Introduction
Goldfish are among the most common fish in the aquarium hobby. They were first domesticated from food fish in China over 1,000 years ago. Goldfish are different from koi and common carp by the absence of whiskers in the corners of their mouth.
Through selective breeding, there are many different types of fancy goldfish. These include coments, fantails, moors, orandas, ryukins, ranchus, and more! There are plenty of beautiful goldfish, some of which fetch very high prices.
Care
Maintain good filtration and change 25% of water biweekly, and siphon any remaining waste. Always remember to treat tap water with water conditioner before refilling your aquarium. With great care, they may live up to 20 years old.
Diet
Goldfish are omnivores and will generally feed on crustaceans, insects, and plants in the wild. A high quality diet would involve a mix of goldfish flakes, goldfish granules, and goldfish color granules.
When feeding, be sure to soak your food briefly and avoid feeding them with floating pellets. Goldfish are naturally bottom dwellers, and when swimming to the surface to eat, it may cause them to lose equilibrium. Hence, feeding sinking food is recommended.
Habitat and Environment
- 16°C - 21°C (60°F - 70°F)
- Fancy Goldfish: - 20°C - 23°C (68°F - 74°F)
- pH between 7.0 and 8.4
Behavior & Compatibility
Goldfish are most compatible with other peaceful, similarly sized fish. Goldfish are intelligent fish, with long memories, contrary to popular beliefs. They may be taught to be hand fed and interact with owners, along with being able to distinguish their owners. Most goldfish of different sizes can be kept together, however always consult an expert before adding different types of goldfish to your tanks. Commons, comets, and shubunkins might be too aggressive for smaller fancy goldfish.
Tank Size
For adult commons, comets, and shubunkins, it is recommended to have a tank size of at least 20 gallons. For other fancy goldfish, a minimum tank size of 10 gallons is recommended.
Recommended Equipment
- Filter
- Heaters are not needed as goldfish live in cooler temperatures and may thrive in varying temperatures.
Different Types of Goldfish
- Common Goldfish
- Comet Goldfish
- Fantail
- Ryukin
- Oranda
- Bubble Eye
- Pearlscale
- Lionhead
- Butterfly Goldfish
- Ranchu