Goldfish

Goldfish, or GOLDEN CARP (Carassius auratus), a Chinese and Japanese fresh-water fish nearly allied to the carp (Cyprinus), but lacking barbels. In its warm native waters it is brownish, like its neighbour species, the Crucian Carp (C. carassius), while in its more familiar domesticated state it loses the black and brown pigment, becomes golden-yellow, or passes more completely into albinism in those unpigmented forms known as silver fish. Young specimens are dark in colour, the loss of pigment and the consequent golden tint becoming marked as they grow older. It seems to have been introduced into England in 1691, and is often kept in aquaria, or with more success in ponds, especially in such as are warmed by an inflow of hot water from engines. In temperatures of 80° F. or more it thrives well and breeds abundantly. The goldfish is naturalised in some continental rivers, and has had a wide artificial distribution throughout the world. In aquaria the fish are best fed on worms, insects, and the like, and care must be taken that the water is kept fresh. Monstrosities such as double or multiple tails or much modified fins frequently occur in artificial conditions. Of these the most remarkable is the 'telescope fish.' There are large breeding establishments in southern and western France, in various parts of Prussia, and at Palz in Styria—the latter furnishing 100,000 goldfish in a year. See Mulertt, The Goldfish and its Systematic Culture (1884).