The goldfish is the most popular aquarium fish in the world, by far. They were first domesticated by the Chinese, from the Prussian carp, over 2,000 years ago. These relatives of the carp prefer slower moving fresh water, with a slightly murky appearance. They gained popularity in the United States due to the U.S. Commission on Fisheries handing out thousands of these fish, thanks to a Japanese shipment in 1878. Around 20,000 fish were distributed each year, for years. At 1 instance, 1/3 of the people in the United States owned a goldfish. These beloved pets are actually considered an invasive species, when released into natural waterways. So don’t set your no longer wanted goldie free by flushing them down the toilet or setting them free in your local lake or pond. This is not only the wrong thing to do, but it’s also illegal in most states and countries.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Carassius auratus
Weight: Up to 4 lbs.
Length: Up to 15 inches
Lifespan: Up to 40 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) A group of goldfish is called a troubling.
2.) It has been estimated that over 480 million goldfish are sold each year!
3.) Even though you need a microscope to see them, goldfish scales have age rings, called circuli, that are added to with each year of life. So, as in counting the rings of a tree, counting the rings of a goldfish’s scales will determine how old they are.
4.) Goldfish can actually see ultraviolet light. That’s right. They can see 4 color combinations. Humans can only see 3 color combinations: red, yellow, and blue.
5.) Goldies may have the ability to see ultraviolet light, but overall, their vision isn’t that great. Due to the fact that their eyes are on the sides of their head, they have a gigantic blind spot, directly in front of them.
But wait, there’s more on the goldfish!
6.) Pompoms, lionheads, bubble-eyes, veiltails, and shubunkins are just a few of the over 300 different variations of these fish.
7.) Goldfish can be taught tricks. With patience and time, they can be taught to swim through mazes, recognize colors, and retrieve items. That’s right. You can teach your fish to fetch.
Did you know…?
They actually don’t have a 3 second memory span. That is a myth. Believe it or not, they can actually retain memories for up to 5 months.
8.) They actually not only enjoy music, but can be trained with it. 1 experiment used varying composers in conjunction with feeding. When the songs were switched, the fish no longer had an interest in feeding.
9.) Facial recognition is another cool trait that these pets have. That’s right, they know your face and recognize their owners.
10.) Like other fish, they have a lateral line. This series of dots along each side of their body aids the fish in sensing vibrations in the water.
But wait, there’s still more on the goldfish!
11.) Light helps these fish produce pigment. Remove the light source and they’ll turn white.
12.) Their taste buds are on their lips and just inside their mouths. This is why you see goldfish constantly pecking things in the aquarium. They’re simply tasting their world.
Did you know…?
When expelling waste, they don’t urinate. No known fish does. Instead, they release solid waste and ammonia through their cloaca.
13.) They can develop and carry diseases that, if flushed down the toilet (for instance) can spread to other native fish. So, if your pet gets too sick to heal, discard it in a zip-lock bag and put it in the trash or bury it. Don’t throw it into the water column.
14.) Eating is a way of life for them. They will literally eat anything they can fit in their mouth. They’ll even eat each other. Another reason for not releasing unwanted goldies into your local water body. They can become disastrous for native aquatic life.
15.) Fishbowls are a bad idea for keeping them as pets. It is preferred that at least a 10 – 20 gallon aquarium, with proper filtration be set up. They’ll live longer, healthier lives and will thank you for it… in their own little way.
But wait, there’s even more on the goldfish!
16.) If you find one that has white bumps on their gill plates or fin rays, it might not be the parasitic infection called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (ich, for short). It might just be what are called breeding stars. No one is certain exactly what they’re for. Sparring for breeding rights, adornments for attracting a mate? Who knows?
17.) If cared for properly, they can live longer than any other known domesticated fish. By far.
Did you know…?
During the Song Dynasty, a rule was strictly enforced that stated that no peasant could own a yellow goldfish. This was due to the fact that yellow was the royal family’s color.
18.) They are communal fish that get along fine with each other. Just as long as they’re the same size.
19.) Food is digested via an elongated intestinal track. They don’t have a stomach. So they eat a lot and subsequently defecate (poop) a lot.
20.) Until they became mainstream, these fish were once offered as a gift on a couple’s 1st wedding anniversary, in Asia.
But wait, there’s a still little more on the goldfish!
21.) Not only do goldfish sleep at night, but their colors also fade when the lights go off.
22.) In an attempt to get all the nutrients possible from a meal, they will sometimes engage in coprophagy (eating their own poop). This behavior is also seen in rabbits and guinea pigs, to name a couple. But goldies will not produce a special kind of poop that is meant for consumption, like the previously mentioned rodents.
23.) When one fish veers off course, the others will follow. In the event that they don’t the stray will rejoin its friends.
24.) 9 seconds is their average attention span. Humans typically come in at 8 seconds.
25.) Similar to breeding a donkey with a horse, breeding a koi with a goldfish yields sterile young.
But wait, there’s just a few more facts on the goldfish!
26.) Seeing as they don’t have a stomach, they are unable to determine if they’re actually full.
27.) They have pharyngeal teeth. This means that their teeth are in the back of their mouths, nearing their throats.
28.) With around 300 types of goldfish, contributions to this world of fish have come from all over the world. The only attribute made by the United States is the comet breed.
29.) Females lay upwards of 1,000 eggs. But not all are fertilized. Also, some are eaten.
30.) Their scales are actually clear. The coloration actually comes from their underlying skin.
Now a Short Goldfish Video!
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