GOLD FISH

Many aquarium owners having goldfish often wonder how big and how fast there goldfish will grow Goldfish growth really depends on certain factors that will influence how fast they grow. If the water is too clear then lacks algae and food to feed on Second if water quality is not kept up with proper maintenance causes stress on goldfish which may impact the goldfish desire to eat If goldfish dont eat they dont grow therefore growing slower then normal. The environment or home for your goldfish plays a big part on how fast goldfish will grow as well For instance if you put a goldfish in a goldfish bowl it wont grow as much as it would if it were in an aquarium or garden pond The environment plays a major part in goldfish growth Goldfish will only grow to the size of their environment in which it can handle Also the more space a goldfish has will help increase the size of your goldfish and wont stunt your goldfish from growing When goldfish have big aquariums or tanks to grow in it will make less maintenance for you and much happier goldfish Another reason goldfish grow faster in larger environments is there is more food readily available to eat There is always food in an aquarium to eat for goldfish especially in ponds Goldfish will grow fast due to abundance of algae to eat and also the live microscopic animals and insects to feed on Goldfish basically have a buffet at anytime they want with the amount of food they will find to eat living in ponds Goldfish will grow extremely fast as well if the water is green like pea soup or they are grown in mud ponds You will see your goldfish grow fast The goldfish food that you feed them plays a part in their growth as well If you want your goldfish to grow fast consider feeding them a wide variety of foods Also high growth food will help as well maximizing the growth of your goldfish You can also feed them several times a day just make sure they eat all the goldfish food that you give them within 2 minutes other then that discard uneaten food as it will foul your water Goldfish food will play a part in their growth as well

So to really answer the question How Fast Do Goldfish Grow really has too many factors to really answer Also genetics plays a part in this as well If you look at some people today some are skinny some are large medium petite tall and short Everyone grows differently and the same goes for goldfish For example Im 64 while my parents are like 56 so I grew taller Usually if you come from a tall family you will have tall kids which happens most times through DNA passed on to kids So goldfish genetics and DNA sometimes will impact how fast goldfish grow as well Really a question with no true answer but definitely things people can do to grow goldfish faster by doing several things Biggest thing that will help grow your goldfish fast is give them the space they deserve dont confine goldfish to small tanks go bigger and you will have bigger goldfish too

Goldfish were originally bred in China sometime between 1 000 and 1 500 years ago and were later exported to Japan and Korea where further breeding led to an increase in the number of varieties available To the beginning goldfish fancier the body types finnage and unique characteristics of goldfish can seem to defy meaningful classification There are several additional fish which could fit into these categories such as Tosakin and Wakin but these were not considered plentiful enough to recognize as a separate breed at that time The GFSA will most likely consider the addition of new varieties as their popularity increases

A general understanding of goldfish characteristics is helpful before a detailed discussion of breed varieties is started

Scalation Four basic types of scalation occur in goldfish metallic matte nacreous and Pearl Scale

Metallic Has a shiny reflective appearance much like a metal object hence the name metallic The shiny appearance is caused by the presence of guanine in the scale
Matte Scales which lack the reflective guanine layer leading to a dull or nonreflective appearance
Nacreous A scale type which combines characteristics of the metallic and matte scale patterns often in random proportions causing a mixture of reflective and nonreflective scales on a fish
Pearlscale an encrustation on each scale of the fish causing the scale to appear to have a miniature dome in the center In the best specimens the pearling occurs over the body of the fish and wraps around the entire fish completely

Colors Goldfish come in a number of distinct colors including combinations of colors Common goldfish colors include the following red orange white black blue chocolate brown yellow red and white black and red black red and white calico a combination of colors usually including red white black and blue

Eyes Goldfish have several different eyetypes as follows

Normal eye types
Telescope eyes eyes which are mounted atop a coneshaped protrusion on either side of the head
Celestial eyes Similar to a telescopeeyed goldfish but the eyes are pointing upward at the end of the telescope feature
Bubble Eyes the eyes of a bubbleeyed goldfish are actually considered of the normal type The distinguishing feature of this fish is the large fluidfilled sack which forms on each side of the face directly underneath the eye of the fish

Tail types Goldfish have a great deal of variation in the caudal or tail fin as outlined below

Single tail The most common form of tail type which is moderately forked and rounded at the edges
Comet tail longer than the single tail variety about 2 3 times longer with a marked forking and pointed tail tips
Shubunkin tail type primarily in the Bristol Shubunkin a long tail similar in size to the comet tail type but having rounded tail edges which tend to flare out the at tail edge causing the tail to look more full than that of the comet
Double tail a tail which has two distinct components or lobes and which is not joined along 2 rd3s of its length and which has rounded tail edges The size of the double tail can range from 2 3rds the length of the body to double the length of the body depending on the goldfish variety
Lionhead or Ranchu tail Similar to the double tail but forking is permissible Generally speaking the double tail of the Ranchu or Lionhead is ¼ to 3 8 the length of the body
Tosakin tail a variation on the double tail where the tail is not only joined but is rounded at the edges producing a curlicuetype appearance in the tail of the fish
Jikin tail Similar in appearance to the Rancho or Lionhead tail but forming an X shape when looked at from behind due to the angle at which the tail is joined to the caudal peduncle
Veiltail A modification of the double tail variety whereby the tail is 21 2 to 3 times the body length of the fish and where the forking is nonexistent producing a tail with a straight edge hence the name veil tail

Head Growth Some varieties of goldfish including the Oranda Lionhead and Ranchu have a growth on the head known as a wen This growth looks like a raspberry and causes a distinct appearance similar to a lions mane when viewed on the fish Several varieties of head growth are recognized

Goose head growth limited primarily to the top of the head with little or no wen occurring on the cheeks or opercula
Tiger head head growth which appears on the top of the head and on the cheeks of the fish
Lionhead Full head growth which appears on the top of the head cheeks and opercula

Dorsal fin characteristics the fin located on the back of the fish is known as the dorsal fin In some varieties Ranchu Lionhead

Celestial and Bubbleye the dorsal fin is not present The dorsalless varieties can be further subdivided into the Ranchu and Lionhead type of back profile

In the Ranchu type back profile the back is gently arched until it reaches the caudal peduncle when it sharply angles downward and meets the tail at a 45 degree angle
In the Lionhead type back profile which is also shared with the Celestial and Bubbleye the back is much straighter than that of the Ranchu and joins the tail at an angle that is much less severe than in the Ranchutype tail

Other growth characteristics of goldfish Goldfish have been selectively bred for growth characteristics over the centuries A partial listing of these characteristics appears below

a Narial bouquets a tuftlike series of growth appearing on the narial area nose of the fish which in fully developed specimens resembles a cheerleaders pompom
Pearlscale an encrustation on each scale of the fish causing the scale to appear to have a miniature dome in the center In the best specimens the pearling occurs over the body of the fish and wraps around the entire fish completely
Outturned operculum a fish with the gillplates turnedover so that the gills are revealed

Body shape characteristics Body shape characteristics are varied among goldfish types and are difficult to succinctly categorize since body shapes can vary within the same variety as an example and Oranda may have a fantail or Veiltail body conformation

Streamlined body shape this shape is found on the common goldfish Shubunkin and Comet varieties It is the basic torpedo shape common to most types of fish
Fantail shape This body shape is more egglike and produces a rounded profile in the fish This body type is commonly seen in the fantail some varieties of telescope some Oranda bodies especially on the Red Cap some Pearlscales and on the celestial and bubbleeye
Veiltail body type this body type is similar to that of the Ryukin without the hump on the back It is more rounded than that of the fantail and the body depth is approximately ¼ to 1 3 deeper than that of the traditional fantail This body type is found on some Telescopes some Orandas Pearlscale Veiltails and some ribbon tails
Lionhead or Ranchu body type A very rounded body type with a depth that is ¼ to 1 3 greater than that of the Veiltail variety The body appears chunky Especially in the area of the caudal peduncle which does not flare out to meet the tail as on most fish but looks more like a part of the body

Over the past several years I have watched numerous retail customers come to my store to switch their freshwater aquariums to saltwater The major reason for the switch is color When a person contrasts the exotic and vivid colors of most saltwater fish with basic freshwater fish there is simply no comparison Color alone drives a huge passion for saltwater fish keeping Here are five reasons for the trend Saltwater fish come in a vivid array of colors from the brightest purple to fluorescent blues reds greens oranges and every other color in a rainbow Several companies now breed clownfish gobies cardinals and other saltwater fish in hatcheries rather than exclusively catching them from the wild Raising these in captivity reduces their stress and ensures a healthier hardier fish

There have been incredible advances in fish quality as well as equipment some of which is designed exclusively for saltwater aquarium keeping We finally have the technology for the layperson to keep saltwater fish alive in aquariums for 5 even 10 years

Requirements such as foods size and compatibility for most species are well known Most saltwater fish are easily separated into categories for the beginner intermediate or advanced hobbyists

Though saltwater fish keeping has come a long way in recent years here are a few keys to help ensure your success

Find a store that sells healthy varieties and knows what they are talking about

Generally it is a good rule for the inexperienced keeper to purchase the largest tank their budget can afford The larger the aquarium the more room you have for error If you over feed your fish in a larger aquarium it will take a much longer time to have water quality problemsFinally invest the money and get the right saltwater equipment for your aquarium The right filter can ensure optimum water qualitySaltwater fish keeping is a rewarding hobby especially when these beautiful fish can live for 5 to 10 years in your aquarium Remember to begin your adventure by investing in the right size aquarium the right equipment and great fish to ensure your success