Critter Catalog

What do they look like?

As there are over a hundred varieties of goldfish, coloration and physical characteristics vary greatly. The common goldfish has two sets of paired fins - the pectoral fins and pelvic fins, and three single fins- the dorsal, caudal, and anal fin. The head lacks scales. Goldfish have very large eyes and acute senses of smell and hearing. Instead of true teeth, goldfish have teeth in their throats which they use to crush food.

• Other Physical Features
• bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike

• Range mass

  3.0 (high) kg

  6.61 (high) lb

• Range length

  41.0 (high) cm

  16.14 (high) in

Where do they live?

Although goldfishes originated in China, they have now spread worldwide in aquariums, ornamental pools, and into the wild.

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic
  • introduced
• palearctic
  • native
• oriental
  • introduced
• ethiopian
  • introduced
• neotropical
  • introduced
• australian
  • introduced

What kind of habitat do they need?

In the wild, goldfish can be found in slow-moving, freshwater bodies of water. As with their close relative the carp, they thrive in slightly murky water. In captivity, an aquarium with live plants and a dirt bottom is ideal. Bi-weekly water changes are a good idea as a goldfish tank is hard to keep clean. Live plants must be replaced fairly regularly; goldfish enjoy eating them. Small pebbles are a suitable substitute for the pond-like bottom. Typically, goldfish will survive in water temperatures ranging from freezing to 30 degrees centegrade. Goldfish prefer a pH range of 6.5-8.5.

• These animals are found in the following types of habitat
• temperate
• freshwater

• Aquatic Biomes
• lakes and ponds
• rivers and streams

How long do they live?

Although there is one report of a pet goldfish who lived 43 years, 25 years is a more reasonable maximum lifespan for a goldfish kept in a pond. In an aquarium, ten years is more likely. In the wild, lifespan is undoubtedly less.

• Range lifespan
  Status: captivity

  25.0 (high) years

• Average lifespan
  Status: captivity

  10.0 years

• Average lifespan
  Status: wild

  41.0 years

  Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research

• Average lifespan
  Status: captivity

  30.0 years

  Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research

How do they behave?

In the wild, goldfish often travel in schools. They are not particularly aggressive fish.

• Key Behaviors
• natatorial
• motile
• social

How do they communicate with each other?

• Perception Channels
• tactile
• chemical

What do they eat?

In the wild, goldfish are omnivores. They eat plants, insects such as mosquito larvae, small crustaceans, zooplankton, and detritus (dead plant and animal matter found on the bottom).

In captivity, goldfish are commonly fed dried flake or pellet food. Good diet supplements include freeze dried Tubifex worms, mosquito larva, bloodworms, daphnia, brineshrimp, and vegetation such as boiled peas and lettuce.

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
  • eats non-insect arthropods
• herbivore
• omnivore

What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?

Just about anything that eats fish would eat goldfish.

• Known Predators

  • great blue herons (Ardea herodias)
  • green herons (Butorides virescens)
  • ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis)
  • belted kingfishers (Cercyle alcyon)
  • turtles (Testudines)
  • northern pike (Esox lucsius)

Do they cause problems?

Introduced populations are due primarily to people releasing their pets into local waterways. Goldfish should not be released into ponds in the wild because they breed quickly and are capable of crowding out native fish species. They are considered pests in most places where they have been introduced.

How do they interact with us?

Goldfish farming has become an industry of notable size. Millions of fish are bred each year and sold to aquarium shops for resale to fish enthusiasts. In North America there is a demand for goldfish to be used as bait by anglers. Pet shops often have feeder goldfish to sell to owners of carnivorous aquarium fish.

• Ways that people benefit from these animals:
• pet trade

Are they endangered?

Goldfish are quite abundant.

• IUCN Red List

  Not Evaluated

• US Federal List

  No special status

• CITES

  No special status

• State of Michigan List

  No special status

Some more information...

Goldfish and common carp can hybridize.

Contributors

Robin Street (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

A Fishkeeper's Guide to Fancy Goldfishes; Dr. Chris Andrews; Tetra Press; 1987.

The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales and Dolphins; 1993.

Froese, R., D. Pauly, eds.. 2002. "Species summary: Carrasius auratus" (On-line). Accessed 3 April 2002 at http://www.fishbase.org.