They can also distinguish their owners from other humans. They can be taught to hand-feed and interact with their owners. They are intelligent, have long memories and can become very tame. They are gregarious, meaning they like to hang around together. If housed without a heater, they should be kept with other fish that are tolerant of cooler water temperatures. Fin nippers and boisterous fish should be avoided. Goldfish get along well with most peaceful, similarly sized fish. Provide adequate water flow but avoid strong currents. Goldfish like to forage in the substrate, so avoid jagged or crushed glass gravel. Avoid decorations with sharp edges and abrasive rocks such as lava and tufa, which may tear delicate fins as well as eye sacs on bubble eyes, celestial eyes, moors and telescopes. Larger goldfish will eat many types of live plants, with the possible exception of Cryptocorynes, Java fern and Anubias, although they may uproot these, too. The filter should be slightly over-sized to accommodate high waste production and additional aeration is recommended when goldfish are kept at warmer temperatures. In aquariums, adult common goldfish, comets and shubunkins should have at least 20 gallons of water per fish, while adult fancy goldfish should have at least 10 gallons per adult fish. Fancy goldfish, such as orandas, ryukins, moors and others, can also be kept in outdoor ponds, but are more vulnerable to predators and must be brought in during winter in harsh climates. Common goldfish, comets and shubunkins make excellent outdoor pond fish and are known to survive relatively cold winters.

Goldfish should never be kept in bowls, small aquariums or any unfiltered container! In addition to having relatively high oxygen demands, they grow to be quite large and generate a significant amount of waste, which can be harmful if allowed to accumulate. Don't forget to treat tap water with Aqueon Water Conditioner before refilling your aquarium! Housing Requirements for Goldfish Maintain good filtration and change 10% of the water weekly or 25% every 2 weeks using an Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer or Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaner. A tablespoon of aquarium or sea salt per 5 gallons can also be used to help keep goldfish in good health. Rapid changes in temperature or water chemistry can be harmful, if not fatal to goldfish. pH is not critical, but ideally should be between 7.0 and 8.4. The optimum temperature for fancy goldfish is 68° to 74° F, while comets and shubunkins should be kept between 60° and 70☏. They have been introduced to many parts of the world to control mosquito populations.Ĭonsidered cold water fish, goldfish can also be kept in heated aquariums. Goldfish are ubiquitous in nature and can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and virtually every freshwater habitat on the planet from temperate to tropical environments.

When properly cared for, goldfish can live over 20 years in captivity. All varieties of goldfish are the same species – Carrassius auratus.

Orandas, lionheads and ranchus develop a crown of fatty tissue, called hood growth, over their heads that in mature fish may completely cover their eyes! Fancy goldfish can become stunningly beautiful and command high prices. They include comets, shubunkins, fantails, orandas, ryukins, moors, telescope eyes, celestial eyes, bubble eyes, butterfly tails, pearlscales, wakins, lionheads, ranchus and many more. Through selective breeding, many 'fancy' goldfish strains sporting different body shapes, colors and fin types are available today. Goldfish can be distinguished from koi and common carp by the absence of barbels or 'whiskers' in the corners of their mouth. They are not the same, but related to carp, and were first domesticated from food fish in China over 1,000 years ago. Among the most common fish in the aquarium hobby, goldfish belong to the Family Cyprinidae and are native to Eastern Asia.

Guppies and telescope goldfish