Goldfish: varieties, selection, care and breeding

The goldfish is the magic heroine of Pushkin's famous fairy tale about an old man and a fish that fulfills wishes. Many in childhood dreamed of having an aquarium at home with this fabulous creature. Someone, having matured and lost faith in miracles, abandoned their childhood dream. Some, on the contrary, reaching out for a fairy tale, began with enthusiasm to keep goldfish at home, not expecting them to fulfill their desires, but receiving aesthetic pleasure, admiring their appearance.

The goldfish has been known as a pet for more than 13 centuries. The first domesticated "golden carps" appeared in China in the 7th century AD. The source of this was the craving of people for small animals, which could be kept in small domestic reservoirs: ponds, wells, lakes or barrels of water. Especially the affinity for gathering was developed among the wealthy representatives of high society, since they had the greatest opportunity to decorate their yards with swimming pools and artificial lakes.

In its natural environment, crucian carp, a representative of ray-finned fish from the cyprinid family, has a small, laterally flattened, short and angularly high body. The length of an adult can reach 30 cm, weight - about 350 g. Aquarium species of goldfish are much smaller than their wild counterparts and can have significant differences in the shape of the body and head. The color of dense, rough scales in crucian carp is gray-green with a silvery-metallic sheen, but over the centuries of selection, fish of various colors have been bred, ranging from yellow-silver to bright red and black with tints.

The species diversity of goldfish is combined into subclasses that have similar body shapes, fin system, eyeball, scales and color.

Decorative crucian carp has such body types as:

• wild type - in physique, the aquarium fish resembles its wild relative.
• torpedo - a fish that looks like a slightly flattened torpedo;
• egg - almost all modern decorative varieties of goldfish can boast of this body shape; the body widened in the region of the head tapers slightly towards the tail;
• tear or drop - fish with an almost spherical body shape; in contrast to the ovoid shape, the tapering occurs from the tail to the head.

Over the centuries of selective breeding breeds of goldfish were obtained with such types of tail fins as:

• having an ordinary single tail, one to one similar to the caudal fin of a wild fellow; such breeds differ in the length or presence of dorsal fins, body size and color;
• having a double tail, which is fused at the base, as well as double fins; the differences between such breeds are in the size and shape of the body, tail, and also in different colors;
• in the latter type, the dorsal fin is completely absent, which is most often observed in fish that have the shape of an "egg" body; they have a smooth back without any protrusions.

Depending on the shape of the eyeball the following types are distinguished:

• domed or hemispherical eyes protrude noticeably from the sides of the head, which is clearly visible when viewed from above;
• the flat surface of the protruding part of the eyeball is characteristic of cylindrical eyes;
• round eyes or a globe - eyeballs in the shape of a ball protrude completely from the head and are typical mainly for telescope fish.

There are also such breeds with other characteristic features of the structure of the eyes, such as:

• stargazer - the eyes of the fish are spherical with pupils pointing up;
• watery eyes or bladders - have large under-eye sacs filled with lymphatic fluid; some varieties of such bubbles have two pairs, one located directly under the eyes, the other slightly lower, behind the lower jaw; the eyes always look up.

Fish scales has the following shades:

• brilliant;
• matte;
• pearl.

Among the many color combinations in goldfish connoisseurs and breeders distinguish the following types:

• plain - the fish is completely colored in one color, without other inserts;
• spotted (variegated) - such fish have large spots of various colors and shades on their bodies; for species with three colors, the name tricolor is used;
• with variegated scales - in such fish, each scale has two or more colors, which in total gives a characteristic "variegated" body color;
• calico - such a color is characterized by a large number of small colored specks, partially overlapping one another; for fish with this color, it is desirable to have a large number of blue spots against the background of other colors;
• coloring "panda" - a fish of this type of color resembles the famous oriental bear, a lover of bamboo, not only in black and white, but also in phlegmatic character;
• "Little Red Riding Hood" - a fish of this species is distinguished by the presence of a growth on its head, which resembles the shape and color of the headdress of the heroine of a famous fairy tale.

Throughout many centuries of breeding more than 300 varieties of goldfish have been obtained.

• Ordinary... Wild type aquarium fish with red-orange body color and simple fin system.

• Butterfly. The fish got its name because of the bifurcated, bushy tail, shaped like the wings of an elegant insect, and the color is forged non-ferrous metal. The eyes of the dzikin (in Japanese "ingot") are domed.

• Fantail... It looks like an ordinary goldfish with a slight difference: a short forked tail is located high or horizontally and, when opened, resembles a fan.

• Veil tail. A small fish with an ovoid or spherical body has long fins and a tail-tail, divided into 2-4 parts.

• Pearl. A small pot-bellied fish with short fins is covered with scales, reminiscent of medium-sized pearls. The head is decorated with a small outgrowth hanging over the eyes.

• Comet. The elongated body and fins, as well as a single long tail, resemble a comet flying in the sky in outlines, for which one of the varieties of goldfish got its name.

• Lionhead. A rather pot-bellied fish has growths on its head, giving it the appearance of a lion's or buffalo's head.

• Heavenly eye. The stargazer fish has a unique structure of eyes turned upward, which gives the feeling that it is constantly trying to examine the starry sky.

• Oranda. The lion-headed fish has an ovoid body with elongated fins. There is a large growth on the head of the fish.

• Bubbles eye. Another specimen with an unusual mutation in the eyeball. Under the upward-looking eyes, there are skin sacs filled with lymph. They can be single or double.

• Ranch. An egg-shaped fish without a dorsal fin is as if cast in an orchid, for which it got its name. Fish of this species have shortened tail and fins, and there is also a small growth on the head.

• Ryukin. A very humpbacked spherical specimen with fluffy fins resembles a gold bar, hence its name "ryukyu", which means "gold" in Japanese.

• Telescope. In ovoid fish with elongated fins, the eyes are in the form of a ball that extends beyond the head. There are three types of telescopes, namely:
  1. simple goggle-eyed;
  2. veiled, with a long forked tail;
  3. black, with the color of a velvet dark night.

• Shubunkin. A very variegated fish with an elongated body has transparent scales.

• Pompom. A short-bodied fish with an ovoid body has loose fleshy growths around the nostrils.

Goldfish have different body shapes, colors and sizes, so first of all you need to decide what kind of goldfish you want to settle in the aquarium and admire it. And also determine the price, since many rare species are very expensive. Before starting an aquarium with a goldfish, the prospective owner needs to consider the following questions:

• where the aquarium with the sorceress will be located;
• how many individuals will live in an indoor pond;
• who will coexist with them on the same territory;
• for what purposes it was decided to keep the goldfish: just for the soul or for breeding, or the future owner decides to start breeding and try to breed a new species of decorative carp.

Some owners who keep one or more fish give their pets personal names. Choosing a name for a fish, you can focus on the features of the tail, eyes, color, body shape: Scout, Whitetail, Bubble or something similar. Mark with a name and behavioral features. For example, if the fish are sleeping a lot, then you can call them Sonya or Drema.

Since the word "gold" is associated with wealth, the names of Archie, Bonnie, Jake and the like are suitable for aquarium phlegmatic people. Of the female names, you can use Cleo, Nefertiti, Lady. Since goldfish trace their ancestry from the East, these beauties can pick up names that have Japanese or Chinese roots, for example:

• Akemi (female) - bright beauty;
• Kiku (female) - chrysanthemum;
• Akio (male) - handsome;
• Koheku (male) - amber.

The goldfish is a rather unpretentious creature that can live for some time even in a small volume of water. In order for a fabulous beauty to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules of care and feeding.

Preparing the aquarium for launch, be sure to consider the following factors:

• a large amount of living space is important for a goldfish; the minimum requirement is 50 liters of water for a single copy;
• natural coarse sandy or pebble soil;
• plants in pots with hard-to-reach roots and rather hard leaves that cannot be gnawed (sagittaria, elodea, anubias, cryptocoryne, lemongrass, Javanese moss);
• do not use artificial lighting, since the fish sleep at night, and plants need sunlight for normal development;
• a powerful filter for cleaning the soil - so that the aquarium gets dirty as slowly as possible, you must install at least one good quality internal filter; Ideally, the aquarium should be equipped with two types of biofilters, the performance of which will be at least 3-4 volumes of water in the aquarium per hour, with one located inside the aquarium space, and the other attached from the outside;
• the water temperature should be within + 20-25 ° С, while it should be noted that long-bodied individuals prefer cooler water, while their short-bodied counterparts feel great at ambient temperatures up to + 27 ° С, but it is better if the water temperature will be slightly lower;
• goldfish are demanding on the amount of oxygen in the water, therefore, a compressor operating around the clock is required in the aquarium; the smaller the volume of the aquarium, the more powerful the oxygenation of the water should be;
• Another vital element for keeping fish is a sterilizer that destroys pathogenic bacteria using ultraviolet radiation.

In addition, it is very important for fish to have their ecosystem in the form of plants in the aquarium. They help fight algae, improve the ecology of the water and can be an additional source of food and vitamins for the aquatic life themselves., which will have a positive effect on their health and activity. If the plants are to be used as top dressing, they should have soft leaves. When choosing scenery, you need to take into account that goldfish do not like to hide in secluded corners, so they need a lot of free space for swimming. And also do not use decorations with sharp edges and various driftwood with protruding branches.

Goldfish are dirty, so in order to avoid severe pollution of their home, it is necessary to replace the water in the aquarium at least once a week by 25–33% of the volume, depending on the population density. Rinse the siphon sponge regularly in the aquarium water and clean the bottom, being careful not to disturb the layers.Sometimes goldfish are kept in empty mono aquariums without any vegetation or decorations.

Some lovers, when deciding to have an oriental beauty at home, attach great importance to what the location of a fish house should be in Feng Shui. According to the Taoist practice of arranging space, an aquarium with fish should be placed in the hall near the entrance to the recreation area. It is not advised to place the dwelling for the goldfish in the bedroom, as it is a constant source of noise.

And you also need to decide on the shape of the aquarium. According to the doctrine, irregularly shaped aquariums with sharp corners not only will not attract wealth, but may even be harmful to health. (including, it becomes possible to accidentally run into an acute angle). The ideal shape for an aquarium, according to Feng Shui, is a ball. According to beliefs, the ball symbolizes the element of metal, and in combination with the water element, the spherical shape of the aquarium will literally become a magnet for acquiring wealth. The neutral shape is rectangular.

Besides, a certain number of fish is also required... It is determined by which element is the patron saint of your zodiac sign according to the rules of the Chinese horoscope. For people born under the sign of water, it is worth having 1 or 6 fish. The sign of fire will become a haven for 2 or 7 fish, a tree will grow 3 or 8, metal - 4 or 9, earth - 5 or 10. Feng Shui does not attach any importance to the type and breed of fish.

It is recommended to feed the fish with specialized feeds designed specifically for this breed or variety. When buying, you need to pay close attention to the integrity of the packaging, expiration dates, reputation of the manufacturer, purpose and composition of the feed line. Balanced flakes are the best choice. Floating sticks and granules are alternatives to flakes (or grits). And also the most popular feeds from a mixture of chips. You need to feed the fish 1-2 times a day in small portions (a couple of pinches per fish) to ensure the best digestion and reduce the risk of any diseases.

From natural feed for ornamental carp, porridge made from buckwheat, millet or oats are best suited. You can serve finely chopped greens such as spinach or salad, as well as vegetables and fruits. Fish also eat well live food: bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp. If such foods are purchased frozen, they must be thawed before feeding. Sometimes you can give finely sliced ​​meat and liver. Sometimes, with a frequency of a week or two, goldfish need to arrange a fasting day, when the entire menu will consist only of duckweed, wolfia or riccia.

Those who have been breeding goldfish for a long time know that the maintenance of artificially obtained miracles carries some problems, arising on such occasions as:

• water contamination with pathogenic bacteria brought in from the outside;
• decrease in water quality due to the accumulation of ammonia, as a decay product, formed during the life of fish and bacteria;
• weakening of the immune system of fish caused by poor living conditions;
• physical injuries that fish receive due to improper design of the aquarium or incorrectly selected neighbors.

Signs of poor water quality include:

• too frequent yawning of the fish;
• the appearance of black spots on the body;
• bloody streaks on fins and eyes;
• lethargy and too long the presence of the fish at the bottom;
• restlessness, gasping for air from the surface, scratching on stones.

To solve these problems, you need to change the water, install a better purification and aeration system, and do not overfeed the pets. In addition to these problems, there are infectious diseases in fish, manifested in the form of white bloom or pimples, bloody ulcers, and ruffling of scales. For treatment, antibiotics or antifungal drugs are used. Bloating indicates problems with the gastrointestinal tract, but it can also be a consequence of an infectious or fungal disease. The cause of the disease is determined by concomitant symptoms. Accordingly, fasting days or drugs are used for treatment.

If the fish swims near the surface and puffs up the gill covers or tries to stay in the stream of the siphon, then there is the possibility of damaging the respiratory system by parasites. To treat this type of problem, it is better to contact a specialist who will help you choose the drugs and give advice on the proper care of a sick fish. If the fish has suffered losses in the tail, you should not be very upset. Place the sufferer in a separate container and let him recover from the shock.

Breeding goldfish at home will not be difficult, even for beginners in the aquarium hobby. The main thing is to know and follow a few basic breeding rules.

• The main spawning time for this species is spring, so you should carefully monitor the behavior and appearance of the fish in the common dwelling. With the onset of the mating season, males and females become covered with millet-like whitish growths on the operculum, and their pectoral fins acquire saw-like notches. "Boys" begin to actively pursue female individuals, driving them into dense thickets.
• The first step is to prepare a spawning tank (small, about 15 liters). To do this, add 80 eye drops of formaldehyde, 6 drops of copper sulfate and 1 small dose of terramycin to the water.
• Without abrupt changes, start feeding fish with live, non-granulated food, for example, bloodworms or brine shrimp. It is necessary to feed the fish 3 times a day in small portions, the food must be crushed.
• Simulate the onset of spring in the aquarium by lowering the temperature to + 10– + 12 ° C, and then gradually raising it to + 20– + 23 ° C, increasing the temperature by 2 degrees every day. Renew 20% of the water in the aquarium daily with the addition of a special conditioner that will purify the water from unnecessary and harmful elements.
• Choose the best specimens: the largest, fastest and most active male and the female, which has large back and chest parts of the body. Next, you should plant a male and two females in a prepared spawning grounds. Spawning lasts about 6 hours, after which the parents are returned to the main aquarium.
• The larvae will appear within 6 days. They will initially feed on the residual yolk sac. Then they begin to feed them using special food for fry, which can be bought at the pet store or "live dust", brine shrimp or rotifers.
• When the fry grow up, sorting is carried out. This will allow you to select individuals that carry parental traits, because not the entire brood will be similar to the broodstock.

Despite the fact that goldfish grows quite large, phlegmatic and clumsy, they are not able to coexist with many other aquarium fish species. The first thing to remember is that goldfish are omnivorous. Adding small fish to them is just a way to create a source of additional food for the goldfish. Do not combine golden or any overly active or aggressive species in the same aquarium. In this case, the goldfish will either be eaten (if the size permits), or left hungry, or plucked, making skinned monsters out of beautiful fish, or all together.

It is impossible to settle goldfish and cichlids in one (even a large) aquarium. Cichlids are aggressive, so at least there will be eternal aquarium races (if the cichlids are large and herbivorous). But the common astronotus will gladly diversify its dinner with a goldfish. Theoretically, you can put goldfish and labyrinths together. However, labyrinth fish are very lively and restless, which implies constant stress for phlegmatic golden ones. There is an opportunity to add the same calm ctenopomes to the gold ones. But, given the propensity of the golds to excavation, combined with the propensity for the bottom lifestyle of the ctenopom, they are unlikely to withstand such a neighborhood for a long time.

Coexistence in the same aquarium of gold and hartsin is possible only in two cases: when the fish are still fry, or, if these are large subspecies of harcins (Congo or brilliant). In any other case, hartsin will be a pleasant addition to gold for breakfast. Goldfish only get along with some subspecies of carp, such as zebrafish or labio. However, with the rest of the fish of the family, for example, rasbora, our fish are not even averse to having a snack. But Sumatran barbs are incredibly aggressive, with such a cohabitation goldfish will resemble plucked roosters, and not bright beauties, since barbs love to attack any veiled ones and bite off their fins.

Living in the same body of water of some species of bottom catfish and goldfish is assessed by many professionals as positive. Subspecies such as tarakatums or corridors will get along very well. They are slow, phlegmatic and will not see rivals in golden beauties. But the ancistrus (aka the sucker catfish) will become not a very pleasant neighbor, sucking at the gold at night and plucking them.

The compatibility of goldfish with other breeds of their species is the highest. However, it should be borne in mind that all varieties of goldfish descended from one common ancestor. If you miss the moment, there will be a degeneration of bright beauties - gold to ordinary carp. Ideally, goldfish should not be combined with other species, leaving them to live with neighbors of the same breed.

If you decide to have a goldfish in your house, then you should prepare for the fact that an unpretentious beauty at first glance will turn out to be a rather capricious and demanding creature. Those who have already become acquainted with a similar species recognize that for its correct maintenance and breeding, large, well-equipped aquariums, while it is better if they are completely owned only by these leisurely beauties. The appearance of some fish does not cause pleasant aesthetic feelings for everyone, but this does not prevent you from returning to them again and again, even if it was decided not to mess with them anymore. With poor-quality maintenance, the fish often get sick and take a lot of time for treatment and further care.

The following aspects should be highlighted goldfish content:

• an aquarium for one fish should have a volume of about 80 liters, for a couple - at least 100 liters;
• the length of the aquarium should be twice the height;
• the dwelling of the fish must be equipped with a high-quality filtration and aeration system;
• water hardness not less than 8 °, pH - 7 units;
• to decorate the aquarium, you should use a lot of living plants and natural soil;
• decorations should not have sharp protrusions and corners;
• the right choice of neighbors will ensure the peaceful existence of the entire ecosystem;
• Cleaning the aquarium in time and changing the water will keep your pet healthy and prolonged.

And the most important thing is to be attentive to your goldfish, to notice the slightest changes in behavior and appearance, to react to them in time, then it will delight you with its beauty for a long time.

See interesting facts about goldfish in the next video.