Where did your Goldfish come from?
One of the easiest and most popular pets for children to look after has to be the common Goldfish.
In comparison to other species of fish that have been reared in captivity the Goldfish boasts an interesting and extended history. Today’s’ Goldfish are available in a range of varieties, but where exactly did Goldfish come from?
They are believed to originate from a variety of wild carp, know as the Crucian Carp. This is a relatively small carp which is a native of East Asia and its late descendant the Goldfish was one of the initial species of fish to be housed in ponds by humans.
It is not clear how or when they became domesticated but some of the earliest Chinese literature indicates that in China at least, Goldfish were kept as domestic pets as early as 800AD.
Later during the mid 17th century When Europeans began trading relationships with the Eastern world and Chinese culture had begun to farm Goldfish selectively, they were introduced to Europe and were housed outdoors in ponds. By the 19th century the common Goldfish had become firmly established as a domesticated pet and were housed indoors.