There are a lot of myths out there about these popular fish and that can lead to problems, like your goldfish outgrowing their habitat. Now that you know a little bit about their history, let’s talk about the biology of the goldfish. Delicate fancy goldfish with egg-shaped bodies, double tails and other features unique to the specific variety.Hearty lean-bodied goldfish with a streamlined profile and a single tail.Goldfish in the West are categorized as either: US and European breeders recognize two specific varieties of goldfish while the Chinese have a more intricate system of classification. How many goldfish species are there in the world? You may find this surprising, but goldfish ( Carassius auratus) are all considered members of a single species. Many types are only found in Asia and are not likely to be available online or in an aquarium shop. The actual number is constantly changing as new crossbreeds are introduced. Occasionally, they would see a fish with a unique mutation such as a spot of bright red or orange pigmentation, and they would “rescue” it from the food population and keep it as a pet.īy selectively breeding these mutants for nearly 2,000 years they’ve managed to develop more than 200 distinct varieties of goldfish. The wild carp bred quickly and provided an easy and reliable source of food for villagers. The ancient Chinese were avid eaters of wild carp (the ancestors of koi, minnows, and goldfish) and they collected the plain grey/brown colored fish and raised them in natural and eventually artificially constructed ponds. Goldfish are native to China and the story of their domestication is long and intriguing. Whether you prefer a hearty variety of goldfish for your pond or a group of fancies for an indoor aquarium, there’s a lot more to these fish than just their bright colors. Luckily I’ve learned a lot more about this species as I’ve matured and have long ditched my objections to the fancy goldfish types. Instead, I was drawn to the bright tanks of cheap feeder goldfish and their endless mix of colors and patterns.

Shopping for pet fish as a child, I had no interest in the aquarium’s filled with the odd-looking, googly-eyed goldfish.

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