A close relative of Carp, Goldfish can be found in shallow, muddy pools and backwaters of sluggish rivers. Like Carp, Goldfish can tolerate more turbid or polluted water. Because They are close relatives, Goldfish can interbreed with Carp. Moreover, wild Goldfish have been mistaken for Carp.
Goldfish was first domesticated by the Chinese who raised Him in their ponds. They kept Goldfish as pets since the Chinese believed that ponds with Goldfish were good feng shiu, helping to balance the home’s energy. For the Chinese, Goldfish invited peace and prosperity. They bred Goldfish for thousands of years resulting in many colorful and elegant varieties.
First introduced to Europeans in the 1690s, Goldfish became a fashionable pet by the 1730s. Goldfish’s bright colors and floating fins entranced the people who watched Him. Americans and Europeans wanted more even variety, so they have bred a wide array of Goldfish with many different colors and fin styles. Today, Goldfish can be grouped into two groups: the common orange single-tail and the fancy twin-tailed Fish.
What surprises many people about Goldfish is that He can be found in the wild. Like his Sister Carp, Goldfish can travel about in streams but He is fairly specific about where he wants to live. Goldfish prefers backwaters of sluggish streams. In the wild, Goldfish tends to be dark olive or bronze instead of gold, red, and white. He also grows quite large (about 35 cm.).
Goldfish teaches joy. Hardy and showy, He graces ponds showing off his twin tails. Beautiful and graceful, He entrances people who watch Him swimming about in his pond. Often times, this brightly colored Fish will follow a person to make friends. People who glimpse Goldfish in his element often speak of receiving a sense of joy and peacefulness from Him.
Goldfish’s Teachings Include:
“The goldfish lives its life with confidence, never believing in negativity.” Copyright: “Animal Magick”, D.J. Conway.
“Goldfish remind us that the opportunities are present. When the goldfish appears in our life, there is a need to focus on our sense of peace and prosperity.” Copyright: “Animal-Speak”, Ted Andrews.
“When welcomed into your home, Goldfish Dreaming quickly turns a house into a home and, ultimately, a home into a sanctuary.” Copyright: “Australian Animal Dreaming”, Scott Alexander King.
Buy books on goldfish care and breeding from Amazon.com
Second Photo of Goldfish copyrighted by Hannes Keller, Visipix.com
Va. Carper