From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Goldfish (Common)
Carassius auratus
- Temperature
- 10–22 °C
- pH
- 6.5 – 8
- Min. tank size
- 280 L
- Lifespan
- 15 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- moderate
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Carassius auratus |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Origin: | East Asia (domesticated from wild carp in China) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | moderate |
| Diet: | omnivore |
| Max Size: | 41.00 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | coldwater |
| Temperament: | peaceful |
| Min Group: | 2+ together |
| Varieties: | China recognises around 300 breeds, and they divide into two practical groups that should not share a tank. Single-tailed varieties are the hardy ones closest to the original fish: the common goldfish, the comet with its long flowing tail, the shubunkin with its calico patterning, and the wakin and jikin forms. These are pond fish, fast, strong and long-lived, and they reach full size. Fancy varieties are the products of indoor selection from the Ming dynasty onward — mutations that could not have survived in a pond. Fantails, orandas, ryukins, lionheads, ranchus, telescopes, celestials and bubble eyes all carry shortened bodies, doubled tails, or modified eyes and head growths. The trade-off is direct. Some extreme versions live only in aquariums and are much less hardy than the varieties closer to the wild original. Compressed bodies bring convoluted intestines and the buoyancy problems that go with them, and modified eyes bring vulnerability and poor vision. Fancy varieties also need warmer minimums — below 10 °C (50 °F) is dangerous for them, where commons and comets tolerate slightly lower. If you want a pond fish, buy single-tails. If you want a fancy, keep it indoors with other fancies. |
| Lifespan: | 15 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:High
- Min Tank:280 L
- Substrate:Bare bottom or large smooth gravel/sand (they dig and may swallow small gravel)
- Plant Safe:Not plant-safe (will uproot and eat soft plants)
- Filtration:High (heavy waste producers)
Goldfish (Common) (Carassius auratus) is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is native to East Asia (domesticated from wild carp in China). The goldfish is the oldest ornamental fish there is. Colour mutations of the wild crucian-type carp were being selected in Imperial China during the Jin dynasty, between 266 and 420, and domestic breeding was firmly established by the Song dynasty. Under the Ming, goldfish began to be raised indoors, which allowed the selection of mutations that could never have survived in a pond — the ancestry of every fancy variety. They reached Japan in 1603, Portugal in 1611 and North America around 1850. China recognises about 300 breeds today. The common goldfish is the single-tailed, hardy form closest to the original. Wild-type fish typically reach 12–22 cm but can reach 41 cm, and the largest recorded was around 48 cm. It is a coldwater fish with an optimum of 20–22 °C (68–72 °F), it produces a great deal of waste, and it lives well beyond ten years. None of that fits a bowl.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Keep in
- Groups of 2+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
Species similar to Goldfish (Common)
Matched on family, then category, then water type