If you think of a tiny fish swimming happily in a bowl when you think about goldfish, then there is a lot about these fish that might surprise you. For instance, goldfish in the wild grow very large. When they are in a large body of water they could reach 2-feet long and weigh seven to nine pounds. And depending on their exposure to the sun, they could lose that golden color almost completely.
They are part of the carp family and look like a carp when fully grown, aside from their yellowish color. The small goldfish we are all used to seeing only stay small because they are confined to such a small space.
Types of Goldfish
There are also several varieties of goldfish, many of them look different compared to the common aquarium goldfish. Two general types are flat-bodied and more round-bodied or egg-shaped. The flat-bodied varieties are suitable for aquariums and outdoor ponds, and tend to be hardier than round-bodied types which should only be kept indoors.
Some varieties are black or white rather than gold or yellow. Many of the popular varieties found in pet stores today are the result of careful breeding over many years.
Some of these include:
* The Ranchu, or hooded goldfish, a Japanese variety
* The Shubunkin, another Japanese variety that is red and black with a spotted appearance
* The Fantail, known for having a longer, more flowing tail than other varieties
* The Ryukin, which has a short body and a hump behind its head
* The Comet, which is short and thin with a forked tail
* The Bubble Eye, which has huge, bubble eyes with sacs below them
* The Dragon Eye, which has protruding eyes
* The Panda Moor, which has protruding eyes but is a striking black and white instead of gold
* The Black Moor, which has protruding eyes and a black body
Goldfish Care
Goldfish are cold water fish so they can do well in unheated aquariums and ponds while there aren't any drastic temperature changes. New water for an aquarium should be allowed to reach room temperature before being added. Water that is too cold, which is anything lower than about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, can harm or kill the goldfish.
The water should be aerated with a pump. Goldfish bowls are actually very bad for fish. The water needs to be changed almost daily to maintain a healthy atmosphere, and that means putting the fish through the shock of a complete water change far too often. Also, only filtered water should be used.
Chlorinated water is not healthy for goldfish, so water directly from the tap could be hazardous. You can add special chemicals found in pet stores to tap water to de-chlorinate the water or let it sit in an open contain for at least 24 hours so the chlorine can dissipate. Other chemicals may be present in tap water, however, so a supply of filtered water for you goldfish aquarium is best.
Flake food is ideal for goldfish and will often help keep an aquarium cleaner than pellet food. You can also occasionally offer treats like mosquito larvae or peas. A tiny sprinkling each day is enough for goldfish. Give them only enough that they can completely eat within a few minutes.
With proper care, goldfish have been known to live up to ten years.
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