Goldfish
Fish

Goldfish

4.1
7 reviews
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Goldfish are one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, with a history spanning over a thousand years in China. Despite their reputation as low-effort pets, they are surprisingly long-lived — often reaching 10–15 years — and require a proper filtered aquarium rather than the small bowls they are commonly kept in. Given adequate space and clean water, goldfish develop distinct personalities and can recognise their owners.

Pros

  • Hardy and tolerant of a wide temperature range
  • Long lifespan of 10–15 years with proper care
  • Wide variety of beautiful fancy breeds available
  • Can recognise their owners and respond at feeding time
  • Relatively peaceful and suitable for community tanks

Cons

  • Produce a very high bioload, requiring strong filtration
  • Need far more space than the bowls they are stereotypically kept in
  • Can uproot plants and stir up substrate, making planted tanks difficult
  • Prone to swim-bladder issues if fed the wrong diet

Reviews 7

B
BubblyFerret
5/5

Surprisingly interactive

I always thought fish were boring pets until I got goldfish. Mine swim to greet me every morning and get visibly excited when I approach the tank. My black moor even has a favourite corner where he likes to hang out. They have been with me for six years and show no signs of slowing down. Proper tank…

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P
PeppyPenguin
5/5

Perfect for a large tank

I have a 75-gallon goldfish display tank in my living room and it is the centrepiece of the room. Six fancy goldfish in a well-planted, heavily filtered setup. Guests always stop and stare. The fish are interactive, calm, and beautiful. Once you nail the water parameters, goldfish are actually not t…

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C
CalmDolphin
5/5

Underrated pets

Most people dismiss goldfish as disposable pets, but mine have real character. My ryukin, Dumpling, follows my finger along the glass and does a little wiggle dance at feeding time. He's been with me for seven years. The filtration costs are a bit higher than for tropical fish, but the joy they brin…

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D
DazzlingFerret
4/5

Great starter fish — skip the bowl

Goldfish are wonderful, but please don't buy the tiny bowl the pet shop tries to sell you. I made that mistake with my first fish and he lasted only a few months. Once I upgraded to a 30-gallon with a canister filter, my current two fancy goldfish have been thriving for four years. They eat out of m…

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C
ChipperLemur
3/5

Beautiful but messy

I love my three goldfish, but I had no idea how much waste they produce. My canister filter needs cleaning every two weeks and I do 30% water changes twice a week to keep nitrates in check. They are gorgeous — especially the oranda with his big red and white wen — but the maintenance commitment caug…

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E
EagerFerret
3/5

Nice fish, huge commitment

I had three fantail goldfish for about two years before I had to rehome them when I moved abroad. They were lovely — very responsive and fun to watch — but the maintenance was relentless. Three fish in a 40-gallon required water changes three times a week to keep nitrates acceptable. If you have the…

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Q
QuirkyOtter
4/5

Great for kids who are ready

We got two fancy goldfish for our nine-year-old daughter. She has learned so much about nitrogen cycles, water chemistry, and responsible pet ownership. The fish themselves are healthy, active, and beautiful. I help with the bigger water changes, but she handles feeding and basic checks. Minus one s…

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