Carassius auratus (fish)

Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

Taxonomic name: Carassius auratus Synonyms: Carassius auratus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), Carassius auratus cantonensis (Tchang, 1933), Carassius carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), Carassius chinensis (Gronow, 1854), Carassius encobia (Bonaparte, 1845), Carassius gibelioides (non Cantor, 1842), Cyprinus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), Cyprinus langsdorfi (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1842), Cyprinus maillardi (Guichenot, 1863), Cyprinus mauritianus (Bennett, 1832), Cyprinus thoracatus (Valenciennes, 1842), Leuciscus auratus (Mauduyt, 1849-51) Common names: aranyhal (Hungarian-Hungary), caras rosu (Romanian), caras-auriu (Romanian), carassin doré (French), carassio dorato (Italian), carpa dorada (Spanish-Mexico), cheisopsaro (Greek), chernyi teleskop (Russian), chrysopsaro (Greek), chryssopsaro (Greek), ciprino dorato (Italian), cyprin doré (French), dorade de Chine (French), edible goldfish (English-Malaysia), funa (Hawaiian), gibel carp (English-Kazakhstan), gold crucian carp (English-Taiwan), golden carp (English-Australia), Goldfisch (German), goldfish (English), goudvis (Dutch-Netherlands), Goudvis (Afrikaans-South Africa), Guldfisk (Swedish-Sweden), guldfisk (Danish), gullfisk (Norwegian), I'a'ula'ula (Hawaiian), ikan mas (Malay), kam tsak (Cantonese-Hong Kong), kam ue (Cantonese-Hong Kong), kapr zlatý (Czech), kaprík zlatý (Czech), karas (Russian-Ukraine), karas cinsky (Czech), karas stríbritý (Czech), karas stribrity vychodoasijsky (Czech), karas vetší (Czech), karas zlatý (Slovak), karas zlocisty (Polish), karas zlocisty a. chinski (Polish), karuss (Norwegian), kin-buna (Japanese), kirmizi balik (Turkish), kultakala (Finnish), mahi-e-hoz (Farsi-Iran), native carp (English-Australia), ngan tsak (Cantonese-Hong Kong), peixe dourado (Portuguese), peixe encarnado (Portuguese), peixe-dourado (Portuguese), pesce dorato (Italian-Italy), pesco rosso (Italian-Switzerland), peshk i kuq (Albanian-Albania), pez dorado (Spanish-Mexico), pez rojo (Spanish-Spain), pimpão (Portuguese-Portugal), poisson rouge (French), serebryanyi karas' (Russian-Russian Fed), sølvkaruds (Danish), sølvkarusse (Danish), tawes (Tagalog-Philippines), tsak ue (Cantonese-Hong Kong), zlatnakarracuda (Bulgarian), zolotaja rybka (Russian-Belarus) Organism type: fish Native to Asia, goldfish (Carassius auratus) have been introduced worldwide due to their popularity as pond and aquarium fish. Releases, both intentional and unintentional, have meant that this species has formed wild populations in many new locations. Concerns have been raised about the impacts that goldfish have on the aquatic community, including increasing turbidity, predation upon native fish, and helping to facilitate algal blooms. Description A small to moderately-sized fish with a deep body and rounded cross-section. Large head and eyes with a small mouth and a forked tail. Scales are large and the single dorsal fin has 3-4 stout spines at the leading edge. Colour ranges from olive-bronze to deep golden along dorsal surface, fading to silvery-white along the belly (McDowall, 2000). May grow up to 41cm in length, 2kg in weight and live for 30 years in captivity (FishBase, 2004). Similar Species Cyprinus carpio More Occurs in: lakes, water courses, wetlands Habitat description Rivers, lakes, ponds, lagoons and ditches with cold, slow-flowing water and aquatic vegetation (FishBase, 2004). Able to withstand prolonged exposure to salinities above 15 ppt (FishBase, 2004) and can tolerate low levels of dissolved oxygen (McDowall, 2000). General impacts The passage of cyanobacteria through the goldfish intestine stimulates cyanobacterial growth, which may result in algal blooms occurring. The bottom-sucking feeding methods of goldfish can also contribute towards algal blooms by re-suspending nutrients, which makes them available to algae (Morgan & Beatty, 2004). Goldfish have also been known to prey upon the eggs, larvae and adult of native fishes (Morgan & Beatty, 2004), as well as increasing water turbidity and depleting aquatic vegetation (Richardson et al., 1995). Uses Valued as an ornamental pond and aquarium fish. Used in scientific experiments (FishBase, 2004). Notes Many different varities of goldfish have been produced, through selective breeding for a wide variety of colours and fin shapes. These fish usually revert to olive-bronze wild colouration and normal fin shapes if released from captivity (McDowall, 2000). Geographical range Native range: Native to central Asia, China and Japan. Known introduced range: Introduced worldwide as a pond and aquarium species (FishBase, 2004). Introduction pathways to new locations For ornamental purposes: Often introduced to outdoor ponds as an ornamental fish. Pet/aquarium trade: Introduced worlwide as aquarium fish. Local dispersal methods Escape from confinement: Wild populations have often been established by released pet goldfish. For ornamental purposes (local): Often introduced to outdoor ponds as an ornamental fish. Intentional release: Goldfish have been introduced by acclimatisation societies to some countries. Intentional release: Goldfish have been introduced by acclimatisation societies to many localities. Management information Gill nets, seine nets and electrofishing can be used to control goldfish populations (Morgan & Beatty, 2004). Nutrition Eats a variety of aquatic plants (including algae), detritus, crustaceans, worms, small insects and snails (FishBase, 2004; McDowall, 2000). Reproduction Spawning occurs in shallow water amongst weeds, and up to several hundred thousand small eggs (1-2mm diameter) are laid at once (McDowall, 2000). Individual fish can spawn 3-10 lots of eggs at intervals of 8-10 days. Cold water during winter is essential for proper ova development (FishBase, 2004). Lifecycle stages Eggs hatch in around a week. Young attach to aquatic plants for several days while yolk sac is absorbed (McDowall, 2000). Reviewed by: Dr. David Rowe, NIWA (National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research). Hamilton New Zealand. Principal sources: McDowall, R. M. 2000. The Reed field guide to New Zealand freshwater fishes. Auckland, Reed. FishBase, 2004. Species profile Carassius auratus Compiled by: IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) To contribute information, please contact Shyama Pagad. Last Modified: Tuesday, 11 April 2006