Goldfish use a simple but efficient and interesting method of absorbing nutrients from their food. They have no glands, valves, or two sizes of intestine. Most unusual of all - even among fish - they have no stomach. Most surprising of all, they have a set of teeth to get the digestion ball rolling.
Compared to the familiar shape and form of a mammal brain, the fish brain is rather odd looking. It is elongated, has distinct sections, and is much smaller that a mammal’s brain in relation to its body. However, it does everything a fish needs it to do.
The lateral line is often thought to be a mysterious, almost magical feature of fish that gives them some sort of “sixth sense”. The reality isn’t quite so fortean, but is nonetheless interesting.
Every now and again goldfish will go off their food. To get them eating again, it’s important to know the reasons goldfish lose their appetite in the first place. If the correct cause of the loss of appetite is known, the necessary adjustments or treatments can be applied.
Goldfish have at least 7 fins, and each of them is there for a reason. So what does each fin, or pair of fins do to help goldfish swim?
Goldfish are natural omnivores, so a varied diet is an important factor in keeping goldfish healthy and disease free.
Breeding goldfish is not easy. Preparation should start before the onset of winter - about four months before spawning takes place in the spring - in order to bring about the optimum conditions for goldfish breeding.
It’s not easy to tell the sexes apart in goldfish. The males don’t get into fights and the females don’t have markedly different colours like a lot of other animals, so it requires a bit of care and looking closely to find out which goldfish is male and which is female.