An Eclectic Collection Of Goldfish Facts
As goldfish have a long history of domestication and breeding, there is certainly no shortage of goldfish facts, some trivial, others of some importance. There are several well-known “facts” which actually are not true at all. Many view a goldfish as a not terribly intelligent little fish, content to lead a solitary life, swimming around and around in a very small bowl.
Included in the list of misunderstood goldfish facts is the one which states that the goldfish has a very short memory, of only a few seconds. The logic therefore is that a goldfish will be perfectly happy swimming around in a bowl since it won’t remember the last trip it took around that bowl. This bit of information unfortunately has become embedded in our view of goldfish. Recent studies, involving tests in mazes, have shown that the goldfish not only has a pretty good memory, but is much more intelligent than it has been given credit for. The goldfish in fact exhibits a fair amount of curiosity, and will be happier in an environment featuring room to roam in, and featuring some variety, including plants and underwater tunnels and “castles”.
Another goldfish facts worth noting is, while a solitary goldfish can be a contented one, it appears to be happier when having one or more other goldfish as company. Goldfish in general are not aggressive, and get on well with one another. They do need room however, so don’t put two or three in a container designed for a single fish. Also, goldfish are not chameleons, as some believe. They have been known to change color, but what actually happens is, if they are kept in the dark for an extended period of time they will loose their golden color. It’s even been observed that some goldfish are a little lighter in color in the morning than later in the day, but chameleon-like characteristics they do not have.
The goldfish is a carp, or more accurately a fish, which through generations of selective breeding, has evolved from the common carp. It is still a carp however, and also related to the minnow. But because of breeding through several centuries, primarily on China and Japan, many of the goldfish types seen in aquariums today look nothing like the ancestral carp.
The goldfish is a freshwater fish, and most types are also cold water fishes. While some of the more exotic types are somewhat sensitive to water temperatures, the more common types do equally as well in outdoor pools as in indoor aquariums. Common types of goldfish can even survive in outdoor pools which may freeze over in the winter. As long as there is a sufficient supply of oxygen in the water they’ll do just fine. Their metabolism will slow down until the surface ice thaws, and the water warms up again. Of course, if the pond freezes solid, the goldfish won’t do so well.
While some varieties are quite exotic looking and beautiful, goldfish will often not survive when placed in a tank with tropical fish, as the combination of water that is too warm, and lesser quantities of oxygen due to crowding, will quickly cause their demise.
The fact that common goldfish are quite inexpensive and their care is quite straightforward makes them popular pets. However, if you’re considering purchasing certain varieties, a review of exotic goldfish facts is advised, as not only are some types rare and quite expensive, but require special care as well. You can settle upon a Comet, which is one of the most available types, and, with its long forked tail and flowing fins, is a very beautiful fish. Comets are among the easiest goldfish to care for and are good to have as pets while you research into the possibility of expanding your aquarium to include other varieties.
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