Goldfish are popular among aquarists, but those just starting out in this hobby do not always pay attention to the necessary care to be taken with them. Since they do not have a stomach, goldfish are suitable for lakes or large aquariums. This makes them constantly look for food, dirtying the aquarium more than other fish. In this complete Goldfish guide, I will objectively address the main points of this fish and how to maintain and care for a Goldfish aquarium.
History
Goldfish is a variety of dark gray carp native to eastern Asia. This fish was initially domesticated in China and later introduced in the 17th century to Europe. There is a wide variety of sizes, shapes, fin configurations, and colors of this type of fish.
Characteristics
- This fish can grow up to 59 cm and weigh a maximum of 3 kg. These goldfish measurements are rare, and most do not reach even half of these values.
- They have long, oval bodies with tails.
- Goldfish come in various colors, white, red, black, orange, yellow, gray, golden brown, and combinations with spots.
Behavior
Goldfish’s group and individual behaviors have derived from native carp. This fish species has varied feeding and reproductive behaviors and behaviors that help them escape from their prey, increasing their survival success. Goldfish get along very well, and only in rare cases do they attack each other. We can say that the only time they may have some friction is at feeding time when they compete for food.
Vision
The goldfish can distinguish between four primary colors, classifying it as a tetrachromat. It has four types of cone cells sensitive to different colors: red, green, blue, and ultraviolet.
Cognitive abilities
Goldfish have strong social and associative learning abilities. Their visual ability allows them to distinguish between individual humans. If it is the owner, they usually react favorably (swimming quickly around the aquarium and going to the surface to eat), and when other people approach, they hide.
After being kept in an aquarium for several weeks, sometimes months, a goldfish can be hand-fed without moving away.
Goldfish feeding
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, goldfish have a very peculiar digestive system. They do not have a stomach, so a special diet with high-quality food is necessary. Because they don’t have a stomach, food is processed more quickly by their digestive system, going straight to their long intestine (normally twice the length of their body) and preventing the food from being used to its fullest.
- This is why the goldfish has a voracious appetite, always wanting food. Because they have a different digestive system, giving small portions of food is recommended when feeding goldfish. If you feed them too much, the water quality will be affected, as they produce more waste than fish with stomachs.
- Another point to be aware of is that because goldfish do not have a stomach, they do not take advantage of the hydrochloric acid responsible for digesting fats associated with protein. When fed inadequate food, goldfish can accumulate fat in their bodies and may develop swim bladder syndrome, causing them to float quickly.
- Feeding balanced, quality food to goldfish is essential. It has low-fat levels and additional vital vitamins such as alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and, in some cases, natural probiotics. Flakes and granules can be offered, but it is important to condition these foods before feeding them to the fish.
- When using granules, it is important to soak them for about 5 minutes so that the air contained in the grains escapes. If you use flakes, the portion to be given must be left to soak in a container with water for approximately 2 minutes so that the food “expands” (the food becomes 3 times larger when hydrated). This prevents some more sensitive goldfish (oval) varieties from having digestive problems. Good quality and specificity guarantee a good nutritional balance for our goldfish.
Reproduction
Goldfish grow to sexual maturity with the right nutrition and sufficient water. Billing these fish in captivity, specifically in pond environments, is possible. Goldfish reproduction typically occurs after a significant temperature change, usually in spring, when males chase egg-bearing females and encourage them to release their eggs by rubbing and nudging each other.
Goldfish, like all cyprinids, lay eggs. Their eggs are sticky and attach themselves to aquatic vegetation, typically dense plants such as Cabomba or Elodea. Within a week, the fry begins to assume their final form, although a year may pass before they develop a mature golden color (until then, they are a metallic brown like their wild ancestors). In their first weeks of life, the fry grows rapidly as it is an adaptation due to the high risk of being eaten by adults (or other fish and insects) in their environment. The artificial breeding method called “hand-picking” may help nature, but it can harm the fish if not done correctly.
Types of Goldfish
Over the centuries, selective breeding of the goldfish has produced many color variations, some very far from the “golden” color of the original fish. There are also different body shapes, fin configurations, and eye shapes. There are currently around 300 recognized breeds in China, where most fish breeds originate.
Some of the main varieties are:
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Oranda Goldfish
Oranda Goldfish is a very sociable fish. It is a cross between the Veiled and Lionheaded fish. It has the Veiled fish’s long fins and the Lionheaded fish’s fleshy protuberance. Although some individuals have swim bladder disease, they are strong and resilient.
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Telescope Goldfish (Demekin)
The Telescope Goldfish has very prominent eyes, with its pupils protected by a thick layer of crystalline lens. It comes in various colors, such as calico, red, red and white, brown, black and white, black and lavender. Its variants are the black and white (Panda Moor) and the Black Telescope (Black Moor).
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Bubble Goldfish (Shuihogan)
The Bubble fish has two sacs under its eyes, filled with bodily fluids that increase with age, making the fish even slower. For this reason, they must be handled with great care as these sacs burst easily. It has gold, black, red, or bicolor (white and red) colors.
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Pearl Goldfish
The Pearl Goldfish has bright coloration due to its larger and much thicker scales, which resemble pearls. Its body is egg-shaped, and it has a beautiful double tail. This type of fish has a crown on its head, similar to the Oranda. This fish comes in various solid or spotted colours, can live for about 10 years, and can reach a length of over 15 centimeters.
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Comet Goldfish
The tail fin of the Comet does not have a fork between the lobes, despite being double. This variant has the largest fins. It can have many different colors, such as spotted or solid. It does not like moving waters.
Conclusion
If you are thinking of having a beautiful, docile fish that will last many years. This goldfish could be the perfect choice. Its diversity of shapes and colors has made it one of the most popular ornamental fish in the world. They are very important when setting up an aquarium. They provide the best environment for them to have a better quality of life.
