The goldfish is a freshwater fish that are often misunderstood. They are one of the earliest fish to be domesticated as pets and are the most common fish kept in an aquarium. This fish is a small member of the carp family. Goldfish are basically a domesticated version of the carp that are native to eastern Asia. First domesticated in China over a thousand years ago, there are many distinct breeds that have since been developed. They vary in size, shape, fin type and color.

In China during the Jin Dynasty there were various species of carp that were domesticated and raised as food. Some of the gray or silver colored species have the tendency to produce red, orange and yellow color mutations. The color mutations were first noted during in this period but it is thought that the mutations had been taking place for thousands of years.

During the Tang Dynasty, it was highly popular to raise carp in ponds and water gardens. A naturally occurring genetic mutation produced the gold color of the fish. People started to intentionally breed the gold color rather than the normal silver color. By keeping the fish in their ponds or other small bodies of water they could mostly breed out the silver color. On special occasions the gold fish were placed on display in small containers.

By the start of the Song Dynasty, the domesticated goldfish were fully established. By 1162 CE, the empress had ordered the construction of a pond specifically for collecting the red and gold colored fish. By this point in time, those that were outside of the imperial family were forbidden to have goldfish that were the gold color, as it was the imperial color and was protected. This is likely the reason why there are more of the orange goldfish in existence than the yellow colored goldfish.

In the Ming Dynasty, the goldfish were brought indoors. This led to additional mutations that could never survive in the ponds outdoors. Colors other than the red and gold fish were first noted in 1276 CE. The Ming Dynasty is also where the first reference of the fancy tailed goldfish can be found. In 1603 CE, the goldfish were introduced into Japan where the Ryukin and Tosakin goldfish were developed. Shortly after this in 1611, the goldfish were brought to Portugal and from there they traveled to other locations in Europe.

Over many centuries there has been a lot of selective breeding that has produced several different colors and sometimes even multiple colors. There are also many different body shapes, fin styles and eye setting configurations that make some goldfish look like they are from a different planet. Some of the more extreme versions of goldfish can only live in aquariums and are fairly delicate. At this time there are roughly 300 breeds of goldfish that are official breeds in China. The majority of goldfish breeds that exist today originated in China.

In the 1620s, goldfish became highly sought after in most of southern Europe due to their metallic looking scales that symbolized good luck and fortune. It quickly became a tradition for newly married men to give their wife a goldfish as a gift at their one year wedding anniversary. This was done as a symbol for prosperity in the years to come. Sadly this tradition quickly died out once the goldfish became more and more readily available. Goldfish were first brought to us here in North America around 1850 CE and became highly popular pets in the United States.

When found in the wild most goldfish are actually an olive green or grey color. The introduction of the domestic goldfish in the wild can cause multiple issues for the native wild species of the fish. Goldfish can mate with other similar species of carp creating a hybrid. Interestingly within three generations of breeding, the majority of the hybrid fish return to their natural olive or grey colors. The color mutation of the domestic goldfish can also be found in other species such as the common carp. Koi can also be breed with goldfish and produce a sterile fish that can not breed.

The domestic goldfish come in many different varieties. Domestic goldfish are highly unlikely to survive outside of their tanks or ponds due to their bright colored fins. However other varieties like the Shubunkin might be able to survive just long enough to mate with their wild cousins. The common comet goldfish can survive in the wild and can do fairly well in just about any climate.