|
GOLDFISH (Carassius auratus)
Kinguios ( Carassius auratus ) are without a doubt the best-known ornamental fishes worldwide. Their popularity spreads through all continents. Many of us or of our children have already been presented with such a little fish in a fair or pet exhibition. These fishes are part of our daily life and can be seen in cartoons, movies, clothes, advertising, and art pieces of many kinds.
Colourful and frolicking, they're always moving around, searching the bottom of the aquarium for food. They are very sociable and can be maintained in communitarian aquariums with various fish specie like Molinésia, Platys, Espada, Barbo and Coridora. As they are rather slow and have big fins, they should not be maintained together with aggressive fishes.
Origin and History
The Kinguio is also known as Japanese Fish and Goldfish, and proceeds from China. The first records about this fish date back to the period between the dynasties Chun (265- 419 AD), when the golden colour was first described, and Tang (618-907 AD). They are a domesticated species of the "Gibel" carp, whose predominant colour is olive green but which does also show other colours and shapes, although in a very reduced scale.
Initially the Gibel carps were cultivated in Buddhist monasteries, where they were put into so called "Go" (tanks). Some centuries later the Chinese emperor Zhao Gou built various gardens in the town of Hang Zhou where countless carps from all parts of China were brought. This has allowed diverse cross-breedings, which originated the first white and red Kinguios, as well as some other variations that are well known today.
It was in the Ming dynasty, however, that the breeding of Kinguios experienced a major development. In that time fishes were also bred at home, in "aquariums" with no lateral sight, so that the fishes could be seen only from the top. Such kind of breeding allowed the selection and survival of species that were not able to survive in tanks. This was the origin of the Kinguios we currently know as Red Cap, Telescope, Rocket tail, Cálico and Egg (without the dorsal fin) amongst others.
The dedication and devotion of Chinese people to the Kinguios showed in their art, poetry, and literature. Jade sculptures and paintings on rice paper constantly showed Kinguio images. In the year of 1596 the first "Essay on Kinguios" was published, which was literature especially dedicated to those fishes.
They were exported to Japan around 1610, where people proceed to develop diverse reproduction techniques thus originating new varieties, like the Oranda, Celestial, Pompom, and Shubunkin (or Red Brocade).
Soon after their arrival in Japan the Kinguios came to Europe, causing great admiration. It is told that the French king Louis XV often presented his mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour, with such fishes.
Currently the Kinguios are bred in commercial scale worldwide. A single farm in Maryland, USA, produces 5 million Kinguios each year.
Reproduction
Under our climate the reproductive period begins in August or September, with the arrival of spring. In this period the differentiation between males and females is easier. Females usually show a more voluminous belly and males have small white dots similar to sand grains, mainly around the operculum (structure that protects the gills), pectoral fins, and head. Such saliences are called "pearl organs" and are used by the male to stimulate the female during courtship.
For the reproduction of Kinguios in aquariums it is important to have a water volume of at least 80 litres, to receive two males and one female. In order to ensure a higher percentage of fertilized eggs the height of the water column should be of 25 to 30 cm, with a temperature between 22 and 24 ºC, and a pH value between 6,8 and 7,5. The addition of floating plants like pond lilies and water lettuce is essential since eggs will adhere to their roots.
Spawning does usually occur in the early morning. In this moment fishes get very agitated and the male tries to lead the female to the surface, next to the floating plants, at all costs. The female then starts to discharge the eggs, which will adhere to the roots and leaves of the floating plants, where the males will take charge of fertilizing them. This ritual may take hours and a Kinguio female can discharge from 500 to 1000 eggs in each spawning.
Once spawning is concluded, breeders must be withdrawn from the aquarium in order to avoid that they eat the eggs or the young ones. Another possibility is to keep the fishes in the aquarium and to remove the vegetation with the eggs to another aquarium whose water features are identical to those of the former one.
The fertilized eggs are transparent and show two little black dots, which are exactly the small fishes' eyes. The time between spawning and egg eclosion depends mainly on the temperature and quality of the water, varying from 3 to 10 days.
When fry, young fishes are born they still possess a food reserve (vitelline sac) that will be consumed in the first 48 hours. After this time the fry, young fishes must be fed with infusions as well as with the microflaked food alcon Alevinos . After approximately 20 days they will be able to eat Artêmia and water flees. After another 30 days they can already be fed with other flaked food like alcon Koi , alcon Basic or alcon Colours . At the age of 2 months food should be varied between flakes and floating grains alcon GoldFish Colours , alcon Goldfish Crescimento and alcon GoldFish Colour Bits .
Tips
Kinguios are not very demanding fishes, however the aquarium should have a good filtering system, combining biologic and mechanic filtering. It is interesting to choose scree of higher granulation in order to avoid fishes to easily stir up the bottom of the aquarium and leading the water to get muddy. As this is a cold water fish there is no need to warm up the aquarium water in Winter. On the other hand in summer be careful not to let water temperature exceed 28ºC.
To condition the aquarium water with Labcon Protect is very important since this product strengthens the natural defences of the fishes, fighting stress and making them more resistant to sicknesses. Partial water switches with bottom siphoning are recommended to ensure the quality of the water and the fishes' health.
Kinguios reach 15 cm length in average and live up to 10 years. However Kinguios with 30 cm of length, and even some with 70 years of age, have been reported. |
Español
Português
