Why are Goldfish so underrated in the fish keeping hobby?

[Yogosans14]

A lot of people see them as brain dead 3 second memory throw away feeder fish, why is this? Literally they are the cutest things and have loads of personality. There are so many different varieties of goldfish especially the fancy varieties and they are so clumsy and docile. I love there fat round bodies and there cute telescopic eyes, I just wanna take them out of the water and cuddle them 0_0 I'm weird like that

why are they so under rated though?They imho have the most personality out of any other fish.

 

[Allan01230]

dont know I keep 2 common in a 75 by themselves they are about 10 inches a piece real personable fish to me great colr size and never hide and move around all the time.

 

[raubiy]

I'm thinking because they are very common fish in this hoby. Alot of people don't respect them anymore.
Goldfish are 80% in fish bowl with no fillter no air pump, owners don't weekly change water etc...
It is how it is. We can't change anything....

 

[duanes]

I believe it is simply because goldfish are glorified carp (line bred for color), and although there are many incarnations, they are all simply carp. And in many parts of the world, carp are considered trash fish, or alien/exotic invaders that when they arrive, push out more desirable sport, good eating, and endemic fish, and can possibly ruin the aquatic environment.
Many sold in big box stores, or as feeders are simply the culls of more serious goldfish aficionados.
I keep goldfish in ponds, because they are great seen from above, whereas many native or "natural" looking fish simply disappear.

 

[ShadowP]

Probably because they are very high on the list of poop factories! Oh, and in that alone, they are not underrated. That fact imho is spot-on. There are so many more species which provide exceptional viewing from the side without the inherent messiness. As to personality??? Is "I'm hungry. Feed me.", a personality, or a way of life?
I've never seen a golfish, koi, carp, that has ever been fed enough to get it to stop looking for food, even when they bloat themselves on food.
For ponds... you are absolutely correct!
There isn't a better fish to look down on.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Probably because they are very high on the list of poop factories! Oh, and in that alone, they are not underrated. That fact imho is spot-on. There are so many more species which provide exceptional viewing from the side without the inherent messiness. As to personality??? Is "I'm hungry. Feed me.", a personality, or a way of life?
I've never seen a golfish, koi, carp, that has ever been fed enough to get it to stop looking for food, even when they bloat themselves on food.
For ponds... you are absolutely correct!
There isn't a better fish to look down on.

ShadowP, the goldfish is still UNDERRATED. They just never got their chance to show their mature size. I can named many fish species that is just messy as goldfish.

 

[jclyde13]

Yeah, they are just a bit high maintenance. I think most people just don't want to dedicate a 100+ gallon aquarium to something as common and mundane as goldfish. There are the deformed fancy goldfish that don't take up as much space, but those don't appeal to everyone. I think it's somewhat cruel to breed such deformities into them.

Personally, I would like to set up a large tank for comets someday. I think they're pretty impressive once they reach 12"+.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Yeah, they are just a bit high maintenance. I think most people just don't want to dedicate a 100+ gallon aquarium to something as common and mundane as goldfish. There are the deformed fancy goldfish that don't take up as much space, but those don't appeal to everyone. I think it's somewhat cruel to breed such deformities into them.

Personally, I would like to set up a large tank for comets someday. I think they're pretty impressive once they reach 12"+.

High maintenance? They don't even need a heater and they're super hardy than any fish in that size range. Not mentioned to they're not fussy eaters.

 

[ShadowP]

ShadowP, the goldfish is still UNDERRATED. They just never got their chance to show their mature size. I can named many fish species that is just messy as goldfish.

Mute point.
I already said that.
"Probably because they are very high on the list of poop factories!"
&
"I can named many fish species that is just messy as goldfish."
These comments mean the same thing!
For the sake of clarity, I'll keep it brief.
Most fish keeping aficionados use aquariums indoors to view their charges. As such, though gold fish and their ilke (sorry... I mispelled like) provide a lot of side profile color, but there are MANY MORE species of fish which provide as much, if not greater side view display without as much mess!

BTW... most fish in the home never get the chance to show their mature size because most fish keepers keep them crowded, poorly fed, and in poorly maintained aquariums.

Another mute point.
You keep comparing guppies to guppies, or apples to apples if you prefer the norm.

 

[xraycer]

I don't think they're underrated. For the general public, EVERYBODY knows what a goldfish is, and at around 25 cents they are extremely popular with people keeping fish for the first time because their kids wants a pet fish. Unfortunately, the cheap price also makes it super easy to replace the inevitable floater due to improper husbanbry and eventually neglect. In other words, they are the ideal disposable pet.

Now, whether they are respected, is a different story.