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THE HISTORY OF FANCY GOLDFISH    THE HISTORY OF FANCY GOLDFISH    THE HISTORY OF FANCY GOLDFISH    THE HISTORY OF FANCY GOLDFISH   

Approximately 1000 years ago several red carp mutations from the wild olive colored carp were captured in China and placed in private ponds. Their progeny was selectively bred to maintain the reddish color.
Over the next few hundred years changes in color were developed; white, black and combinations of the two with the red.
In the early part of the 16th century tails with three, four and five lobes were produced as well as twin anal fins.
During this time fish with protruding eyes were developed and the twin tails with four lobes were standardized.
In the year 1500 the first goldfish were introduced into Japan from Korea and the Ryukyu Islands.
Over night fish farms sprang up and goldfish keeping became popular all over Japan. In the mean time Mandarins in China took possession of the goldfish and vied with each other to produce the most exotic goldfish for the Emperor.
As Mandarins lost power, breeding of goldfish all over the Chinese speaking areas of Asia came about.
Goldfish arrived in the United States at the end of the Civil War.
The documented oldest living goldfish lived to be 43 Years Old.
We have one that is 27 Years Old that we can document. She could be older than that as she came from a park pond and was quite large then. Her colors are still vibrant red and white.