Subsequent generations of adult goldfish can also revert to this wild colour after several rounds of breeding in wild environments. They lighten over time and start turning orange as they mature. Young goldfish are much darker than the adults, appearing olive-green or brown in colour. Other common adult colours include red, white, and black, with many individuals displaying mixed colouration.
Carp that had yellow or orange coloured mutations were prized as ornamental fish and were selectively bred for thousands of years, resulting in the goldfish seen today. There are estimated to be over 100 different varieties of goldfish, all with unique colour patterns and physical characteristics.Īdult goldfish are generally known for their bright orange colour, but they actually used to appear mainly as greyish-silver or olive-green fish. If you decide you no longer want to own your goldfish, consider alternatives to release, such as rehoming your fish, returning it to the store, or giving it to a local school. Educating yourself on the care of a goldfish, including its life expectancy, is critical for becoming a responsible pet owner. It is essential to not release your pet goldfish into the wild to protect the integrity of natural ecosystems in Canada. In Canada, goldfish live in the homes of many families, but it’s important that they remain as pets, and not be released into the wild. Their present establishment in the wild can be attributed to their widespread availability in aquaculture. Since then, goldfish have become one of the most widely distributed foreign fishes on the continent, stemming from their recognition as an ornamental species and companion. In fact, sources referred to by the United States Geological Survey suggest that intentional goldfish releases were reported as early as the 1600s in North America. Goldfish have been kept as pets for centuries and are released when they become unwanted. These attributes, together with their high reproductive rate, make goldfish a threat to Canadian waters. This reduces the amount of sunlight reaching underwater plants which subsequently leads to habitat loss for native species. Goldfish belong to the carp and minnow family and, like their counterparts, can increase the turbidity (lower the clarity) of water through their feeding activity. Their feeding preferences consist of fish eggs, fish larvae, and aquatic plants, and this wide array of subsistence magnifies their impact on ecosystem health and biodiversity. Native to eastern Asia including China, Hong Kong, Japan and the Republic of Korea, goldfish threaten Canadian waterways by preying on native species and outcompeting with them for food.
Goldfish, when released into the wild, are an invasive species in North America.
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