HISTORY
Goldfish are currently the most popular type of fish kept by home aquarium owners. Goldfish are relatively inexpensive, being available at virtually every pet care store. However, this was not always the case. The history of the goldfish actually dates back to over 1,000 years ago, when Prussian carp in Asia began to be domesticated for home keeping. China was the first country to selectively breed goldfish for their colors, which is the main reason why there are so many different color variations of today’s goldfish breeds. The first documented color mutation in domesticated carp was actually during the Jin Dynasty (265 – 420). By 1162, goldfish became a very popular pet for the imperial family, and anyone outside the family was forbidden from keeping the golden yellow type of goldfish. This is because yellow was the imperial color, and not fit for peasants. This affected today’s goldfish breeds, and is the main reason why there are currently more orange goldfish types than yellow. Goldfish first came to North America in 1850, and have rapidly increased in popularity ever since.
APPEARANCE
Goldfish is actually a fairly broad term that refers to all of the different type variations in the goldfish breed. In general, most goldfish are a bright orange color, with medium length fins. It’s possible that a goldfish may change its color pigmentation depending on the light conditions in which they are kept. This is why some goldfish in poorly lit areas will eventually lose their characteristic orange colors, slowly transitioning to a dull gray color. Goldfish are known for being fairly long-lived, with the oldest goldfish on record living for 49 years. If a goldfish is kept in optimal conditions, they may live in excess of 20 years. Most goldfish are able to grow to a length of 6.3 to 7.8 inches, though this is relatively rare. The longest goldfish ever recorded was in the Netherlands, and grew to an astounding length of 18.7 inches.
BEHAVIOR
Goldfish are a fairly hardy breed of fish, being easily able to adapt to different environment changes. This is one of the reasons why the behavior of most goldfish can vary greatly depending on their upbringing by their owners. Behavioral conditioning can be accomplished in virtually any goldfish, with certain fish even being able to learn to obey simple commands. Goldfish have a very strong visual acuity, which allows them to distinguish between different humans on sight. It’s also been suggested that goldfish are able to distinguish between individuals simply by hearing their voice vibration through their tank.
FEEDING
Overfeeding goldfish is a very common problem, since goldfish are characterized as opportunistic feeders. If overfed, a goldfish will not be able to properly digest proteins, resulting in excessive waste. Goldfish require a special food formula different from most fish, since they require more carbohydrates and less protein. This formula is relatively inexpensive, and can be purchased in the pet fish care section of most pet care supply stores. Most goldfish will also thrive when given live brine shrimp in addition to their processed diet.
4 Responses to “Goldfish Care”
actually you should have one gallon of water for every inch of fish.so if your fish is two inches then you need at lease two gallons of water.
The article doesn’t mention this, but goldfish need at least 10 gallons per fish and a filter in their tank, as they produce a lot of ammonia. Goldfish should NOT be kept in a bowl, as this restricts their oxygen and movement and can cause them to suffer from blindness, brain damage, ammonia poisoning, and death. Goldfish are great pets and very intelligent, but they need proper care as well.
actually – a Goldfish only needs 2 gallons per fish – so a 10gallon tank can host 5 goldfish comfortably. I know, because i have one !! – my filter runs constantly and replenish the water in the tank once a month (as my cats drink the water xP and the tank works as a humidifier for my room)
i had not kept in a bowl i had kept in a small aquariam