The Common Goldfish....

"The Common Goldfish" 

"Carassius auratus"

The common goldfish where it all began. Fancy goldfish lovers and most all aquariasts look at this fish as nothing more than a "feeder fish" but few know of it's humble beginnings, it's royal standing, or what is truly owed to this simple fish. 

Beginning in ancient China various species of Carp were being domesticated and bred as food fish, apparently when the rivers would subside after a flood. Fish (mainly carp) would get trapped in small lakes, the Chinese would then feed their catch using nymphs and silkworm fleece. The normally grey/silver species of Prussian Carp had a tendency to produce red, orange, and yellow "mutations" in color. The first recording of the mutation was recorded during the Jin dynasty between 265 AD and 420 AD. Then during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) it became popular to raise Carp in ornamental ponds or watergardens.

During this time people started breeding more for coloration, weeding out the silverish color of the Prussian Carp for the golden coloring we see today.  On special occasions, where guests were expected, the more beautiful fish would be moved to smaller containers for their guests viewing pleasure. By the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD) the domestication of goldfish was firmly established, and in 1162 the empress of the Song dynasty ordered the construction of a pond to collect the red and gold variety. At this time people outside of the imperial family were forbidden to keep goldfish of the yellow coloration. Yellow was the imperial color at this time.

"The lake of the clarity of gold"
A watergarden from the time of the Song dynasty

 
This could be the reason there are more orangeish/gold variations than yellowish/gold, Though the yellowish/gold variation is supposed to be easier to breed. The first recorded occurrence of colors other than red and gold was in 1276 AD. From 1368-1644 during the Ming dynasty, people began raising goldfish indoors. This allowed for mutations that would be unable to survive in ponds. The first recorded fancy tailed goldfish was in 1603. Unfortunately, not a lot of information is available on these early fish.

Sometime around 1611 goldfish gained popularity in Japan, where a beautiful variety was developed; the Tosakin. From there they made their way to Portugal and parts of Europe. During the 1620's goldfish were highly regarded in Europe because of their metallic scales, the goldfish also symbolized good luck and fourtune. At this time it had become tradition for married men to give their wives a goldfish on their one year anniversary, as a symbol for prosperous years to come. However this tradition quickly died out as goldfish became more widely available. Around the mid 1800's goldfish were first introduced to North America and quickly gained popularity in The United States. Which brought us the Comet variation of this humble little fish. Currently there is somewhere between 300-500 different variations globally.

Scientists believe the closest wild relative of the common goldfish is the Prussian Carp. Some sources claimed the Crucian Carp to be the wild version of goldfish. However they have quite different characteristics, the Prussian Carp has a more pointed snout. The coloring is a grey/greenish color. Prussian Carp also have fewer than 31 scales along the lateral line. However the snout of the Crucian Carp is well rounded, they always have a coloring of golden bronze. Juvenile Crucian Carp will have a black spot on the base of the tail which dissapears with age. This marking is not present in the Prussian Carp. Crucian's will also have 33 scales or more along the lateral line.

"Prussian Carp"

"Crucian Carp"

   








             
           Common Goldfish have a "wild" body type, similar that of wild Prussian Carp. The body depth should be about 3/8th the length of the body. The dorsal contour should be in a smooth arching shape. All of the fins should be single and slightly rounded except the pectoral and pelvic fins. The cadual fin however should be rounded and short about a third the length of the body or less.