Note To Dave D. & any interested: "Goldfish do not turn into carp". Goldfish belong to the genus Carassius whereas common carp and Israeli carp belong to the genus Cyprinus. Numerous technical differences between the two species of fish. Main differences --
1. Carp have a protrusable mouth, vacuum cleaner like, pulls out underneath ("old buglemouth" or suckermouth).
2. Carp have two fleshy barbels on each side of the upper jaw, goldfish have NO barbels around mouth. If small barbels are present the fish is probably a carp-goldfish hybrid or a carp.
3. Goldfish have a terminal/oblique mouth, like that of a bluegill or chub, not suckerlike.
4. Carp feed by rooting in the sediments and straining out living and dead plant and animal matter (omnivorous) whereas goldfish are also omnivorous but they feed more like a bgill and pick stuff off surfaces & the bottom. They are not normally rooting/digging fish unless above sediment food supplies are exhausted. Goldfish probably eat more algae than carp.
5. Goldfish (10-16")do not grow as big as carp
(30-40").
Israeli or mirror carp are a variety or strain of common carp. Israeli are recognized by being partly scaled or scaleless with bronzish, exposed, skin (also called leather carp).
B.Cody-PondDoctor
