They are available in a wide range of colors and patterns including an albino form and a scaleless variety. The eyes should be of uniform size and the fins should be full. The Telescope Eye is a hardy goldfish and tends to be long lived. Average live span is 15-25 years. Gem of the Orient, Pride of American Aquarists Goldfish have long been cherished by many different cultures throughout the centuries, but they still have a pesky reputation to shake.
Goldfish fans pursue their hobby with a fervor and devotion that rivals any other fish hobbyists.
A glimpse into the availability and history of the many different sizes, shapes and colors of these fish can sway the most stubborn tropical fan toward goldfish freak-dom. If the goldfish you remember are the unlucky, small feeder fish or the unwilling prizes for participants in county fair games, the variety of fish available can be mind-blowing. The history and development of these fish lead you to wonder how they ever wound up in such humble positions. The first mentions of goldfish are found in ancient Chinese records during the Tsin Dynasty. The cultivation of these fish reaches back close to 1,000 years when crucian carp were domesticated.