How Long Do Goldfish Live

How should I keep and care for my goldfish? Goldfish ( Carassius auratus ) are the most popular of all ornamental fish and are known for their attractive bright colours. Goldfish originate from temperate climates and in the wild they live in cool streams, lakes, and ponds throughout Asia and parts of Eastern Europe.

• Today, there are a wide variety of goldfish available.
• Goldfish are social and intelligent animals and are regularly seen interacting with each other and their human caregivers whom they can learn to recognise.
• Goldfish have a lifespan averaging about 10-15 years, with some varieties living up to 30 years when provided with proper care.

Unfortunately, many goldfish do not reach their lifespan potential due to inadequate housing conditions. Housing needs to meet both their behavioural and physiological needs. The following information will help to improve goldfish longevity, health and welfare.

How long do goldfish live in a fishbowl?

How long goldfish live – The table below shows how long goldfish live in different conditions.

Conditions	Expected lifespan
Goldfish bowl	Less than 2 months
Small tank with poor care	2 to 6 months
Small tank with good care	6 months to 2 years
Reasonable size tank with poor care	6 months to 2 years
Reasonable size tank with good care	2 to 5 years
Large tank with poor care	2 to 5 years
Large tank with good care	4 to 8 years
Large tank with excellent care	6 to 10 years
Large tank, excellent care and good genes	10 years +

You’ll notice that tank size is very important. A well cared for goldfish that lives in a small tank will probably only live about the same amount of time as a goldfish that receives worse care but lives in a larger tank. Up to a point, a larger tank will compensate for less than ideal care.

How long do goldfish live in a small tank?

How Long Do Goldfish Live? – Goldfish are a long-lived species and can live for 10-20 years with proper care. However, the average lifespan of a goldfish is only 4-5 years. Most goldfish are kept in poor conditions and do not receive the proper care they need to thrive.

Is it OK to feed goldfish once a day?

How often you feed goldfish is hugely important. But possibly not for the reasons you think. The reason that it’s important to know how often to feed goldfish is that you might otherwise feed them too much. Most people worry that they won’t feed their goldfish enough, but that’s almost never a problem.

1. Goldfish can live for around 14 days without being fed, and potentially much longer if there are food sources like algae to snack on.
2. When deciding how often to feed a goldfish, the problem you want to avoid is actually over-feeding.
3. Feeding a goldfish too much food can lead to all kinds of life-threatening health problems! We’ll talk more about over-feeding later in this article, but first, we want to share our rule for how often to feed goldfish: Until they are one year old, you should feed goldfish 2 or 3 times per day.

Once they are older than one year, you should feed goldfish just once per day. There are, however, a number of factors that could lead you to adjust this schedule. Also, the type and amount of goldfish food you feed your goldfish is important.

How can you tell how old a goldfish is?

How can I tell the age of my goldfish? Goldfish can live for over 40 years, with the oldest recorded in the Guinness Book of Records being an amazing 43 years old. Determining how old they are is very difficult, particularly with goldfish that are kept in an indoor aquarium.

Size is no real guide as this is impacted by the genetics of the fish and the amount of water it is given to live in. Colour is also of limited use. Young goldfish tend to be bronze in colour, but will change to a more orange/gold colour within the first few months of life. Old fish will usually lose all of their gold colouration and be a creamy white colour.

If the goldfish is exposed to seasonal changes in living conditions, particularly temperature, it is possible to age them by looking at the scales under a microscope. The scales are made up of concentric rings which are formed closer together during cold weather when there is little fish growth, and further apart in warm conditions when the goldfish are growing more quickly.

• By counting the bands of closely spaced rings, the age of the fish can be determined.
• This is very similar to the process for aging tress, where the rings in a cross section of the trunk are counted.
• Even experts in scale reading find it difficult to age elderly fish accurately.
• In their later years fish tend to grow very little, so there is almost no gap between the scale rings – sometimes for many years.

: How can I tell the age of my goldfish?

Can you have 2 goldfish in the same bowl?

Can I keep my goldfish with other fish? Goldfish ( Carassius auratus) are social animals and when kept in groups can be seen regularly interacting with other goldfish. Keeping at least two goldfish in an aquarium is recommended to provide companionship and promote activity.

Solitary fish can exhibit depression and lethargy. Goldfish are generally not aggressive so they can be kept with most community fish provided the other fish are larger than the size of the goldfish’s mouth. Suitable goldfish tank mates for smaller aquariums may include white cloud mountain minnows, danios, and gold medaka (check these are larger than the goldfish’s mouth).

For variety in larger aquariums suitable tank mates for goldfish may include Murray river rainbow fish. Goldfish with extended fins should not be kept with fish that tend to nip fins e.g. tiger barbs. The more unusual goldfish varieties such as the Celestial should be kept with their own variety as they may find locating and competing for food difficult when housed with other types of fish with superior swimming abilities.

Generally it is best to keep goldfish with tank mates that have similar swimming abilities to ensure all fish can obtain enough food and swimming space. You will also need to consider how large your goldfish and the other fish are likely to grow to ensure adequate space is provided. Prior to housing goldfish with other fish species we recommend that you check with an experienced aquarist or a fish veterinarian for advice about species compatibility.

: Can I keep my goldfish with other fish?

How old is the oldest goldfish?

Lifespan – Goldfish can live for long periods of time if they are fed a varied diet and housed in proper water conditions. The average lifetime of a goldfish is ten to fifteen years, The longest-lived goldfish on record lived to age 43. The oldest living goldfish was Tish, won by a UK family at a funfair.

Can I keep 1 goldfish in a tank?

What size is best for a goldfish aquarium? – First, decide how many goldfish you want to keep. Goldfish do just fine as only children, so you can start with one, or keep two, three, or more. Keep in mind that the more fish you have, the more room they will need.

• When they are only a few inches long, you can get away with 20 gallons per fish.
• Yes, this rules out bowls, 5 gallon, and 10 gallon tanks.
• Why so big? Goldfish are messy fish with large appetites and low feed to mass conversion.
• That means that for the amount of food they eat, they produce a lot of ammonia.

Ammonia is the primary nitrogenous waste in fish and the beginning of the nitrogen cycle, Since goldfish produce a lot of ammonia, having more water to dilute this out makes a big difference in the overall health of your goldfish. If ammonia builds up in the water it can stress or even kill the fish.

• And a 20-gallon tank is just to start! As the fish grow, expect to upgrade to a 50, 75, or even 100-gallon tank for one goldfish.
• Standard comet goldfish can grow up to 16 inches long—the same size as a dinner plate—and they will need lots of room to swim.
• Fancy goldfish varieties do not get as large and if they have difficulty swimming, may not need such a dramatic tank upgrade.

This goldfish was won at a carnival over 16 years ago and has his own 100 gallon tank in an accounting firm. Jessie Sanders

Can 1 goldfish live alone?

Yes, goldfish will usually be fine by themselves. In fact, most goldfish spend a significant amount of their lives all by themselves. Most of the time, leading a solitary life is not an issue for them at all. Some goldfish, despite having the ability to live alone, will prefer company.

Can goldfish live in tap water?

Goldfish cannot live in untreated tap water – Goldfish can only live in tap water when it has been properly treated to remove harmful chemicals. Tap water contains chemicals that will kill all of the ‘good bacteria’ in your tank. Good bacteria develops through a process called cycling, which we talk about in more detail here,

Essentially, cycling involves growing bacteria that turn your goldfish’s waste (ammonia) into less harmful chemicals. It’s really important that your tank has this colony of good bacteria. But adding tap water can completely destroy it! The chemicals in tap water will kill the bacteria, which stops the bacteria from processing ammonia.

This causes ammonia poisoning and seriously harms your fish.

Can 2 goldfish eat each other?

do goldfish eat each other 05/27/2015 Goldfish by nature are not aggressive, and are not predatory. The short answer would be, “No, they don’t eat each other”. However, there are some circumstances where goldfish do eat each other. Goldfish tend to browse for food, eating mostly what are bite-sized morsels, of anything edible. Images Courtesy Of Wikimedia At breeding time, goldfish produce hundreds of sticky eggs. Goldfish exhibit no parental care, and they will graze on the eggs, regardless of whether it is theirs. Similarly, those eggs that survive and go on to hatch, the baby goldfish will continue to fall prey to anything that is larger – be it other goldfish, or insects (e.g. dragonfly larvae). Image Courtesy Of Pixabay Once goldfish are able to swim around, and are of adequate size (e.g.2-3 centimeters), the rate of intra-specific predation drops dramatically. Posted by Dr Richmond Loh : do goldfish eat each other

How do I know if my goldfish is happy?

6 Signs of Happy, Healthy Fish Your fish are happy and healthy when they:

Swim actively throughout the entire tank, not just hanging out or laying at the bottom, floating near the top or hiding behind plants and ornaments. Eat regularly and swim to the surface quickly at feeding time. Do not have white spots or blemishes on their body; do not have fins that are torn or ragged, and do not eyes that are bulging (unless you have a Bubble Eye Goldfish). Are expanding their gills regularly – but not rapidly – to take in water and oxygen Are brightly colored with vibrant scales Swim in clear, clean, odorless water

: 6 Signs of Happy, Healthy Fish

How often do you change goldfish water?

To keep your fish healthy, you should change at least half of the water in the bowl or aquarium every 3 days.

Is my goldfish a boy or girl?

Download Article Download Article Many people are interested in finding out the gender of their goldfish. You might want to know for breeding purposes, or just to make sure you didn’t name your female goldfish George. Luckily, you can identify whether your fish is a male or a female by paying attention to physical and behavioral signs.

1. 1 Look for a rounder, thicker body shape. Female goldfish tend to have a rounder, thicker body shape than males of the same age and species.
   • They also tend to be deeper-bodied, which is useful for identifying sex from a side view.
   • As breeding season approaches, the females will begin to develop roe (eggs), which may cause a bulge on one side, making the female look asymmetrical or lop-sided.
2. 2 Look for a protruding vent. The vent (anal opening) of a female goldfish is rounder than the male’s and tends to protrude from the body slightly as breeding season approaches.
   • When viewed from the side, the vent may appear as a raised surface on the female’s abdomen.
   • In addition to a protruding vent, the female’s anal fin may appear slightly thicker than the male’s.

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1. 1 Look for c. One of the main tell-tale signs that your goldfish is male, is the development of tubercles (small white spots) on their gill-shields.
   • Usually the breeding tubercles will only last during the fish’s breeding period, however in older males who have lived through several breeding seasons, the tubercles may be present all year round.
   • The tubercles may also appear on the pectoral fins, on the face and on the scales on the body of the fish.
   • Be aware that although the presence of tubercles is a good indication that your goldfish is male, their absence does not necessarily mean that your fish is female, as not all males will develop tubercles.
2. 2 Look for a thinner, more streamlined body shape. Males tend to have longer, thinner, more streamlined body shapes than females of the same age and species.
3. 3 Look for a concave vent. A male goldfish’s vent is usually narrow and elongated, making it somewhat ovular in shape. It will also be concave (an innie), rather than protruding.
4. 4 Look for a midline ridge. If possible, look at the underbelly of the fish to see whether it has a midline ridge: a raised line running from the back of the pelvic fins to the vent. In females, this line will either be very faint or non-existent.
5. 5 Watch for chasing behavior. One of the most reliable ways to identify male goldfish is to observe their behavior during spawning season.
   • A male goldfish will chase a female around the tank or pond, staying close behind and slightly beneath her, sometimes nudging her rear.
   • The male will also attempt to push the female against the side of the tank or into any plants, in order to force her to spawn.
   • However, in the absence of females, male goldfish will also chase each other around, so it’s a good idea to use physical indications as well as behavioral ones to identify sex.

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1. 1 Understand that gender differences will only appear once the goldfish reaches maturity. The differences between male and female goldfish will only become obvious once the fish reach maturity, which usually takes about a year.
   • However, the rate of maturation will depend on species and sex. Some breeds of male goldfish will reach maturity by the time they are 9 months old, while some females may take up to three years to reach maturity.
   • Short of DNA analysis, identifying the sex of young goldfish is practically impossible. If you wish to increase your chances of having both male and female fish, your best bet is to purchase at least six healthy fish of the same variety. Statistically, there is a 98% chance that at least one fish will be a different sex from the others.
2. 2 Know that there is no foolproof method for sexing goldfish, other than observing the spawning process. Accurately identifying goldfish as either male or female is very difficult, and even the experts get it wrong from time to time. This is due to the fact that there are many exceptions to the rules:
   • Some male goldfish will not develop tubercles, while in rare cases a female goldfish will. Some female goldfish will not have protruding vent, while male goldfish sometimes will.
   • In addition, some breeds of goldfish do not comply with general rules – for example, some breeds (such as ranchu or ryukin) naturally have very round, thick body shapes, which makes gender identification through body shape almost impossible.
   • As a result, it is best to identify the sex of your goldfish by observing multiple signs, rather than trusting a single sign alone.
3. 3 Understand that these identification methods only hold true for healthy, well-fed goldfish. Unhealthy goldfish may not follow regular spawning behavior or develop the usual physical characteristics that indicate gender. As a result, it is important to ensure the health of your goldfish (this includes things such as providing good quality water and fish food ) before you attempt to identify the sex.
   • For example, an unhealthy male goldfish may not develop the tubercles usually seen during spawning season, while an unhealthy female may not have a convex vent.
   • Body shape can also be misleading. A thin goldfish may be mistakenly identified as male (as males are usually smaller), but you may be looking at an underfed female. On the other hand, you may read a distended abdomen as a sign that the fish is female, but the swelling may be a sign of dropsy (an internal bacterial infection).

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Add New Question

• Question What conditions do goldfish need to breed? Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc. Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance. Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc. Expert Answer Goldfish breed in the spring and need the temperature to be adjusted. First, lower aquarium temperature to 52°F (11°C). Then, when you are ready to breed them, raise the temperature 3°F (1.7°C) per day until it reaches 72°F (22°C).
• Question How long does a goldfish live for, on average? Sadly, the average household goldfish lives about six months because no one does the research on how to help them live longer. Goldfish can actually live up to 20 years and almost every species can grow over 6 inches (15cm). Goldfish can’t live in goldfish bowls because it doesn’t allow them sufficient room to grow. It also doesn’t allow for decorations to be added, and goldfish are prone to depression because they are very curious fish and when there is nothing to enjoy, they’ll pine. Always make sure your goldfish has enough room to swim. Compare it to yourself, would you like to live in a bowl the size of your bed? Also, there are different types of goldfish and the more streamlined bodied ones shouldn’t be put with rounded bodied ones because they swim faster and will eat all the food.
• Question I have a goldfish, and it’s chasing the other four fish. Is it a boy or a girl? If it is nipping the tails of the others, then this is not a act of breeding, and it could be either. But if he swims under the others and noses their bellies, this is a sign of a male fish during breeding season.

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• Try going to a pet store and looking at larger goldfish. This could help you learn to tell the differences between them more easily.
• Some goldfish enthusiasts also believe that males tend to be brighter in color and be more active than females.

Advertisement Article Summary X To identify a female goldfish, look for a rounder, thicker body shape. Females may also have a bulge on one side as breeding season approaches, and their vent, or anal opening, may protrude slightly. Male goldfish often have a thinner, more streamlined body shape than females, with a concave vent and a midline ridge.

How long can goldfish live without changing water?

Pet Fish – Pet fish typically have the shortest out-of-water survival time. But the average goldfish can survive for up to one hour outside its tank. Other types of pet fish, like betta fish, can survive up to two hours outside of water. But some of the most petite types of aquarium fish, like neon tetras and guppies, can only survive out of water for ten minutes! Generally, freshwater fish have a maximum out-of-water survivability time ranging between ten minutes and one hour.

Do goldfish change color as they age?

Have you looked at your goldfish recently and thought that it looked a different color? Have you compared old photos of your goldfish to now and noticed that your fish’s color used to be brighter? You may even have noticed your goldfish gradually turning white! Don’t worry, you’re not going crazy! It’s actually perfectly normal for goldfish to change color over the course of their lives.

Can goldfish live with guppies?

Do goldfish and guppies get along? – Guppies and goldfish are both peaceful fish that get along well with other peaceful species. While every individual fish is different, neither guppies or goldfish would generally be described as aggressive and they are unlikely to fight each other.

• The only reasons that guppies and goldfish fight is if they are kept in a tank that is too small, that does not have enough food, or if they are fighting with another male of their own species over a potential mate.
• Otherwise, both types of fish are likely to get along with tank mates, both of their own kind and with other species.

However – there are two major problems that could stop guppies and goldfish getting along. The first problem is that both fish are prone to nipping at the fins of their tank mates. And to make this worse, both guppies and goldfish have relatively long fins, almost begging to be nipped! One fish deciding to constantly nip at the other fish’s fins can cause stress and injuries.

Stress makes a fish more likely to get sick and injuries can get infected, which is a serious problem. The second problem with keeping guppies and goldfish in the same tank is that goldfish can grow large enough to eat – or at least try to eat – smaller guppies. While your goldfish probably won’t succeed in eating your guppy, it may well try.

Like fin nipping, this can cause stress and injury. Another risk is that your goldfish could get the guppy stuck in its mouth and choke, potentially killing both fish! Even if your guppies and your goldfish seem to live happily together at first, this problem of your goldfish trying to eat your guppies can become an issue later.

What is the easiest fish to take care of?

Some of the easiest fish to take care of include white cloud minnows, cherry barbs, goldfish, guppies, neon tetras, and cory catfish. All of these species are relatively peaceful, non-demanding fish that do well in a beginning fish tank.

How long can a goldfish last without food?

So, how long can goldfish go without food? – The answer to this question comes down to your tank or pond temperature, how well you can maintain it, and your fish’s weight and body condition prior to stopping food: These are general guidelines only! They are not prescribed fasting intervals. Only withhold food in an emergency situation or under an aquatic veterinarian’s direct orders.

WATER Temperature	Days without Food
32F to 55F (0C to 12C)	Weeks to Months
55F to 60F (12C to 15C)	6 to 8 days
60F to 65F (15C to 18C)	5 to 6 days
65F to 70F (18C to 21C)	4 to 5 days
70F to 75F (21C to 24C)	3 to 4 days
75F to 85F (24 to 29C)	1 to 3 days

How do goldfish sleep?

What Do Goldfish Look Like When They Sleep? – Unlike people, goldfish do not lie down when they sleep. Rather, they become less active, staying in one place and moving slowly to keep themselves stable. They look like they are hovering in the tank or pond, usually low in the water, an inch or so off the bottom, with their heads pointed slightly downward.

How often do I need to feed my goldfish?

What should I feed my pet goldfish? A varied diet will maximise the health of your goldfish ( Carassius auratus ). A mixture of specialised goldfish flake and granules are a good staple diet. Ideally supplement this with live brine shrimp and a mixture of frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and veggie mix.

1. The diet can also be supplemented by scalded peas, small invertebrates and duck weed.
2. The goldfish diet should contain a high carbohydrate level.
3. Any freeze-dried food should be soaked first to avoid digestive upsets.
4. Feed 2-3 times daily.
5. It is important to avoid overfeeding goldfish as this can cause indigestion and/or contaminate the tank.

In terms of the amount to feed, a good rule of thumb is to only feed an amount that the goldfish can consume in under two minutes or only feed as much as the size of the goldfish’s eye. Goldfish feed at all levels of the aquarium and will accept most foods.

Small floating pellets are best in terms of keeping the tank clean as excess food can be easily removed. The smaller size pellets also ensure that all fish receive their share of the food. Mammalian fats (e.g. from beef heart, meat, offal) are poorly digested in fish, especially if the water temperature falls below 15 degrees celcius at any time.

All fat must be trimmed off and this type off of food should not be used exclusively. Feeding should be limited when water temperatures fall below 8 degrees Celsius because, being homoeothermic, goldfish are less able to digest the food at these lower temperatures.

Can a goldfish survive in a fishbowl?

Keeping fish in tiny bowls spells certain death for them, say animal welfare experts – Keeping fish in tiny bowls spells certain death for them, say animal welfare experts. Keeping fish in tiny bowls spell certain death for them, say animal welfare experts. What is an extremely popular trend is torture for the fish and the problem has only got worse, they say. “Earlier people were selling fish in small pet shops but since these fish are very inexpensive, you can now see them on sale in small polyethene bags on the road.

• A new trend is of putting fish in coloured water.
• The water is coloured using food dye or other chemicals,” said Abhinav Srihan, member of the Delhi State Advisory Board for Animal Welfare.
• According to experts, keeping fish in bowls is inhuman for several reasons.
• Low surface to air ratio, no filters to clean the water and cramped space for the fish are some.

Many cities across the world have banned fishbowls altogether. This includes Rome and Monza in Italy, most cities in Sweden and Mexico. In Switzerland, selling a single goldfish is illegal as they are social creatures that need companionship. Srihan, who also runs the animal rescue home, Fauna Police, says he rescues hundreds of fish every week.

“The problem is large-scale because a fish costs very little in the wholesale market. One goldfish – among the most popular fish in Delhi because of its colour and size – costs anywhere between R 15 and R 20 in the wholesale market. On the roadside, these are sold in polybags for R 50. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, it is illegal to sell animals on the roadside.

Selling animals, fish and birds in a hostile environment, such as coloured water or a bowl, is also punishable. It is a pity that people don’t know this and there is no implementation of rules,” Srihan said. In bowls, goldfish usually survive for a few days or a month.

If an owner changes water regularly and cleans the bowl dedicatedly, the fish might survive for two to three months. In a pond, however, goldfish sometimes live for up to 20 years. Animal welfare organisations such as PETA recommend a fish tank with a functional filter, plastic or real plants and decoration to keep fish.

According to the organisation, there needs to be at least 24 square inches of water for every 1 inch of fish to ensure well being. Fishbowl does not meet these standards.

Can goldfish just live in a glass bowl?

While goldfish can live in a bowl, there are often severe consequences that affect their growth and longevity. Mad Ball / CC BY-SA 2.0 If you had a pet fish as a child, chances are it was housed in a small tank or in a moderately-sized fish bowl. Maybe it was even accompanied by a petite freshwater plant, around which it would swim endlessly.

• Goldfish can often appear fully content to live within the confines of a glass bowl, especially if it is equipped with a basic aerator and diversified with pebbles and edible plants.
• They certainly “can” live in these environments, but the limitations may have severe consequences on their growth, health and longevity.

Due to this, we do not recommend keeping goldfish in fish bowls. Fish welfare concerns, such as the effects of stress due to a lack of space, filtration, and dissolved oxygen, are just as applicable to fish in tanks as they are to fish in farms and marine parks.

• The well-being of domesticated or farmed fish continues to be a subject of ethical debate,
• A fish welfare expert may argue that rearing goldfish in bowls, an environment so different from natural freshwater systems, is abusive, inhumane, and cruel; an aquarium expert might say that bowl-raised fish can live perfectly happy and lengthy lives as long as their basic needs are met.

The problem is that not all fish bowls are the same. These spherical tanks have differing volumes, which may be maximized by functional additions in different ways; there are many factors that influence a goldfish’s survival in such an enclosed environment.

How long can a goldfish live in a bowl without a filter?

How Long Can Goldfish Survive With No Filter? – Goldfish can survive for 12-48 hours without a filter. They should be fine if their tank is big enough and they are in a clean fish tank.

How often do you change the water in a goldfish bowl?

To keep your fish healthy, you should change at least half of the water in the bowl or aquarium every 3 days.