BREEDING OF GOLD FISH

K.N. Mohanta S. Subramanian N. Komarpant A.V. Nirmale

~3Fjtl ICAR

Fishery Sciences Section ICAR RESEARCH COMPLEX FOR GOA Ela, Old Goa - 403 402, Goa India 2008 Copyright © 2008, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) All Rights Reserved For reproduction of this document or any part thereof, permission of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi must be obtained.

Published by: Dr. V S Korikanthimath Director ICAR Research Complex for Goa Ela, Old Goa - 403 402, Goa, India

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Mohanta K N, Subramanian S, Komarpant Nand Nirmale A V (2008). Breeding of Gold fish. Technical Bulletin No: 16, ICAR Research Complex for Goa (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Ela, Old Goa- 403 402, Goa, India

K Chodnekar Sidharth K. Marathe Page No.

01 In the recent years, the art of considered that a community rearing and fish keeping in aquarium aqarium fish tank is not a complete has become a passion and major one unless it is having few varieties of hobby among millions of people gold fish. It was developed in China around the globe. To many more than 1000 years ago as a enthusiasts, watching these beautiful mutant arising from crucian carp. It creatures swimming gracefully in the can tolerate wide water temperature aquarium is a pure sense of joy and variations ranging from warm waters mental pleasure. It also adds to the in tropics to cold waters where aesthetic beauty of a house. The surface water freezes to ice during global trade of ornamental fish is winter. They feed on aquatic plants about $ 9 billion dollar of which 85% and small aquatic animals and easily are freshwater species and the rest interbreed with carps under normal are marine species. The ornamental conditions. fish is one of the fastest growing In recent years, due to advances sectors in fisheries with an annual in selective breeding and growth of over 10% in the world. The hybridization, numerous varieties domestic growth of ornamental fish with different colours, varied fin trade is also about 20% per annum. patterns and unbelievable shape and There are about 300 freshwater forms such as Coments, , ornamental fish varieties that are , Orando, Pyukin, Lion head, available in the market and being Pearl scale, , , traded with different trade names. etc., are available in the markets and Among ornamental fish, gold fish has great demand both in domestic (Carassius auratus) is considered to as well as international markets. be the most popular and attractive pet fish due its many variations such as colour, finnages, tail, shape, size and body structure. Though similar in There are more than 100 varieties of gold fish that appeal to a appearance to carp (Cyprinus wide range of aquarium fish lovers. carpio), gold fish lack barbels and a dark spot at the base of each scale. It All these varieties are originated from is reported to grow up to 20-30 cm. It same species Carassius auratus. Some of the common gold fish are is the most common aquarium fish. and one of the oldest and best known listed as follows: fish. Many aquarium fish keepers Common gold fish silver body with red lips and fins but perfect placement of the red colour is This is typically a carp shaped very rare. fish with paired pectoral and pelvic fins and single dorsal and caudal fins. (Metallic group) The body colours of the fish include The Ryukin is popular with metallic, red, orange, yellow, white professional fish breeders because and black. of its hardiness, ease of London (Nacreous management and the high group) percentage of good progeny which it produces. It is 's second most It has exactly the same body, popular variety of gold fish. The body head and finnage as the common is short, deep bodied and moderately gold fish. But it lacks the reflective compressed, often with a tissue and metallic shine. The pronounced hump at the junction transparent scales allow a multiplicity with the head. The fins are longer of colours to be seen. The than those of the wakin, the caudal background colour of the fish is bright region is forked and divided in to fins, blue, interspersed with patches of and the anal fins are also paired. This red, yellow, brown, violet and black, fish is suitable for rearing both in over which there is a black speckling. pond and aquarium. The colours are even spread into the fins. It is suitable for keeping both in Fantail pond and aquarium. This fish variety is the western Wakin (Metallic group) version of the Ryukin and found in both normal and telescope-eyed This is the common gold fish of form. The fan tail can best be Japan with a similar body shape to described as an egg-shaped fish. It is the common gold fish, but having not so deep bodied as the Ryukin and short fins. It has a double caudal fins. has no trace of hump on its back. This breed is found in a range of colours, Tikin (The peacock tail metallic including meta.llic self, variegated group) and calico. A very old variety developed from Demekin wakin. Apart from the caudal fin, the fins and body are the same as the 'Kuro Demekin is a velvety black wakin, although slightly compressed fish due to its excessive melanic vertically and some are·thicker in the pigment. Some tend to turn red with belly region. The best ones have a age. 'Aka Demekin' is the red metallic type.'Sansho Demekin' is the the veil tail have no indentation necarious form. The eye protrudes between the lobes. This square cut greatly from the head. The body tail and the very high erect dorsal fin shape and finnage is very similar to are the most characteristic features the Ryukin. of this breed. Veils are often very rare as only a small percentage of their progeny develop in to true veil tails. Tosakin resembles as that of Moor Ryukin. But the main differences between these two varieties are that It is a telescope-eyed variety. the Tosakin has slightly shallower The colour of the fish is velvety black body and shorter fins along with a extending to the tips of the fins. The peculiar caudal fin. The lower lobes of body and finnage of this fish variety is the caudal fin are greatly extended identical to the veil tail in all respects. with up-turned outer edges, the fin It is mainly reared by British has the appearance of being aquarists. reversed and spread out in the direction of the head. This fish variety is suitable for aquarium only. Granda is a short bodied high- backed fish with long paired fins, a high dorsal fin and a hood growth The comet is one variety of gold covering the head. The hood should fish which is produced in large ideally grow equally in all sections, numbers. It is readily available in the leaving only the eyes and the mouth market, very hardy and fares well exposed. However, the hood both in aquarium and pond. Yellow is development is generally occurred in the most usual colour of this fish, the cranial region. however, a deep reddish orange is Redcap Oranda and Redcap Lion more preferred. In pond environment, head it exercises its occasional turn of speed. The body of the fish is silver in colour and the hood is restricted to Veil tail the top of the head. The head colour This variety is available both in is red and hence, the name. It is normal and telescope-eyed forms. It suitable for pond or aquarium is one of the most exquisite and rearing. graceful fish among the different gold -fish breeds. Its pointed head has no hood growth. The double tail fins of This fish was developed in Japan. It is a short, round-bodied fish having a in appearance with a deep belly and broad head covered with a generous flattish back. The fins are very similar head growth. All the fins are short with to those of Fan tail. The main the double tail fin being attached to features of this variety are the scales, the caudal peduncle at a sharp angle. which are domed. This raised area is The tail fin is held erect and can be usually white in colour and looks like fully divided or partially webbed. The a half pearl pasted to each scale, curvature along the back is a smooth thus the name pearl scale. The arch with a sharp angle downward as double tail fin is square cut like the it nears the caudal peduncle. vail tail. In the last few years, pearl scale has been seen with oranda Lion head head growth, long fins and larger It is considered to be the "King of bodies. pearl scale variety is also Gold fish". This breed has the largest found either in red or calico colour. head growth among all gold fish Pompon varieties. A double tail propels the short boxy body. The tail looks like It is a dorsal fin-less breed. It has butterfly wings, which is very a short, round boxy body like lion attractive. The back outline is head with short double tail fins. The straighter than found in the Ranchu, nasal septum dividing each nostril but still has a gentle, even curve, develops in to a fleshy lobe that which is carried right to the caudal resembles like a pompon. Body peduncle. shape is similar to bubble eye. There are several breeds of gold fish that Phoenix are called as pompons. Pompon The body of phoenix is midway , Lion heads Pompon and between the common gold fish and Hanafusa (dorsal pompon) are the the Ranchu. It also lacks a dorsal fin. few examples which are available in The fins are very long with anal fins the market. being paired. The double caudal fin is Telescope very deeply forked to give a 'Ribbon- tail' appearance. It is suitable for the The Telescope variety has community aquarium. number of forms and colours. In fact, all fish with protruding eyes are Pearl scale belonging to this particular variety. It The pearl scale is another rare is also commercially named as variety of gold fish. In this variety, the Ca~jco;Plain·scale less, Moor and so scale is silver with large red patches. on. The body is very fat, almost dropsical Celestial Golden orfe This is a remarkable fish, with a It is a fish of European origin body shape similar to the Chinese which is becoming more or more Telescope. The body colour of this popular with fanciers. The Golden fish variety is of uniform black or pale orfe is a slender fish, orange-gold on orange or a combination of these two its top side and a paler yellow gold in mottled pattern. Most striking colour on its underbelly. It is feature of this fish is its eye formation, extremely graceful as it darts about the pupils being situated on top of the and is said to be one of the fastest eyeballs, so that the fish seems to be living fish. When reared in outdoor gazing heaven-wards, hence, the pool, it leaps from the water very name celestial. Because of its often in pursuit offeeding the insect. restricted vision, more care is needed 3. BIOLOGY OF GOLD FISH for feeding this fish The fish belongs to the family Toad head Cyprinidae and the order It is very similar to the celestial Cypriniformes. Generally there are gold fish variety. The eyes are normal two types of gold fishes i.e. fancy and but below them is a small bladder like common or normal. The maximum growth that gives the face somewhat length of fancy type gold fish is about toad-like appearance, hence called 6 to 8 inches in length where as toad head. normal gold fish size may extend up to 14 inches. The oldest gold fish Bubble eye recorded by a hobbyist is stated to be It has fluid-filled sacs beneath the 43 years of age. The general life eyes and a growth contoured body span of gold fish is 10-12 years. It is without a dorsal fin. The fish with an omnivorous fish, which feeds on large bubble (fluid-filed sac) is more wide variety of live and prepared demanding and fetches more price in feeds. They swim at all levels of the the market. water in the aquarium tank and feeds on both floating and sinking type of Meteor feeds. This is very good fish for the This is a strange egg-shaped fish community tank due to its with no caudal fin. The over- compatibility and non- development of the other fins- aggressiveness. especially the pectoral and anal fins compensate the lack of caudal fin. 4. BREEDING OF GOLD FISH preferable dissolved oxygen level for Water Quality Requirement breeding is over 5 to 6 ppm. For The Breeding pH Maintenance of water quality is of pH is a measure of hydrogen ion paramount importance for successful concentration in water and indicates breeding of ornamental fish. The whether the water is acidic or basic. most important water quality Water pH affects metabolism and parameters to be maintained in physiological process offish. pH also hatcheries are: pH, dissolved exerts considerable influence on oxygen, temperature, ammonia, toxicity caused by ammonia and hardness and alkalinity. Some of the hydrogen· sulphide. For breeding important water quality parameters purposes, the water pH should be are given below: between 7.5 to 8.0. Temperature Hardness Temperature sets the pace of Hardness in water is caused by metabolism by controlling molecular soluble salts of Ca and Mg i.e. dynamics (diffusibility, solubility, bicarbonates, chlorides, sulphates fluidity) and biochemical reaction etc. Their concentration is linked with rates. The preferable water alkalinity and pH. Total hardness in temperature for growth and culture is the aquarium should be greater than

15.5 to 23.6 DC. For breeding 40 ppm as CaC03• This concentration purpose, the ideal water temperature of hardness helps to protect fish ranges between 20 to 23 DC. against harmful effects of pH fluctuation and metal ions. Dissolved oxygen Ammonia This is an important factor not only for the respiration of ornamental Total ammonia is an important fishes but also for maintenance of parameter to be cautiously water quality. It controls many of the monitored. Gold fish are very much redox reactions and maintains an sensitive to unionized ammonia and aerobic condition of water. Generally the optimum range is 0.02-0.05 ppm it is advisable to maintain the in the aquarium. dissolved oxygen level at saturation Nitrite level by providing aeration. Aeration also helps in expelling certain amount In normal condition, the nitrite of ammonia from the water and in concentration of aquarium is even distribution of temperature. The negligible, as the aquarium is kept well oxygenated. Even though it is ranging in size from 40 to 100 g can found, its concentration should be be used as broodstock. In general, less than 0.01 ppm. the feeding of broodstock is being done thrice daily. In the morning and Nitrate evening feedings, live feeds such as Nitrate is certainly less toxic to tubifex, earthworm, bloodworm, etc. fish than either ammonia or nitrite. are recommended. But during the Nitrate concentration preferably noon time, the feeding of formulated should be less than 20 ppm in diets is advisable. Feeding is to be aquaria. done @ 10% of the body weight per _day. Of the total ration, 30% is to be Broodstock development provided in the morning and evening Fishes of 8 to 15 months of age each and the rest40% in afternoon.

Characters Male Female Tubercles Appear on head, Do not show breeding tubercles operculum, pectoral fins and other fins Abdomen Smaller, slender and firm Large, fatty, no abdominal ridge and may have ridge and circular in outline. Genital opening Long, concave and smaller Convex, large and protruding opening out side 151 ray of pectoral fin Thicker edge and more Thinner edge and round pointed pectoral fin

Lead (main) ray of anal fin Thinner Thicker General body shape Thinner, longer and Fatter, shorter and asymmetrical symmetrical from the top from the top Behaviour Chase the female Chased and harassed by male - A healthy gold fish brooder

-8- Gold fish brooders set for breeding

-9.-

Indoor gold fish rearing

-13- Spawning Hatching The distinguishing characters Fertilized eggs hatch in 2-4 between male and female gold fish days depending on water are given in Table 1. temperature. The incubation and hatching is generally being done in a During the on set of breeding season, male and female move in a separate container with the provision pair, male taking a position below the of sufficient oxygen. After hatching, posterior region of female with its the egg collectors are removed snout nearer to the vent of the female carefully so as to avoid mortality of and trunk below the caudal fin. newly hatched larvae. Sometimes the courtship continues Larval.Rearing for several hours or even days. Then The newly hatched larvae the female releases the egg that is fertilized by the milt released depend upon their yolk sac as food simultaneously by the male. Most of source for a couple of days and they the eggs being sticky in nature, do not require any external food substratum may be provided in the during the time. The larvae start form of soft aquatic weeds, tiles, feeding after the yolk sac is absorbed. corals, etc., for settlement and From the third day onwards up to collection of eggs for incubation and seventh day of hatching, the mixed hatching. As the parent fish has the green algae are to be fed followed by habit of eating its own eggs, it is infusoria for next seven days. In third advisable· to separate the egg week, the fry are to be supplemented collectors containing eggs into a with boiled egg yolk and micro- different incubation and hatching worms. From 4th week onwards, container. Each healthy and matured Daphnia, Moina and Tubifex are female releases about 2500-3000 provided till it attains 10-15 mm eggs. The gold fish breeds 5-6 times length. Sometimes cannibalism in a year. Fertilized eggs are occurs among the young fish if there transparent in colour and unfertilized eggs are cloudy. Fungus grows very is much difference in their growth quickly on the surface of unfertilized rates and they are not provided with eggs and very often the infection sufficient food materials. Therefore, spreads to healthy fertilized eggs too. only the fish of similar size should be Therefore, iUs advisable to remove kept together in a nursery tank. Care the unfertilized eggs as soon as must be taken to avoid the possible once the egg laying is over. overcrowding of fish in larval rearing tank. After one month, the fry can be originated from the parental stocks transferred to grow out outdoor tanks developed by the Chinese, Korean and fed with the prepared pelleted and Japanese breeders and have feed containing about 30% crude been given different commercial protein and 4.0 kcal/g gross energy till names. In India, the breeding it attains the marketable size. technology of the numerous varieties 5. CONCLUSION of gold fish is still remained in its infant stage. Considering the huge demand Since time immemorial, gold fish has of gold fish both in domestic as well as been one of the most sought after international markets, the breeding of ornamental fish by aquarium fish several varieties of gold fish needs keepers throughout the world, greater attention. The breeding particularly in tropical countries. technology of all the varieties of gold Several varieties of gold fish that are fish is very simple and more or less available in the market today similar.