Letters of a Betta Addict

Everyone knows goldfish. Everyone knows how to take care of goldfish. Here’s some of what everyone has to say about goldfish.

Goldfish only have a 3 second memory.  - Everyone -

Actually, that has been disproved see here

They’ll only grow to the size of their tank. - Everyone -

Umm… sorry again but a healthy goldfish will not “only” grow to the size of the tank, it’ll slowly grow to a level where the tank cannot support it’s biological load and typically will die prematurely. Goldfish can live up to twenty or more years and will grow over that time peroid. In a small aquarium and it’s unlikely to live out it’s full lifespan or reach it’s full potential size.

Goldfish are so hardy they don’t need a filter. - Everyone -

Actually goldfish, especially the fancy varieties, are some of the largest waste producers found in the Hobby. Not only will the ammonia swiftly build up to lethal levels in an unfiltered tank but without adequate aeration from  the filter agitating the top of the water they will have severely low oxygen levels in the water as well.

Right about now you should be remembering that old cliche “Just because everyone you else jumped off a bridge doesn’t mean you should.” You seem like the clever sort so I figure you’ll keep reading while everyone else jumps. So let’s get down to what everyone DOESN’T know about goldfish and see where that takes us eh?

Lets Start with the Basics

Goldfish are a heavy bio-load, cool water species of fish. Most varieties are capable of overwintering freezing temperatures provided that the ponds don’t freeze to the bottom. Goldfish that we see today are divided into two varieties: Single Tail and Double Tail goldfish.

Single Tail goldfish are typically classified as pond fish. They have long streamlined bodies and can be very active. All those 99 cent feeder goldfish are in this category, as are:

• Common’s (feeder)
• Comet
• Shirubken

Double Tail goldfish more commonly known as Fancy goldfish, have wormed their way into the hearts and homes of people world-wide. With their chunky egg-shaped bodies and waddling swim it wasn’t very hard. Due to the high degree of genetic selection that was used to develop the Fancies many often say that they’re the more delicate of the two types. This is true in some ways, they’re more prone to swim-bladder, have a harder time digesting certain foods, and are handicapped by various traits (such as the Bubble eye’s delicate namesake). However most of them have been known to survive Canadian Winters in outdoor ponds just as well as their Single Tail counter parts.

The Fancy family includes:

• Fantails
• Oranda’s
• Telescope (eyes)
• Pearlscale
• Ryukin
• and Tosakin

Often the following types are sperated into their own category called the dorsalless fancies:

• Lionhead
• Ranchu
• Celestial
• Bubble Eye
• Pom pom
• Eggfish

And lastly there are the two final Goldfish types which don’t seem to quite fit anywhere, the Jikin, and the Wakin. From what I’ve read and come to understand both of these are a pond type goldfish, they behave similarly to the Single Tail variety but they’re the “Fancier” cousins. Both of these species have a fan or double tail similar to the Fancy goldies. So technically… they fit somewhere in between the single and double tail varieties on the basis of body shape.

Still ready to go on? Awesome. The next installment shall be later this week and we’ll get into more details about the actual keeping and raising of this fish.

Until then,