A small freshwater carp native to China, first bred for colour there over 1,000 years ago and now one of the most popular aquarium fish. Goldfish released into the wild have become pests in parts of North America and Australia.
Quick answers
What is it?Fish
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?Yes
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?Commonly
One of the most popular aquarium fish, commonly kept in indoor tanks.
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inWorldwide
HabitatRivers & lakes, Towns
ColoursOrange, White
SizeTiny
LengthUsually about 20 cm; up to 45 cm
LegsNone
Covered inScales
Lives ingroups
Lives for10–25 years
Can swim
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Native to China; kept worldwide, and established in the wild in places.
Did you know
The three-second memory is a myth — it is more like months.
Under the Song dynasty, only the imperial family could keep yellow goldfish, since yellow was the imperial colour.
Often confused with
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A photo, a few hints, one guess. Same 438 animals.
