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Home > Fish > 6 Best Goldfish Books Every Aquarist Should Read in 2024 — Reviews & Top Picks

6 Best Goldfish Books Every Aquarist Should Read in 2024 — Reviews & Top Picks

goldfish in a fish tank

Many aquarists rely on the internet to provide them with all the information they need to know about their aquatic pets, however, books can be a great source of information too, and make a fantastic collector’s item. There are plenty of goldfish books out there that can provide you with great information on how to care for your goldfish, and sometimes reading this information in your own hands can help you get a better understanding of a specific fish species.

Since there are so many different goldfish books out there, we have compiled a list complete with in-depth reviews of some of the best goldfish books to read that contain valuable and updated information on caring for your aquatic friend.

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A Glance at Our Winners in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
The Truth About Goldfish The Truth About Goldfish
  • Simple and easy to follow
  • Comes in two different illustration options
  • Contains colored pictures
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Mini Encyclopedia of Goldfish Mini Encyclopedia of Goldfish
  • Good value for money
  • Provides detailed knowledge of all the different varieties
  • Written by an expert
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Today’s Essential Guide To Keeping Goldfish Today’s Essential Guide To Keeping Goldfish
  • Contains full-color pictures
  • Filled with information on the different goldfish varieties
  • Broken into sections for easy reading
  • Aquarium Care Of Goldfish Aquarium Care Of Goldfish
  • Written by animal experts
  • Affordable
  • Contains up-to-date goldfish care advice
  • Goldfish (Complete Pet Owner’s Manual) Goldfish (Complete Pet Owner’s Manual)
  • Detailed goldfish care information
  • Includes pictures for reference
  • Divided into different topic sections
  • The 6 Best Goldfish Books

    1. The Truth About Goldfish – Best Overall

    The Truth About Goldfish

    Number of pages: 160 pages
    Illustration options: Paperback or kindle
    Picture quality: Color

    The best overall book according to our research is The Truth About Goldfish. This book makes the top of our list because it contains in-depth information on various topics when it comes to caring for your goldfish properly. This book was written by a very knowledgeable goldfish lover that shares the best secrets to successfully keeping your goldfish happy and healthy.

    This book is available as a paperback version and a download on Kindle. The information in this book is backed by nearly 20 years of research and experience and is suitable for both beginner and advanced goldfish keepers alike. The sentence structure and recently updated colorful pictures are easy to follow and read so that you can get hands-on knowledge on various topics relating to goldfish, such as a health plan, tank cleaning methods, and a disease guide with a detailed treatment plan. This goldfish book has a lot to offer, and you definitely won’t be disappointed!

    Pros
    • Simple and easy to follow
    • Comes in two different illustration options
    • Contains colored pictures
    • Ideal for both beginners and advanced goldfish keepers
    Cons
    • Previous versions have some errors and greyscale pictures

    2. Mini Encyclopedia of Goldfish – Best Value

    Mini Encyclopedia of Goldfish

    Number of pages: 160 pages
    Illustration options: Paperback
    Picture quality: Color

    The best goldfish book for the money is the Mini Encyclopedia of Goldfish. This is an informative book that provides you with expert information on how to care for several different breeds of goldfish. This book is reliable and perfect for a hobbyist who wants to learn more about fancy goldfish. It covers all the aspects of caring for the smallest members of the carp family (fancy goldfish) and this book gives detailed information and colorful pictures of these different goldfish relating to their physical features along with practical information on how to keep them happy and thriving in a freshwater aquarium.

    Some of the typical discussions in the book are on the history and biology of goldfish, breeding information, care aspects, and an enticing section on how to set up the perfect tank for your goldfish.

    Pros
    • Good value for money
    • Provides detailed knowledge of all the different varieties
    • Written by an expert
    Cons
    • Does not come in an E-book form

    3. Today’s Essential Guide To Keeping Goldfish – Premium Choice

    Today’s Essential Guide To Keeping Goldfish

    Number of pages: 60 pages
    Illustration options: Paperback
    Picture quality: Color

    Our premium choice is this lavishly illustrated goldfish book that includes 350 full-color photographs of the different goldfish varieties. It is an ideal book for new goldfish keepers, and it is divided into two sections. The first section of this book details the background information of goldfish, with information on their history, anatomy, and the requirements necessary for setting up a goldfish aquarium. The second part of the book gives you photographs with information on the 16 varieties of goldfish.

    If you are looking for an informative book on the different types of goldfish and how to care for them properly with lots of visuals, then this is the right book for you.

    Pros
    • Contains full-color pictures
    • Filled with information on the different goldfish varieties
    • Broken into sections for easy reading
    Cons
    • A small book with few pages

    4. Aquarium Care Of Goldfish

    Aquarium Care Of Goldfish

     

    Number of pages: 112 pages
    Illustration options: Paperback or kindle
    Picture quality: Color

    This is an expert and detailed guide to caring for goldfish with up-to-date information on how you can keep goldfish healthy in an aquarium. This book covers all the aspects of goldfish care such as common issues, popular fish species, and superior information on how to have your goldfish thrive. Each book features newly written and updated information from animal experts on topics such as feeding, housing, grooming, activities, health, and training when it comes to caring for your goldfish.

    It also contains various colorful photographs that can help you identify the different species of goldfish. You can either buy this book in paperback form or download it as an E-book on kindle to learn more about these beautiful creatures.

    Pros
    • Written by animal experts
    • Affordable
    • Contains up-to-date goldfish care advice
    Cons
    • The E-book version is comparatively expensive

    5. Goldfish (Complete Pet Owner’s Manual)

    Goldfish (Complete Pet Owner’s Manual) 

    Number of pages: 96 pages
    Illustration options: Paperback
    Picture quality: Color

    This is a comprehensive goldfish care guide that covers the most important topics such as feeding, health care, housing, tank maintenance, fish health, and biology. It is only available in paperback form and includes high-quality photos and instructive line art. This book is more suitable for beginners who are new to owning goldfish because the information is pretty standard. It features expert advice and how the typical goldfish functions according to the type of variety they are.

    It has informative checklists and sidebars and advice that can be applied every day when caring for your goldfish. There is also a section included in this book that helps you appreciate your goldfish more by giving you information on how to observe and understand their behavior.

    Pros
    • Detailed goldfish care information
    • Includes pictures for reference
    • Divided into different topic sections
    Cons
    • Only available in paperback from

    6. Caring for Your Goldfish

    Caring for Your Goldfish

    Number of pages: 48 pages
    Illustration options: Paperback and kindle
    Picture quality: Goldfish

    This is a small yet informative goldfish care book that is useful for beginners who want to learn basic knowledge on caring for goldfish. The book is detailed and easy to understand and gives helpful tips and information to help you on your journey of becoming a goldfish keeper. It provides information on choosing the right goldfish for you and also provides you with tips on how to prepare the right environment for them.

    This book is written by a veterinarian who runs eight animal hospitals in the UK. It provides information on the different types of goldfish varieties and which types can live together best, along with step-by-step instructions on cleaning your aquarium properly to help your goldfish thrive, the correct type of foods for goldfish, and how to spot signs of illness. There is also an informative FAQ section at the back of the book which is useful for beginners who need a quick resource to look back on when they need tips on something on goldfish care.

    Pros
    • Includes a FAQ section at the back
    • Simple and easy to read
    • Great for beginners who do not want a long book to read
    Cons
    • The kindle version is more expensive than the paperback

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    Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Goldfish Books

    How To Choose The Right Goldfish Book for You

    If you are new to the goldfish hobby, then you want to look for a book that is easy to read and does not cover too many of the advanced topics that are better suited for aquarists and goldfish keepers that have more experience with the technical terms that can be used in more advanced books. You should choose a book that covers the information you want to know, as some books will cover the history of goldfish and go in-depth into goldfish anatomy.

    A good beginner fishkeeping book will cover the basics of goldfish care using simple terms and mainly focus on how to feed, keep the tank clean, and how you can keep your goldfish healthy in their environment.

    There is a goldfish book out there for every aquarist, some are basic and simple to follow, whereas others will go into more detail about goldfish and each variety’s individual care. The type of goldfish you choose will depend on your personal preference.

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    Final Thoughts

    Of all the goldfish books we have reviewed in this article, we have chosen two as our top picks. The first top pick is The truth about goldfish because this book covers all the information you need to know about caring for your goldfish properly and understanding them better. The second is the Mini encyclopedia of goldfish because it covers the different information and care requirements of each goldfish variety at an affordable price.

    We hope our reviews have helped you choose the best goldfish book for your unique needs.


    Featured Image Credit: Tinh Nguyen, Unsplash

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