Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Gregory Skomal, PhD, is an experienced aquarist and Marine Fisheries biologist at Martha's Vineyard Fisheries, Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts. He is also an adjunct scientist at the Center for Shark Research in Sarasota, Florida, and has appeared on National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, Today Show, CNN, Good Morning America, and Fox News.

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The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs—now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly!

Goldfish are the most widely kept fish in the world. They are the quintessential first pet since goldfish are relatively inexpensive, easy to care for, fairly hardy, and very adaptable. With colorful photos, charts, and tables, this guide gives you information on:

• Choosing your goldfish

• Setting up and maintaining your aquarium

• The outdoor goldfish pond

• Feeding your goldfish

• Keeping your goldfish healthy

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Goldfish

John Wiley & Sons

Chapter One

The popular image of a goldfish in a bowl has been depicted the world over-from Chinese Ming Dynasty pottery to popular comic strips such as Garfield. Goldfish are the most popular domesticated aquatic life in the world, and there are more than 125 varieties-more varieties than any other fish species.

All of these varieties are thought to have been bred from a single species, the Crucian carp. These fish are long, flat-sided, and generally look like drab gray goldfish. The goldfish of today tend to be more colorful than their ancestors.

Regardless of variety, the goldfish is one of the most popular pets in the world. Goldfish don't need to be housebroken, they won't beg at the table, and they don't shed. They're flexible about the size of their aquarium, which can depend on the size of the room, and they're easy to keep.

Another great thing about goldfish is that they are a fairly hardy species and are quite adaptable. They are excellent candidates for outdoor ponds or pools in almost any climate. Given the wide range of colors, body shapes, and general disposition, there is a goldfish out there for everyone.

The History of Goldfish

For centuries, the Crucian carp and its various progeny were found only in Asia and were particularly prized in China and, some time later, in Japan. The Chinese word for goldfish is jin y. Goldfish were first mentioned in China during the first Jin Dynasty (265-420). Some 500 years later, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it was not uncommon to have ornamental domesticated fish. These were usually kept in ponds or pools in courtyards and gardens.

The species was so popular in China, particularly in Beijing, that during the second Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) a goldfish pool was established in the capital city for commercial breeding. Goldfish reached such a height of popularity during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that they were no longer a luxury for the privileged. Many courtyard gardens had ponds with ornamental goldfish, and they were even brought inside in clay pots. It was very common to keep successful breeding techniques a secret.

Goldfish reached Japan in 1616, and the Japanese also became quite enamored of these beautiful fish. They quickly mastered the art of breeding them, and Koriyama, on the Japanese island of Honshu, has been one of the most famous goldfish breeding centers for more than 500 years. Japan is now the largest exporter of goldfish worldwide.

The Chinese and Japanese produced the Fantail, the Veiltail, the Globe-Eyed, and the varieties with transparent scales. Some of these varieties can be traced as far back as the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

In 1691, goldfish appeared in mainland Europe. From there they arrived in England in 1780. During the eighteenth century, as trade with the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese flourished, goldfish became fashionable gifts and pets throughout Western Europe. By 1850, goldfish arrived in the New World, and they were a big attraction in New York in 1865.

Keeping tropical fish became truly popular in the West after the opening of the first public aquarium at the London Zoo in 1853. The first goldfish show took place in Osaka, Japan, in 1862. The first goldfish show in the West took place in 1926 and was organized by the British Aquarists Association in London.

The Basic Goldfish Body

Although they all belong to the same species, there are more than 125 varieties of goldfish, and some look as different as cats and dogs. The Comet is the classic example of a common goldfish. The Comet's body is streamlined and tapers toward the head and the tail. The narrow section where the body meets the tail is the caudal peduncle. Regardless of variety, the caudal peduncle is almost always narrow on a goldfish, no matter how large the body. Some Fantail varieties, though, such as the Redcap and the Marigold Chinese Lionhead, have exceptionally large heads, while Moors and Veiltails, which are quite round, vary in their head shapes and sizes.

However, there are some features that are common to all goldfish-and are found in all fish. For example, although goldfish look very different from other tropical fishes, they have circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems common to most members of this vertebrate group.

Fins

The fins are critically important appendages that enable every fish to propel itself, stabilize, maneuver, and stop. There are typically two types of fins, paired (one fin on either side of the body) and unpaired, and they are found at five places on the fish's body. To have a better idea of where these fins are located on a typical goldfish, look at the drawing on page 10.

The pectoral fins are the paired fins closest to the head. The fish uses these fins to stabilize itself, turn, maneuver, hover, and swim backwards. These fins are generally found just behind or below the gills on each side of the fish, under the midline of the body. On goldfish, the pectoral fins are different shapes on different varieties. They can be short and small, as on a Lionhead, or long and flowing, as on a Veiltail.

The pelvic fins are also paired; different fish have them in very different places. In some fish, these fins are under the fish toward the rear. In others, like the goldfish, the pelvic fins are closer to the head under the pectorals. The pelvic fins act as brakes and also aid in stabilizing and turning the fish. In some varieties of goldfish, the pelvic fins may be elongated, as on a Veiltail Ryunkin.

The dorsal fin is an unpaired fin rising directly from the top of the middle of the fish's back. It is made of rigid spines and soft rays webbed with a membrane. The dorsal fin helps stabilize the fish right-side up and keeps it moving straight. When a goldfish is healthy, this fin stands straight up. Some varieties of goldfish, such as the Celestial, have no dorsal fin, and consequently have more difficulty swimming.

The anal fin protrudes from the bottom of the body, just in front of the tail. This unpaired fin works in concert with the dorsal fin to stabilize the fish. On some varieties of goldfish, the anal fin aids in propulsion and turning in small spaces. In some of the fancy varieties, the anal fin splits into a set of paired fins that are actually joined together where they meet the body. In the fancier varieties, the anal fin is so exaggerated that it is not very useful, and consequently these fish are bad swimmers.

The caudal, or tail, fin is an unpaired fin largely responsible for propelling the fish forward. It can also act as a brake, but is much more helpful in turning. There are three types of caudal fins: the single tail fin, the veiltail, and the fantail. The single tail fin is obvious and can be found on the common goldfish. The fantail is the most common of the fancy varieties and is a pair of forked tails joined at the caudal peduncle. The veiltail is a beautiful, large tail that has no indentations or forks and ends in a straight line; it is generally very long and elegant.

Scales

The body of a goldfish is covered with overlapping scales that are made of a hard, bony substance. They protect the fish's skin, reducing the chance of injuries or infection. The scales of a fish are translucent, like glass, and lack color; the color of the goldfish...