Goldfish

Goldfish are a relatively small member of the Cyprinidae or carp family. The Cyprinidae family is the largest family of freshwater fishes in the world. Breeders for almost 2000 years have successfully brought many new species through genetic mutations. And has removed the 'golden' color of the original goldfish. There are also different body shapes, fin and eye configurations. Some extreme versions of the goldfish need to be kept in indoor aquariums as they are much less hardy than varieties closer to the "natural" original.

Goldfish may also change their color by varying the spectrum of light under which they are kept. Goldfish produce pigment in response to light. Cells called chromatophores produce pigments that reflect light, and give coloration. The color of a goldfish is determined by which pigments are in the cells, how many pigments molecules there are, and whether the pigment is grouped inside the cell or is spaced throughout the cytoplasm. If a goldfish is kept in the dark it will appear lighter in the morning, and over a long period of time will lose its color.

Goldfish can grow to a length of about 16 - 20 cm (6.3 - 7.87 in). However, this is rare, and few goldfish reach this size. In optimal conditions, goldfish may live more than 20 years, but most household goldfish generally live less than six to eight years, due to sub-optimal living conditions (such as being kept in bowls).

Tips
No fish bowl! Even if you keep just one goldfish, a large tank is vital in your efforts to provide a high quality of life
20- to 30-gallon tank for your goldfish, and add at least 10 gallons to that volume for each additional goldfish

Goldfish have been famous for jumping out of uncovered tanks. Buying a hood for your tank is an easy way to avoid this mishap, while also providing a platform for lighting.

Prefer fluorescent lighting rather than the incandescent range. You willl save on electricity and your light will give off less heat. Keep the lighting on for almost 10 hours a day.

Gravel is the best choice as the floor of your goldfish tank for several reasons. First of all, it won’t affect the pH of the water, as other substances like coral can . Secondly, gravel provides an excellent surface on which good bacteria can grow – bacteria that work to break down the harmful waste elements produced within your tank.

Most tap water has neutral pH. Goldfish thrive in neutral pH levels (specifically, 7.2-7.6 pH). Goldfish are relatively strong fish compared to other kinds, in that they can survive in water whose pH is less than optimal, but since their optimal pH is so simple to achieve, you shouldn’t have to worry about it. In the early months of a tank, before the ecology within your tank has established itself,

Allow the tap to run for about a minute before collecting it in a container. Let the tap water sit out for an entire day before adding it to a tank; this interim period helps to remove chlorine from the water, and also ensures that it reaches the same temperature as the tank water. Ammonia and other waste products build up rather rapidly within a fish tank.

Your filtration system should help keep the water quality very good for the most part, but you must also perform a partial water exchange every week or two. To do this, use a siphon and try to suck out the waste and yucky material that collected in the gravel (without actually sucking the gravel out of the tank). In the process, try to suck up about a quarter of the water, and then replace it with the prepared tap water described in the previous step.

Goldfish produce a lot of waste, and waste (along with uneaten food and decaying plants) leads to rising ammonia levels within your tank. Ammonia is toxic to goldfish and must be kept at the lowest possible level. To do this, you need to encourage the development of good bacteria within your tank and invest in a sufficient filtration system. If you use the best filtration systems, you’ll be doing both at once. Filters also must be maintained and filtering elements replaced regularly in order to provide continued waste management in your tank, so be sure to follow maintenance instructions. Try to replace filtering elements in a staggered way, rather than all at once, to make transitions as smooth as possible for your goldfish. Filters should be changed about once a month. Use that same test kit mentioned earlier to check the ammonia and nitrite levels within your tank.

How to Breed Goldfish - Choosing a Goldfish
Goldfish can be bred twice a year and they need warm temperatures for breeding. Goldfish that are two years or older are ideal for breeding but those that are five to six years old will be the best for breeding goldfish. While choosing the specimens for goldfish breeding, choose those that are of good quality and assess them according to their color, size and structure of their body and the fins. Choose a higher ratio of male goldfish, like two males for one female, for better chances at breeding.

Determining the Gender of Goldfish
Determining the gender of goldfish is a bit difficult and this can be done accurately only when they reach the spawning stage. A female goldfish has a protruding, heavier abdomen and is plumper, while a male goldfish develops a breeding tubercle on the gills, when it reaches the spawning condition. A male goldfish also has a slight white bump on its head which can be easily spotted. You may find it difficult to determine the gender of a goldfish initially, but it will be fairly easier with practice. You can also seek the help of a professional goldfish breeder to get a hang of this process.
Preparing the Goldfish for Spawning
You can start preparing the goldfish for breeding in early spring, right after winter. The first step of preparation would be to clean the goldfish. For this, you will need to add a cleaning solution which can be made by mixing together 6 drops of copper sulphate, one measure of terramycin and 80 drops of formaldehyde in 4 gallons of water. Add this solution to the water in the aquarium and let the goldfish remain in it for around 20 minutes. Then remove them and place them in a container of clean water. You can then start preparing the aquarium for spawning.

You need to create a natural spawning environment for goldfish breeding. This can be done by cleaning 20% of the water daily and replacing it with tap water. You can also use a water conditioner after cleaning the water. Next, add spawning props like natural plants, artificial or coconut fibers, spawning mops, etc. in the tank. Then make sure that the water temperature in the tank is around 26°C, which is the ideal temperature for breeding goldfish. Place the goldfish back into the tank and keep feeding them at regular intervals, so that the female develops healthy eggs and the males develop 'milt', a substance required to fertilize the eggs.

Spawning Process
When the Goldfish are ready for mating, you will be able to observe a 'spawning chase' that is characterized by the male swimming close to the females abdomen for a long time. This process usually takes place during the mornings and the goldfish will be seen swimming in batches. When the female is ready, she releases the eggs and the male goldfish deposit the milt over the eggs to fertilize them. The female releases around five hundred to a thousand eggs at one time. Here you should note that goldfish eat their eggs and so the parent goldfish should be removed or the eggs should be removed from the tank as soon as they are fertilized. If you remove the eggs, they need to be washed in water that has the same temperature as the tank. Then place the eggs in a 20 gallon tank which has water up to six inches and the temperature should be around 21°C for the eggs to hatch.

Hatching of Goldfish Eggs
The eggs that look very clear are the ones that are most fertile. You should observe the eggs regularly, as the eggs that are not very fertile are susceptible to fungal infection, that may also spread to the healthy eggs. After the eggs have hatched they will have a translucent yolk sac, which will make them sink to the bottom of the tank. This is a common phenomenon and after the yolk sac is absorbed, they obtain an air bladder and start swimming. At this stage, you can start feeding them commercially available food at intervals of half an hour. After this you will need to follow the basics of Goldfish care until a few days.