounds can become infected, creating ulcers. Wounds can develop either bacterial or fungal infections, or both, that must be treated. There are treatments for each of these diseases individually, and treatments that handle both.
Fancy Goldfish for Sale
Common goldfish are readily available at any pet store that deals in freshwater fish. Most pet stores, and especially fish stores will also offer a number of fancy goldfish for sale. Some of the more exotic fancy goldfish will be available at fish stores or through a special order with them. You can also find many fancy goldfish for sale on the Internet.
- Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
- David Alderton, Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish , DK Publishing, Inc., 2005.
- Marshall E. Ostrow, Goldfish (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals), Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 2003
- Geoff Rogers, Nick Fletcher, Focus on Freshwater Aquarium Fish, Firefly Books. 2004
- Alvin Silverstein, Virginia B. Nunn, Laura Silverstein, Fabulous Fish, Lerner Pub Group. 2003
- David Sands, Goldfish (Caring for Your Pet), Interpet Publishing, 1999
- Dieter Untergasser, Handbook of Fish Diseases, TFH Publications, 1989.
- Goldfish, New World Encyclopedia, referenced online, 2011
- Goldfish, Wikipedia, referenced online, 2011
- Goldfish As Pets?!, goldfish-as-pets.com, referenced online, 2011