A tablespoon of aquarium or sea salt per 5 gallons can also be used to help keep goldfish in good health. Rapid changes in temperature or water chemistry can be harmful, if not fatal to goldfish. pH is not critical, but ideally should be between 7.0 and 8.4. The optimum temperature for fancy goldfish is 68° to 74° F, while comets and shubunkins should be kept between 60° and 70☏. They have been introduced to many parts of the world to control mosquito populations.Ĭonsidered cold water fish, goldfish can also be kept in heated aquariums. Goldfish are ubiquitous in nature and can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and virtually every freshwater habitat on the planet from temperate to tropical environments. When properly cared for, goldfish can live over 20 years in captivity. All varieties of goldfish are the same species – Carrassius auratus. Orandas, lionheads and ranchus develop a crown of fatty tissue, called hood growth, over their heads that in mature fish may completely cover their eyes! Fancy goldfish can become stunningly beautiful and command high prices. They include comets, shubunkins, fantails, orandas, ryukins, moors, telescope eyes, celestial eyes, bubble eyes, butterfly tails, pearlscales, wakins, lionheads, ranchus and many more.

Through selective breeding, many 'fancy' goldfish strains sporting different body shapes, colors and fin types are available today. Goldfish can be distinguished from koi and common carp by the absence of barbels or 'whiskers' in the corners of their mouth. They are not the same, but related to carp, and were first domesticated from food fish in China over 1,000 years ago. Among the most common fish in the aquarium hobby, goldfish belong to the Family Cyprinidae and are native to Eastern Asia.

Goldfish standard