Goldfish are part of the carp family (cyprinidae). They have been kept as pets since at least 970 AD, first by the Chinese
and then the Japanese. You probably saw your first one in a small tank at the dime store or won one at a school fair or
carnival. Those goldfish are called comets, the most hardy of the family. They can grow to two inches or two feet depending
on the size of their home and what they are fed.
Goldfish choices
Goldfish come in so many shapes and sizes that it’s difficult to choose the best ones. You can find fancy ones with round globular bodies, long veil tails, bulbous eyes and some with eyes that look upward. I usually recommend that new pond owners start with goldfish that are known to be hardy and hard to kill, like comets. The various kinds of Comets which include Shubunkins can swim fast and avoid predators. The shubunkin goldfish are usually speckled or have a variegated color pattern. They can be many colors including yellow, orange, red, brown, black, blue, purple, gray, and white.
The fancier goldfish like fantails, moors, bubble eyes are so misshapen that they move more slowly and cannot escape raccoons and hungry birds. They are also more prone to disease, again because of their strange shapes and inbred characteristics. I have always found it strange that folks want to have black moors because they are solid black and cannot be seen against the black liner of the pond.
Where should I buy my goldfish?
Always use a local pet or fish store to buy your fish rather than a big box store. The fish store owner has knowledge of fish and knows how to medicate them if they arrive sick and many goldfish do. They are shipped hundreds to a box and sometimes the shipping times are longer than is good for the fish. If they arrive less than well, they need to stay in the store and be housed in a quarantined and medicated tank. Usually the new fish stay in the store 4 - 7 days before they are sold. If you shop at a reputable store, you know you are getting a healthy fish. The big box stores do not do quarantine and medicate, so you may be buying sick fish.
What about feeder fish?
Feeder fish are tiny goldfish of all colors, from brownish gray to yellowish orange. They have been culled from other goldfish and are sold for one thing: To feed other, larger fish, hence the name ‘feeders’. You can buy them if you wish, but they are very likely to be ill when they arrive. Expect 30% or so to survive.
My baby goldfish are not gold.
Goldfish can change color. Most goldfish are born brownish or gray. As they mature, they can stay dark in color or change to orange or gold. Some are solid colors, others are speckled. My opinion is that the fish are born dark so they have a chance of escaping their hungry parents who will eat them as fast as they are born. A few always escape, so we, at least, have a shot at getting the smartest fish possible.
How big will my fish get?
Goldfish grow according to the size of the pond they are in. If you have a half acre pond, you will have huge 2 foot long goldfish. If you have a normal backyard garden pond, you will have goldfish that may reach 4 - 6”, if you do not feed them.
Is there more I need to know?
When you are buying goldfish, do not spend more than about $1.50 per fish at first. Fish can have problems in a new pond. And never, ever name your fish. It is difficult to explain to your grandchildren or children that Rambo or Cher died.
Goldfish like cool water below 75 degrees F. They can over winter well beneath ice as long as your pond does not freeze solid.
Your goldfish eat a lot and poop a lot, so they make a mess. Do not over crowd your pond. I suggest one linear foot of fish per 25 square feet of pond surface.
Do not feed your fish! If you keep your population down, your fish will eat your anacharis, but not as fast as it grows. That way, a thorough yearly cleaning will remove all the organic matter those goldfish leave behind, your water will stay clear and your water chemistry will stay balanced. When you feed goldfish, you increase organic matter and throw your balanced pond out of balance and create lots of maintenance that takes up your weekend relaxation time.
Choose your goldfish well. Keep your pond balanced. Do not feed your fish. Your pond, your fish and you will all be happy.
~Jan Goldfield
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