The Goldfish
The Goldfish Song: A Song of Beauty, Peace and Good Fortune
The complete lyrics are included in the companion book, Our Jewels in the Water, allowing readers to follow every song while discovering the remarkable stories behind our freshwater fish.
Enjoying the music?
The companion book Our Jewels in the Water includes the full lyrics, additional stories, exclusive photographs and beautiful illustrations for every species.
“From an ancient silver ancestor came a flash of living gold — a little fish whose remarkable journey would carry it around the world.”
Species Profile
The Goldfish (Carassius auratus) must surely be one of the most instantly recognisable fish in the world.
For many people, it is also the first fish they ever encounter.
Its story began in East Asia, where people noticed naturally occurring colour variations amongst wild carp-like fish. Over many centuries, selective breeding produced the beautiful golden, orange, red, white and patterned fish that we recognise today.
Eventually the Goldfish travelled far beyond its original homeland and became one of the world’s most popular ornamental fish.
Although usually associated with garden ponds and aquariums, Goldfish can survive remarkably well in suitable outdoor waters.
Clive’s Story
There is something rather special about the Goldfish because for countless children it provides their first real connection with the underwater world.
Before they ever see a great Pike, catch their first Roach or watch a Salmon leap, they may have stood beside a garden pond watching a Goldfish.
That simple experience can create a fascination with fish that lasts a lifetime.
Yet beneath its familiar appearance lies a surprisingly interesting animal.
Given enough space, good conditions and plenty of food, Goldfish can grow far larger and live much longer than many people realise.
It is easy to dismiss them simply because they are familiar.
But sometimes the things we see every day have the most remarkable stories.
Natural History
The Goldfish belongs to the carp family, Cyprinidae.
It is an adaptable species capable of living in ponds, lakes and other slow-moving or still waters.
Goldfish are omnivorous and feed on a wide variety of food, including aquatic plants, algae, insect larvae, small crustaceans and other tiny organisms.
Spawning normally takes place during the warmer months.
Females scatter adhesive eggs amongst aquatic vegetation, where they are fertilised by the males.
The young begin life tiny and relatively inconspicuous, gradually developing their characteristic shape and colour as they grow.
Under suitable conditions Goldfish can survive for many years and reach sizes considerably greater than the small specimens commonly seen in aquariums.
Interesting Facts
- Scientific name: Carassius auratus
- Family: Cyprinidae.
- Originated in East Asia.
- One of the world’s oldest domesticated fish.
- Has been selectively bred for hundreds of years.
- Available in many colours, shapes and varieties.
- Omnivorous and highly adaptable.
- Can live for many years when properly cared for.
- Can grow surprisingly large in spacious ponds.
- Not native to Britain.
- Released Goldfish can survive and sometimes establish themselves in natural waters.
Behind the Song
When writing The Goldfish Song, I wanted to capture the simple magic of seeing that unmistakable flash of gold beneath the water.
For many of us, the Goldfish was our introduction to the world of fish.
There is something almost magical about watching one appear from the darkness of a pond, its brilliant colours suddenly catching the sunlight before disappearing beneath the surface again.
The song celebrates that familiarity while reminding us that the Goldfish has a history stretching back many centuries.
From its ancient origins in East Asia to garden ponds around the world, it has become perhaps the most recognised little fish on Earth.
Conservation and Responsible Ownership
The Goldfish presents a different conservation story from many of the native species featured in Our Jewels in the Water.
Because it is not native to Britain, unwanted Goldfish should never be released into rivers, lakes or other natural waters.
A Goldfish that has outgrown an aquarium may appear to deserve its freedom, but releasing it into the wild can cause ecological problems.
Introduced fish may compete with native species, disturb aquatic habitats and potentially introduce disease.
Responsible fishkeeping therefore means caring for Goldfish throughout their lives or finding them an appropriate new home if circumstances change.
Never release an unwanted Goldfish into the wild.
Clive’s Reflection
The Goldfish may not be one of Britain’s ancient native jewels, but I think it deserves a place in this collection for another reason.
It has introduced generations of people to the beauty of fish.
A child looking into a garden pond and watching a bright orange fish swimming towards them may be experiencing the beginning of a lifelong fascination with the underwater world.
Perhaps that child will eventually become an angler.
Perhaps they will become a scientist, conservationist or simply someone who cares about our rivers and wildlife.
Sometimes a lifelong love of nature begins with something incredibly simple.
A pond.
A child looking into the water.
And a little flash of gold.
“Sometimes a lifelong love of the underwater world begins with one little flash of gold.”