The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs—now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly! Goldfish are the most widely kept fish in the world. They are the quintessential first pet since goldfish are relatively inexpensive, easy to care for, fairly hardy, and very adaptable. With colorful photos, charts, and tables, this guide gives you information on: Choosing your goldfish - Setting up and maintaining your aquarium - The outdoor goldfish pond - Feeding your goldfish - Keeping your goldfish healthy The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs—now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly! Goldfish are the most widely kept fish in the world. They are the quintessential first pet since goldfish are relatively inexpensive, easy to care for, fairly hardy, and very adaptable. With colorful photos, charts, and tables, this guide gives you information on: Choosing your goldfish Setting up and maintaining your aquarium The outdoor goldfish pond Feeding your goldfish Keeping your goldfish healthy GREGORY SKOMAL, PhD, is an experienced aquarist and Marine Fisheries biologist at Martha’s Vineyard Fisheries, Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts.  He is also an adjunct scientist at the Center for Shark Research in Sarasota, Florida, and has appeared on National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, Today Show, CNN, Good Morning America, and Fox News.  Goldfish Your Happy Healthy Pet By Gregory Skomal John Wiley & Sons Copyright © 2008 Gregory Skomal All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-470-16512-6 Chapter One What Is a Goldfish? The popular image of a goldfish in a bowl has been depicted the world over-from Chinese Ming Dynasty pottery to popular comic strips such as Garfield . Goldfish are the most popular domesticated aquatic life in the world, and there are more than 125 varieties-more varieties than any other fish species. All of these varieties are thought to have been bred from a single species, the Crucian carp. These fish are long, flat-sided, and generally look like drab gray goldfish. The goldfish of today tend to be more colorful than their ancestors. Regardless of variety, the goldfish is one of the most popular pets in the world. Goldfish don't need to be housebroken, they won't beg at the table, and they don't shed. They're flexible about the size of their aquarium, which can depend on the size of the room, and they're easy to keep. Another great thing about goldfish is that they are a fairly hardy species and are quite adaptable. They are excellent candidates for outdoor ponds or pools in almost any climate. Given the wide range of colors, body shapes, and general disposition, there is a goldfish out there for everyone. The History of Goldfish For centuries, the Crucian carp and its various progeny were found only in Asia and were particularly prized in China and, some time later, in Japan. The Chinese word for goldfish is jin y . Goldfish were first mentioned in China during the first Jin Dynasty (265-420). Some 500 years later, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it was not uncommon to have ornamental domesticated fish. These were usually kept in ponds or pools in courtyards and gardens. The species was so popular in China, particularly in Beijing, that during the second Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) a goldfish pool was established in the capital city for commercial breeding. Goldfish reached such a height of popularity during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that they were no longer a luxury for the privileged. Many courtyard gardens had ponds with ornamental goldfish, and they were even brought inside in clay pots. It was very common to keep successful breeding techniques a secret. Goldfish reached Japan in 1616, and the Japanese also became quite enamored of these beautiful fish. They quickly mastered the art of breeding them, and Koriyama, on the Japanese island of Honshu, has been one of the most famous goldfish breeding centers for more than 500 years. Japan is now the largest exporter of goldfish worldwide. The Chinese and Japanese produced the Fantail, the Veiltail, the Globe-Eyed, and the varieties with transparent scales. Some of these varieties can be traced as far back as the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. In 1691, goldfish appeared in mainland Europe. From there they arrived in England in 1780. During the eighteenth century, as trade with the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese flourished, goldfish became fashionable gifts and pets throughout Western Europe. By 1850, goldfish arrived in the New World, and they were a big attraction in New York in 1865. Keeping tropical fish became truly popular in the West after the opening of the first public aquarium at the London Zoo in 1853. The first goldfish show took place in Osaka, Japan, in 1862. The first goldfish show in the West took place in 1