Goldfish Facts

Goldfish is one of the most beautiful fish species. It is also one of the most sought after breeds of pet fish. It belongs to the carp family and is normally about 3-6 inches in length. Almost 500 types of goldfish have been identified by the researchers. Bubble eye, comet, and black moor are some of the common varieties of goldfish.

Interesting Goldfish Facts for Kids

• Goldfish have long fins and tails. They attract the attention of the viewers as they move gracefully and swiftly. The golden sheen gives them their name.
• Their bright color enhances their beauty. Gold, pink and bronze colors of these fish are common but they can also be silver, white, blue, black. Goldfish with different color combinations are also popular. No other freshwater fish is as variable and as beautiful as this fish.
• Crucian carp and koi carp are cousins of goldfish. They all belong to the same 'carp' family.
• Commet, Oranda, Ranchu, Celestial, Fantail are the common breeds of goldfish.
• The scientific name of goldfish is Carassius auratus auratus.
• The fish don't have stomach! But they do have good memory. It is a disbelief that gold fish have a memory span of 3 seconds.
• Eyes of the bubble eye goldfish point upwards. It looks somewhat funny. Two large fragile fluid sacs are situated underneath the eyes which make the eyesight of the fish very poor.
• The sacs of these fish may regrow if they burst but the eyes would be susceptible to infections. The sacs being fragile, utmost care has to be taken if you are planning to bring home a bubble eye goldfish.
• These fish are omnivores. You can feed them both, plants and worms. They enjoy eating when they are served new dishes! If you have got dry pellets from the local pet store for them, soak them in water and then feed them.
• Frozen, live or gel based foods are amongst their favorites. Freeze dried varieties do not carry parasites like live foods and hence are considered as safer.
• These fish should be fed once in a week. Overfeeding can prove to be harmful for the fish. They require minimum care and hence they are popular amongst pet owners.
• Experts say that the average lifespan of goldfish is about 10 years. But, if proper care is taken, they can live for more than 25 years! They make very few demands on their owners.
• The owners of these fish believe that they interact with each other and also with their caretakers. They need company. Owners claim that their goldfish know them and recognize them whenever they come near the tank. They bond well with the owners.
• They sleep with their eyes open, normally at the bottom of the tank.
• They can see ultra-violet rays and infra-red light. Thus, they have a wider spectrum of visual colors.
• They do not urinate. They get rid of waste material in the form of stools only.
• Having a goldfish as a pet is not a new trend. There are evidences which show that people used to have goldfish as pets, thousands of years before, in ancient China.

Kids are fans of goldfish and they love to hear fun facts about goldfish. These fish are fascinating creatures. Goldfish facts inform us that they grow well when kept in a large tank. Never keep them in bowls, they need more space to move and grow. They are lively pets and great companions. Watching and studying the intricate behavior patterns of goldfish can be developed as a hobby.