Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose can you eat goldfish?

Goldfish do not turn into carp, however goldfish can hybridize with carp. Numerous body features are different between carp and goldfish. Western Lake Erie & adjoining Sundusky Bay has had a sizable wild population of goldfish since the early 1950's. Many wild goldfishes revert back to (or most of the survivors) are the natural coloration of brownish olive w/ bronzy sheen, ventrally yellow-white. Rarely do they get longer than 15"-16" & those at 18" are likely hybrids.

Seined quantities of goldfish are mostly used as fertilizer or sold in winter at a small price as food. "but they are rarely purchased twice by the same person, they are so boney" (Greeley 1936). I suspect the boneiness is similar to that of suckers; numerous interstitial (muscular) bones.

As with Ed I have never eaten grass carp, but I hear that large ones have very white, mild tasting meat and it was likened to walleye. No mention of oiliness, just good tasting meat.