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How long do goldfish live? What to know about your new carnival prize

3 tips to keep your goldfish alive longer

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A goldfish in a tank.
Gabriel P / Pexels

You might have memories from childhood of your first pet, perhaps a hamster, turtle, or goldfish. While in popular culture, we often think of the goldfish as having a short lifespan (not to mention attention span), neither of these myths is really true. In fact, these bright beauties can live for a long time with proper care.

So, how long do goldfish live? And what do you need to do to maximize your time with them? We’ll break down the best ways to keep your swimmer alive.

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How long do goldfish live?

An orange and white goldfish at the center of an aquarium with several other fish and tank decor in shot
Hans / Pixabay

As with so many things, it depends. Like dogs and cats, there are different kinds of goldfish that have different needs and lifespans. In total, you’ll have about 200 varieties available to you, though you will likely only find a few of the top breeds in a local store, including the common, comet, Ryukin, and Oranda.

Just as the Chihuahua and Great Dane don’t live the same number of years, each type of goldfish has its own life expectancy. Overall, the Oranda goes longest, up to 25 years, but many goldies have surpassed even this age. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Tish gets the prize for longest-living pet goldfish at the ripe old age of 43. Your more average fishy might make it to 10 or 15, though, a 20-year-old animal would not be hard to find.

How can you keep your goldfish healthy?

Two goldfish hanging out in an aquarium.
Chaikom / Shutterstock

Even though these pets can live to an advanced age, much of that depends on you taking excellent care of them. When trying to keep your fish healthy and happy, you should consider three things: creating a perfect home, feeding them properly, and providing stimulation.

The right bowl

You probably already know this, but you can’t put your fishy into one of the tiny goldfish bowls you might see in a movie. An adult needs approximately 13 gallons to stay fully healthy. Don’t forget that you should also include heat, light, and a filtration system.

A balanced diet

Funny enough, this aquatic animal is actually an omnivore and you are welcome to feed them small amounts of lettuce, peas, and green beans (make sure there are no bugs or pesticides first). But the majority of their food should consist of pellets or flakes. Also, although you don’t want to starve your pet, you need to work hard not to overfeed.

Regular play

Lastly, make sure you give your pet something to do. This can include fish games, accessories in the tank, or a friend — all three would surely bring them joy. Interacting with them daily will keep their brain and body healthy and going strong.

As we already said, it’s not true that goldfish don’t remember things, and they might even get to know you and enjoy your company. Research says some fish can recognize their owners. Luckily, you’ll have at least a decade together as long as you work hard to take good care of them.

Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Former Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
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