In the wild, goldfish are found from Eastern Europe across to China. They come from a species of carp, called the crucian carp.
There are many different types of goldfish, like the fantail, comet, and lionhead.
They have been kept in Chinese homes since around 800 AD. In Europe, goldfish weren't kept indoors until the 1800s.
Smells Fishy ...
Goldfish make excellent pets, but you must do your research before getting one.
Goldfish are coldwater fish so you need to buy and set up a coldwater aquarium. If the conditions are right and you look after your fish, then they will live for many years.
Make sure you keep the aquarium away from sunlight, as the water will turn green and murky.
Goldfish need to be fed once or twice a day, but make sure you don’t overfeed them or the leftover food will also turn the water murky.
Why Goldfish make good Pets
They won't bark and keep you awake all night!
They won't run away!
They won't beg at the table!
They won't leave dead animals on the doorstep!
They won't do messes on the floor!
They won't chew your slippers!
They won't get scared on Bonfire Night!
PLEASE NOTE - If your goldfish do any of the above then you must take him or her to a vet immediately!
Fish in Water
Just like humans, fish need oxygen to stay alive. Unlike humans, fish breathe underwater.
Have you seen the flaps of skin on either side of a goldfish's head? Underneath these flaps are gills. Water contains dissolved oxygen gas. Gills can absorb the tiny particles of gas.
The fish sucks in water through its mouth. As it squirts the water out through the gills, oxygen is absorbed and the goldfish can 'breathe' underwater.
Swim like a Fish
Goldfish swim by moving their bodies from side to side.
Their tail fin helps them to swim by pushing them forward. Goldfish use their other fins to balance, to change direction, and to brake.
Their bodies are covered in scales, which are waterproof and protect the fish. A layer of mucus covers the skin and protects the goldfish from infection. You should never touch a fish as you can remove this mucus and the fish may get sick.
Sick as a ... Fish!
Your fish should stay healthy if the conditions inside the aquarium are right. However, if your fish begin to look ill then it could be a problem with the water quality. You can buy a product to treat the water.
Or your fish could be suffering from illnesses like finrot and whitespot. You can buy a treatment for these illnesses from a pet shop.
Sink or Swim
Goldfish have a swim bladder underneath their backbone.
The swim bladder is a pouch filled with air. Goldfish control the amount of air inside the bladder to move up and down in the water. The swim bladder also stops the fish from sinking when it stops swimming.
Watch out if your goldfish swims near the surface of the water in their tank as they could have a problem with their swim bladder. Ask your vet for more information.
Hear This!
Fish can hear, which is why you shouldn't tap the sides of a fish tank.
Goldfish don't have ears on the side of their heads, like humans, but they do have ears.
Water carries sound far better than air, so fish don't need openings to carry the sound to their ears and the sound just passes straight through their head.
Goldfish, in particular, are thought to be very good at hearing.
Fishy Facts
Goldfish can grow up to 45 cm long but most are smaller.
The average lifespan of a goldfish is 5-10 years.
Goldfish sleep with their eyes open because they
don't have eyelids.
A pregnant goldfish is known as a twit.
Goldfish have nostrils above their mouths. They can smell food and other fish nearby.
