Goldfish

Carassius auratus, the goldfish, is a freshwater cyprinid in the family Cyprinidae, domesticated from wild carp of East Asia and now bred in countless forms. Colors range from the classic orange-red to white, black, and calico, and body shapes span the streamlined common and comet types to rounded fancy varieties such as the fantail, oranda, and ranchu. It is a peaceful, social, and long-lived fish that does best in groups and interacts readily with its keeper. It should not be housed with fin-nipping or aggressive species. It requires a large, well-filtered aquarium or pond, as goldfish grow substantial and are heavy waste producers; cool, well-oxygenated water suits them. An omnivore, it accepts prepared goldfish foods, vegetables, and live or frozen items, though fancy round-bodied types benefit from soaked, easily digested foods. It is an egg-scattering spawner that breeds seasonally in cooler conditions.