Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Goldfish Carassius auratus

GOF
Family
Cyprinidae (Carps)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Omnivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
True
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 14 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 4 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 18 distinct sites, or 1.2% of the 1522 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 92nd most commonly collected species.

The Goldfish was collected in 17 bioassessment sampling sessions and 4 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 41 individual Goldfish specimens, ranking it the #107 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Goldfish have many unusual body forms with a variety of colors. Bulge-eyed and multiple tailed forms are commonly produced for aquariums, but normal body form is robust and laterally compressed. The natural color is olive-brown dorsally to bronze-gold laterally and yellowish-white ventrally. Black, gold, bronze, orange, red, pink, and white, or combinations of these colors are often found. Serrated spinous rays occur at the front of the dorsal and anal fins, which distinguishes goldfish from the native minnows. The complete lateral line has 25 to 30 scales. The dorsal fin, which is much longer than those of native minnows, has 15 to 19 soft rays, while the pectoral fins have 15 to 17 soft rays, and the pelvic fins usually have 9 soft rays.

Species Distribution Maps

Taxonomic Distribution Through Time

Sampling Program
Bioassessment
FishNet
Rapid Bioassessment
Esri, USGS | Iowa DNR, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, EPA, NPS, USFWS | IADNR BioNet
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1/1/1998
1/1/2026
1/1/1998
1998
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1/1/2026

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found

Esri, USGS | County of Story, Iowa DNR, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, EPA, NPS, USFWS
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