Goldfish are very much loved and adored by pet lovers and they are natural choice as pets for many people. Although you may wonder about the advantages of owning a goldfish because as a pet they will not communicate with you directly or will not run or walk with me like a cat or a dog. But In reality the worth of a goldfish as a pet can only be understood someone who owns one. They are the source of continuous and great pleasure and you can draw great satisfaction by watching them swim the whole day. In one word they are just great to have.
The vibrant golden color of your goldfish
The first and foremost thing that attracts people towards goldfish is their golden hues. They are splendidly gorgeous with a touch of the exotic. But actually they are not simply golden. It’s a combination of three types of color cells which are black, yellow and red. These are responsible for the great color effects of a goldfish. You can find different colors of goldfish, from red to golden, bronze, white as well as black and blue. Interestingly, goldfish are neither gold nor orange when they are born. They have a typical olive color which can be quite dark. But as they grow up they start to alter their color.
Goldfish are obviously wild species and they have acquired their vibrant color over the ages. Along with that today’s genetic and selective breeding you have goldfish with colors as varied and beautiful as from silver to gold, red to blue, as well as with a single tail or a fantail. But most importantly the color of a goldfish primarily depends on the environment in which it is bred as the amount of light that it gets is very crucial for its color. However, have you ever wondered when all these about goldfish began? When Goldfish did become so close and dear to mankind?
The birth of the goldfish as a pet
The history of goldfish as a pet begins with Ancient China. There goldfish specie of present day was bred from the gibel carp which were the characteristic of slow sea waters of south China. The first mention of a goldfish is found in the year 265-415 when the official records of the Chun dynasty states the gold hue of this fish. Since then several documents throughout the ages show that it was normal to raise goldfish in ponds in different Buddhist monasteries.
But when did the goldfish became an indoor human pet? The Answer to this question also comes from ancient China. It is considered that during Ming Dynasty the first goldfish was supposed to have raised as pet fish. With the passage of time people, fascinated by the beauty of these fish, started to associate them with prosperity, good luck. The extent of goldfish’s influence in China can be ascertained from the fact that it gave rise to specialized artwork through the works on silks, ceramics and carvings.
From China goldfish reached Japan at first during the year 1603. The first trip to Europe happened between 1611- 1691. After two centuries this fish made its way to the United States of America in the year 1874.
Chintamani Abhyankar is a goldfish enthusiast and has been raising and breeding goldfish for many years. He is an expert on their care and an advocate for raising healthy goldfish the natural way. His famous digital book Secrets on Keeping Beautiful Goldfish, offers simple, easy to follow instruction for raising healthy, long-living goldfish. Visit his website http://www.goldfishcaretips.com to learn more about expertly raising your goldfish and to receive your FREE copy of his special report, Fish-Keeping Hobby Secrets Revealed