About half of all baitfish sold are farm-raised, while the other half are harvested from the wild.Harvesting from the wild can yield a mix of different fish species. Harvested fish must be sorted carefully to remove undesirable species which, if transferred in bait buckets to new areas, could cause environmental damage. Sea Grant specialists have developed Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans to minimize the risk of exotic species spreading when wild bait is harvested and transferred.

Baitfish from farms consistof a few known species that are already widely distributed.There are fewer environmental concerns. However, baitfish farmers must make sure their fish are not contaminated with undesirable species.

Feed goldfish extensively with natural food produced by heavy fertilization or intensively with fertilization and feed. Ponds that are fertilized will produce 900 to 1,000 pounds per acre. Fertilizer and feed with good fish cultural practices can produce yields of 3,000 pounds or more of goldfish per acre.

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Most people recognize goldfish.Occasionally goldfish are confused with the koi carp. Carp have barbels (“whiskers”), while goldfish do not. The body is often heavy and thick, while the forked tail fin may be either short or long and flowing. Goldfish are dark in color until 2 to 4 months of age, when they develop their adult coloration. The preferred color for feeder goldfish is orange, although goldfish can be a variety of other colors.

Goldfish are very hardy and withstand poor water conditions, including low dissolved oxygen. Goldfish were first introduced into the United States more than 300 years ago. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, goldfish farms were established in Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. Goldfish are now found all over the country. Culture of goldfish for the feeder or ornamental markets is usually allowed, but some states prohibit the sale of goldfish as bait because they uproot plants while feeding. Goldfish eat a wide variety of plant and animal foods, including insect larvae, invertebrates, algae and aquatic vegetation.

Mature female goldfish develop bulging bellies in the breeding season. Males tend to be smaller,slimmer and have fine bumps on the gill flaps, pectoral fins and upper body. Water temperatures higher than 60 oF (16 oC) trigger spawning, and females may spawn several times during the season. The adhesive eggs are scattered onto aquatic vegetation or on spawning mats supplied by fish farmers. Spawning season ends when water temperature reaches the upper 70s (24 to 26oC). Eggs range in size from 4 to 7/100ths of an inch (1.0 to 1.7mm) in diameter.

Goldfish may reach 59 cm TL and up to 3.0 kg (IGFA 2001); however, they generally reach only 15-20 cm TL and weigh 100-300 g (Szczerbowski 2001). Lifespan is typically 6-7 years, but has been reported as long as 30 years (Carlander, 1969).