Goldfish ( Carassius auratus )
Goldfish - Goldfish information - Goldfish facts
Originally the goldfish come from China but these days they can be found everywhere from slow-moving waters, through freshwaters, rivers, ponds, lakes to indoor aquariums and pools. Generally they prefer fresh-water which is quite murky with the temperature ranging from 0 șC to 30 șC.
The Goldfish is approximately 41 cm (16 inches) long and weighs about 3 kg (6.6lb). Its appearance depends on location, food, temperature and other factors. Generally it has got paired pectoral and pelvic fins with one dorsal, caudal and anal fin. There is only a subtle difference between the male and the female fish. As it is omnivorous its diet consists of plants, plankton, detritus, insects, peas, lettuce, worms, larvae, small birds, tiny mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The reproduction cycle is quite typical. It begins when the males start to chase the females. Later on the female fish lays couple of thousand eggs. The breeding occurs all year round in indoor pools/aquariums on the other hand in nature it occurs mostly in summer. There is no parental care. Carassius auratus is sexually mature at the age of 2 however this highly depends on water temperature, sufficient nutrition and other environmental factors. Its life span is about 25 years when kept in a pond.
The Goldfish tend to live in groups. They should not be released into the water in nature, because they can breed very quickly and consequently they can crowd out native fish population. They are considered to be pests for other fish population. Understandably they also have got their predators such as herons, turtles and so on. They are used as aquarium fish, but also as a bait for fishermen.
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