Goldfish (redirected from goldfishes)

goldfish, freshwater fish, genus Carassius, of the family Cyprinidae, popular in aquariums and ponds. Native to China, it was first domesticated centuries ago from the wild form, an olive-colored carplike fish up to 16 in. (40 cm) long. It reverts to this type when it escapes from domestication and has been known to hybridize with the carp. Breeders have developed bizarre varieties with fan, fringe, or veil tails and sometimes with double or triple fins. Some have bulging "telescope" eyes. The majority of those bred commercially are known as scaled goldfish and have a metallic sheen of red, gold, white, silver, or black. The rarer forms, which are called scaleless, actually have transparent scales and appear in bright red, blue, shades of purple, and calico patterns. Marketed goldfish range in length from 1 to 4 in. (2.5–10 cm). In pools, they are beneficial as well as ornamental, since they feed on mosquito larvae; however, their carplike feeding habits make them a nuisance in lakes and streams. Goldfish are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Cypriniformes, family Cyprinidae.

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goldfish

Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

(credit: W.S. Pitt—Eric Hosking)

Ornamental aquarium and pond fish (Carassius auratus) of the carp family, native to East Asia but introduced into many other areas. The goldfish was domesticated by the Chinese at least as early as the Song dynasty (960–1279). It is naturally greenish brown or gray, but its colour varies. Selective breeding has produced more than 125 breeds, including the veiltail, with a three-lobed, flowing tail, and the common, pet-shop comet. They feed on plants and small animals and, in captivity, on small crustaceans and other foods. They have become naturalized in many parts of the eastern U.S.

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goldfish

1. a freshwater cyprinid fish, Carassius auratus, of E Europe and Asia, esp China, widely introduced as a pond or aquarium fish. It resembles the carp and has a typically golden or orange-red coloration

2. any of certain similar ornamental fishes, esp the golden orfe (see orfe)

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goldfish [′gōl‚fish]

(vertebrate zoology)

Crassius auratus.An orange cypriniform fish of the family Cyprinidae that can grow to over 18 inches (46 centimeters); closely related to the carps.

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Goldfish 

the domesticated form of the silver carass (Carassius auratus) and common aquarium fish. The first mention of goldfish breeding in China dates from the tenth to the 12th centuries; in 1611 it was brought to Portugal and later to England. In Japan the goldfish was first bred in the 16th century, and it appeared in Russia at the end of the 17th century. Selection by mutation and hybridization have produced a large number of breeds with attractive coloration, long fins, and protruding eyes, including the comet, shubunkin, veiltail, telescope, stargazer, lionhead, oranda, and pearl. When kept under proper conditions, goldfish reach sexual maturity in their second year; during spawning the female lays up to 2,000–3,000 eggs. The fish can live from 15 to 35 years in an aquarium. The goldfish feeds on moths, daphnids, shredded meat, earthworms, and various cereals and bread.

REFERENCES

Molchanov, A. V. Akvarium liubitelia, 4th ed. Moscow, 1948.
Il’in, M. N.Akvariumnoe rybovodstvo. Moscow, 1965.

A. A. SVETOVIDOVA