Carassius auratus auratus (goldfish)
Publication: CABI Compendium
90563
Datasheet Types: Natural enemy, Cultured aquatic species, Invasive species, Host animal
Abstract
This datasheet on Carassius auratus auratus covers Identity, Overview, Associated Diseases, Pests or Pathogens, Distribution, Dispersal, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Management, Further Information.
Identity
- Preferred Scientific Name
- Carassius auratus auratus Linnaeus, 1758
- Preferred Common Name
- goldfish
- Other Scientific Names
- Carassius auratus Linnaeus, 1758
- Carassius carassius auratus Linnaeus, 1758
- Cyprinus auratus Linnaeus, 1758
- Cyprinus auratus cantonensis Tchang, 1933
- Cyprinus chinensis Gronow, 1854
- Cyprinus langsdorfi Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1842
- Cyprinus maillardi Guichenot, 1863
- Cyprinus mauritianus Bennett, 1832
- Cyprinus thoracatus Valenciennes, 1842
- International Common Names
- Englishgolden carp
- Spanishpez rojo
- Frenchcarassindorade de chinepoisson rouge
- Local Common Names
- Albaniapeshk i kuq
- Australianative carp
- Bulgariazlatnakarracuda
- Canadacyprin dore
- China/Hong Kongkam tsakkam uengan tsaktsak uetsak ue
- Czech Republickaras cinskykaras stribritykaras stribrity vychodoasijsky
- Denmarksølvkarudssølvkarusse
- Finlandkultakala
- Francecarassin doré
- GermanyGoldfisch
- Greececheisopsarochrysopsarochryssopsaro
- Hungaryaranyhal
- Iranmahi-e-hoz
- Italycarassio doratociprino doratopesce dorato
- Japankin-buna
- Kazakhstangibel carp
- Latviazolotaja rybka
- Malaysiaedible goldfishikan mas
- Mexicocarpa doradapez dorado
- Norwaykarauss
- Philippinestawes
- Polandkaras zlocistykaras zlocisty a. chinski
- Portugalpeixe douradopeixe encarnadopimpão
- Romaniacaras rosucaras-auriu
- Russian Federationchernyi teleskopserebryani karas
- Slovakiakaras zlaty
- Switzerlandpesco rosso
- Taiwangold crucian carp
- Turkeykirmizi balik
- USA/Hawaiifunafuna
- Ukrainekaraszolotaja rybka
Pictures
Adult
Carassius auratus auratus (goldfish); adult in a tank. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, Minnesota, USA. February 2011.
©Brianne-2011/via flickr - CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Adults
Carassius auratus auratus (goldfish); adults in a tank.
©Spider.Dog/via flickr - CC BY 2.0
Adults
Carassius auratus auratus (goldfish); adults in a tank.
Public Domain/via publicdomainpictures.net
Overview
Carassius auratus auratus has been bred and raised for over 500 years. It was introduced into Japan and Europe in the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, respectively. C. auratus auratus is an attractive aquaculture candidate for the aquarium trade and is extremely valuable commercially. In addition, it is commonly used as baitfish, as live feed in fish-production facilities, and for algal and plant control of small ponds (Robison and Buchanan, 1988; Matlock, 1990). C. auratus auratus is usually found in still, shallow, oxygen-deficient, warm waters, with thick vegetation and muddy bottoms (Lachner et al., 1970; Page and Burr, 1991), but also inhabits slow flowing rivers and streams.
Summary of Invasiveness
Originating in China, the goldfish (C. auratus auratus) has been bred as an ornamental pond and pet fish for over 500 years. Often released intentionally or otherwise, this hardy and omnivorous fish has been implicated in causing changes to the local environment, such as increasing water turbidity and facilitating algal blooms, and predation upon native fish species.
Taxonomic Tree
Description
C. auratus auratus has an elongated, stocky body. Not all have the well-known bright gold colour. Wild populations vary in colour from gold to olive green or even creamy white. C. auratus auratus possess a long dorsal fin with 15 to 21 rays and a hard serrate spine at the origin of the dorsal and anal fins. The lateral line is complete, with 25-31 scales in a lateral series. C. auratus auratus can be distinguished from other Asian cyprinids by the presence of a stiff, serrate spine at the origin of the dorsal and anal fins. Asian cyprinids have a stiff, non-serrate spine at this position (Robison and Buchanan, 1988; Page and Burr, 1991). The anal fin of the male is concave, whereas on the female it is convex.
C. auratus auratus does not reach the large size attained by carp. It typically grows to 120-220 mm SL, with a maximum of 410 mm SL (Page and Burr, 1991). The usual life span is 6 to 7 years, with a maximum of 30 years recorded (Robison and Buchanan, 1988).
Pathogens Carried
Distribution
Although C. auratus auratus are originated in China, it has been introduced throughout the world (Welcomme, 1988) and has now spread worldwide in aquariums, ponds, and into the wild. Although C. auratus auratus spawns and grows well in temperatures above 15°C, it will survive in water temperatures ranging from freezing to 30°C (Street, 2002). Its wide distribution due to hardiness, dependability on a number of natural food sources (omnivorous), low protein requirements and ornamental value in the export trade make this species an attractive candidate for aquaculture.
In addition to the numerous introductions listed in the Distribution table, the current status of this fish in the Gulf of Mexico, USA, can be found on the website of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (http://nis.gsmfc.org). Further information on the non-indigenous distribution of this species within the USA can also be found in Nico and Schofield (2010).
Distribution Map
Distribution Table
Introductions
| Introduced to | Introduced from | Year | Reasons | Introduced by | Established in wild through | References | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural reproduction | Continuous restocking | |||||||
| Afghanistan | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Albania | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Argentina | 1890-1899 | Private sector | Yes | No | ||||
| Asia | Costa Rica | Unknown | Yes | No | ||||
| Australia | 1876 | Unknown | Yes | No | ||||
| Austria | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Bangladesh | Pakistan | 1953 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Bolivia | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Brazil | Japan | 1920-1929 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| British Columbia | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Bulgaria | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Canada | 1600-1699 | Unknown | Yes | No | ||||
| Chile | 1856 | Unknown | Yes | No | ||||
| China | Japan | 1976 | Unknown | No | No | |||
| Colombia | USA | 1940 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Cyprus | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Czech Republic | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Denmark | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Estonia | Russian Federation | 1948 | Government | Yes | No | |||
| Fiji | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Former USSR | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| France | China | 1600-1699 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Germany | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Greece | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Hawaii | China | 1900 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Hungary | Bulgaria | 1891 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| India | Japan | Individual | Yes | No | ||||
| Indonesia | China | Private sector | Yes | No | ||||
| Iran | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Iraq | 1966-1969 | Government | Yes | No | ||||
| Israel | Germany | 1985 | Unknown | No | No | |||
| Kazakhstan | 1950-1960 | Unknown | No | No | ||||
| Korea, Republic of | Japan | 1972 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Madagascar | France | 1861 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Malaysia | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Mauritius | Asia | 1953 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Mexico | China | 1872 | Government | Yes | No | |||
| Mexico | France | 1872 | Government | Yes | No | |||
| Namibia | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Netherlands | 1753-1754 | Individual | Yes | No | ||||
| New Zealand | UK | 1864-1868 | Individual | Yes | No | |||
| New Zealand | Australia | 1864-1868 | Individual | Yes | No | |||
| Norway | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Pakistan | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Papua New Guinea | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Peru | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Philippines | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Poland | Private sector | Yes | No | |||||
| Portugal | <1700 | Unknown | Yes | No | ||||
| Quebec | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Romania | Germany | 1927 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Russian Federation | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Saudi Arabia | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| Singapore | China | 1900-1997 | Private sector | Yes | No | |||
| Singapore | Japan | 1900-1997 | Private sector | Yes | No | |||
| Slovakia | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| South Africa | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Spain | Japan | 1600-1699 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Taiwan | China | <1700 | Unknown | No | No | |||
| Thailand | China | 1692-1697 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Turkey | Unknown | No | No | |||||
| UK | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Uruguay | Individual | No | No | |||||
| USA | Asia | 1680-1689 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Uzbekistan | Russian Federation | 1951 | Unknown | Yes | No | |||
| Vietnam | China | Unknown | Yes | No | ||||
| Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
| Zimbabwe | Unknown | Yes | No | |||||
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Accidental Introduction
Wild populations may have established due to releases of pet goldfish.
Intentional Introduction
C. auratus auratus has been introduced throughout the world as an aquarium fish and for ornamental purposes stocking outdoor ponds.
Pathway Causes
| Pathway cause | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ornamental purposes (pathway cause) | Yes | |||
| Pet trade (pathway cause) | Yes |
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Crucian carp (Carassius carassius).
Anatomy
The pharyngeal teeth count of C. auratus auratus is 0,4-4,0 (Robison and Buchanan, 1988).
Habitat List
| Category | Sub category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Wetlands | Present, no further details | |
| Freshwater | Lakes | Present, no further details | ||
| Freshwater | Rivers / streams | Present, no further details | ||
| Freshwater | Ponds | Present, no further details | ||
| Brackish | Lagoons | Present, no further details |
Climate
| Climate type | Description | Preferred or tolerated | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A - Tropical/Megathermal climate | Average temp. of coolest month > 18°C, > 1500mm precipitation annually | Tolerated | |
| C - Temperate/Mesothermal climate | Average temp. of coldest month > 0°C and < 18°C, mean warmest month > 10°C | Preferred |
Water Tolerances
| Parameter | Minimum value | Maximum value | Typical value | Status | Life stage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia [unionised] (mg/l) | <0.1 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) | >5.0 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Hydrogen sulphide (mg/l) | <0.002 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Nitrate (mg/l) | 3.0 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Nitrite (mg/l) | <0.3 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Salinity (part per thousand) | >15 | Harmful | Adult | |||
| Salinity (part per thousand) | 0.0 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Spawning temperature (ºC temperature) | >15.0 | Optimum | Broodstock | |||
| Water pH (pH) | 6.5 | 8.5 | Optimum | Adult | ||
| Water temperature (ºC temperature) | <15 | Harmful | Adult | |||
| Water temperature (ºC temperature) | >15 | Optimum | Adult | |||
| Water temperature (ºC temperature) | Optimum | 0-30 tolerated in wild |
Diseases, Disorders and Natural Enemies
Health
There are several gill, skin and parasitic diseases of C. auratus auratus which can be diagnosed easily and treated successfully.
List of Diseases and Disorders
Natural enemy of
Natural enemies
| Natural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butorides striatus | Predator | Adult | ||||
| Channa argus (northern snakehead) | Predator | Adult | ||||
| Siniperca chuatsi (chinese perch) | Predator | Adult |
Impact Summary
| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Economic/livelihood | Positive |
| Environment (generally) | Negative |
Impact: Environmental
Several countries have reported adverse ecological impacts after the introduction of this species.
Impact on Habitats
The presence of goldfish may increase the risk of algal blooms. Studies have shown growth of cyanobacteria is stimulated by passage through goldfish intestines (for further information please see Morgan and Beatty, 2004).
Impact on Biodiversity
The stomach contents of goldfish collected from the Vasse River, Western Australia, include cyanobacteria, diatoms, nematodes, insect larvae (anisopteran, coleopteran and dipteran), mosquito fish, green algae and some terrestrial insects (Morgan and Beatty, 2004).
Threatened Species
| Threatened species | Where threatened | Mechanisms | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eremichthys acros (desert dace) | Nevada | Competition - monopolizing resources Predation | ||
| Gila nigra (headwater chub) | Arizona New Mexico | Predation | ||
| Gila robusta (roundtail chub) | Arizona California Nevada | Predation |
Risk and Impact Factors
Invasiveness
Invasive in its native range
Proved invasive outside its native range
Impact outcomes
Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
Modification of natural benthic communities
Threat to/ loss of endangered species
Threat to/ loss of native species
Impact mechanisms
Competition - monopolizing resources
Predation
Likelihood of entry/control
Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses List
General > Laboratory use
General > Pet/aquarium trade
Environmental > Biological control
Animal feed, fodder, forage > Bait/attractant
Animal feed, fodder, forage > Live feed
Prevention and Control
Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
In the summary of their report on the Vasse River, Western Australia, Morgan and Beatty (2004) suggest the implementation of an eradication program for goldfish in the form of an annual intensive capture effort prior to spawning and also the use of gill and seine nets, and electrofishing.
Behaviour
In the wild, C. auratus auratus will school to a certain extent. It is not particularly aggresive, thus combining sizes is not often a problem in aquaculture. In the wild, breeding occurs during the summer; breeding can occur year-round in indoor aquariums. In the spawning season mature females will become rounder and males develop tubercles (small bumps) on their heads, operculi, and pectoral fins (Street, 2002). This species is omnivorous demonstrating some preference for phytoplankton and macrophytes. Young feed mostly on zooplankton and insect larvae. Richardson et al. (1995) described C. auratus auratus as a benthic herbivore, with wild specimens mainly feeding on plants, detritus and chironomids. C. auratus auratus is commonly used to control aquatic weeds and algae in small ponds (Richardson and Whoriskey, 1992). This species is very tolerant to pollution (Robison and Buchanan, 1988; Page and Burr, 1991; Abramenko et al., 1997).
Growout Management Table
| Ecosystem | Growout systems | Inland | Coastal | Adult stocking density (/m3) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extensive | Semi-intensive | Intensive | ||||
| Lakes | Yes | |||||
| Rivers/streams | Yes | |||||
Reproduction and Seed Production Systems
| Reproduction Conditions | |||
| Parameter | Value | Remarks | |
| Fertilization | External | 1 | |
| Reproductive guild | Open water - Non-guarders | 1 | |
| Broodstock Conditions | |||
| Parameter | Value | Remarks | |
| Breeding | Natural | Yes | |
| Mode | Unassisted | Yes | |
| Culture system Stocking density | Semi-intensive | Yes | |
| Culture system Stocking density | Intensive | Yes | |
| Egg production/kg | Egg production/kg ( /spawner) | 500-2000 | |
| Egg Nursery Conditions | |||
| Egg Nursery Conditions | |||
| Parameter | Value | Remarks | |
| Egg Production | Time to hatch (hours) | >120 | |
| Larval Nursery Conditions | |||
| Parameter | Value | Remarks | |
| Culture system Stocking density | Semi-intensive | Yes | |
| Culture system Stocking density | Intensive | Yes | |
| Larval Production | Time to fry (days) | 5 | |
| Larval Production | First feed (days) | 3 | |
Natural Food Sources
| Food source | Life stages | Contribution to total food intake (%) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| benthic algae and weeds | Aquatic|Adult | ||
| detritus | Aquatic|Adult | ||
| plants | Aquatic|Adult | ||
| zoobenthos | Aquatic|Adult Aquatic|Fry | ||
| zooplankton | Aquatic|Adult |
Artificial Food Sources
| Food source | Life stages | Contribution to total food intake (%) | Feeding methods | Feeding frequency | Feeding characteristics | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphnia (water flea) | Fry Larval | manual | adult Daphnia | |||
| Moina | Larval |
Links to Websites
| Name | URL | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gateway | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6 | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
| Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission | http://nis.gsmfc.org/ | |
| National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research | http://www.niwa.co.nz/ |
References
Abramenko MI, Kravchenko OV, Velikoivanenko AE, 1997. Population genetic structure of the goldfish Carassius auratus gibelio diploid-triploid complex from the Don River Basin. Journal of Ichthyology, 37(1):56-65.
Courtenay WR Jr, Hensley DA, Taylor JN, McCann JA, 1984. Distribution of exotic fishes in the continental United States. In: Courtenay WR Jr, Stauffer JR Jr, ed. Distribution, biology and management of exotic fishes. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press, 41-77.
DIAS, 2007. Database on Introductions of Aquatic Species, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the FAO. http://www.fao.org
FishBase, 2004. Entry for Carassius auratus auratus. Main ref. Kottelat M, Whitten AJ, Kartikasari SN, Wirjoatmodjo S, 1993. Freshwater fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, 221 pp. Online at www.fishbase.org. Accessed 13 October 2004.
Froese R, Pauly D, 2009. FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org
Kailola PJ, Williams MJ, Stewart PC, Reichelt RE, McNee A, Grieve C, 1993. Australian Fisheries Resources. Canberra, Australia: Bureau of Resource Science, Dept. of Primary Industries and Energy, and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, 422 pp.
Lachner EA, Robins CR, Courtenay WR Jr, 1970. Exotic fishes and other aquatic organisms introduced into North America. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 59, 29 pp.
Matlock GC, 1990. Occurrence of goldfish in Texas saltwater. Texas Parks and Wildlife Data Management Series No. 41. Austin, 3 pp.
Morgan D, Beatty S, 2004. Fish fauna of the Vasse River and the colonisation by feral goldfish (Carassius auratus). Report to Fishcare WA and Geocatch. http://www.cffr.murdoch.edu.au/reports/VASSE_RIVER_FINAL_REPORT.pdf
NOBANIS, 2010. Carassius auratus. European Network on Invasive Alien Species. http://www.nobanis.org/speciesInfo.asp?taxaID=688
Nico LG, Schofield PJ, 2010. Carassius auratus. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=508
Page LM, Burr BM, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 432 pp.
Richardson MJ, Whoriskey FG, 1992. Factors influencing the production of turbidity by goldfish. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 70:1585-1589.
Richardson MJ, Whoriskey FG, Roy LH, 1995. Turbidity generation and biological impacts of an exotic fish Carassius auratus, introduced into shallow, seasonally anoxic ponds. Journal of Fish Biology, 47:576-585.
Robison HW, Buchanan TM, 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press, 536 pp.
Street R, 2002. Carassius auratus, Animal Diversity Web. Online at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Carassius_auratus.html. Accessed 15 September 2004.
US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2012. Desert Dace (Eremichthys acros). 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. In: Desert Dace (Eremichthys acros). 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 27 pp. http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc3985.pdf
US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species assessment and listing priority assignment form: Gila nigra. In: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species assessment and listing priority assignment form: Gila nigra. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 37 pp. http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/candidate/assessments/2013/r2/E0AH_V01.pdf
US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species assessment and listing priority assignment form: Gila robusta. In: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species assessment and listing priority assignment form: Gila robusta. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 79 pp. http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/candidate/assessments/2013/r2/E02Z_V01.pdf
Welcomme RL, 1988. International introductions of inland aquatic species. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper, No. 294:x + 318 pp.
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