How long does a goldfish last?

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.
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How long do goldfish live in a bowl?

Author Note: A Goldfish living in a bowl is lucky to make it to one year. Even if you do things right and perform frequent water changes, the average lifespan in a bowl is only two to three years.
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Can goldfish live for 12 years?

Common goldfish can live up to 10 years but are more likely to live for 4 or 5 due to the risks of predation, disease, and competition with other fish. In captivity, they can live for 10-14 years in a tank that is at least 50 gallons.
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Do goldfish get lonely?

Goldfish are just not the same as humans – they're not social animals in the same way that we are, and they don't have the same capacity to get bored or long for companionship. In fact, many of the longest living goldfish have been kept alone, with no obvious harm to their well being.
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How can I tell if my goldfish is dying?

Loss of appetite. Weakness or listlessness. Loss of balance or buoyancy control, floating upside down, or 'sitting' on the tank floor (most fish are normally only slightly negatively-buoyant and it takes little effort to maintain position in the water column) Erratic/spiral swimming or shimmying.
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How Long Do Goldfish Live? What Is The Average Lifespan Goldfish



How often do you need to change goldfish water?

A goldfish bowl without a filter should be cleaned twice a week. With a filter you can clean it every 7-10 days. How do I clean my bowl? Remove 1/3 of the water and put it in a different container.
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Is it cruel to keep goldfish?

Unfortunately, despite traditions, experts generally agree that most goldfish bowls are unsuitable for goldfish – keeping goldfish in one can be considered inhumane.
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Why is my goldfish turning white?

Did you know that goldfish have pigment in their skin? This pigment can react to UV light in some fish. So, your goldfish could turn white due to both a lack of sunlight or too much sunlight. In the case of too much light, fish usually respond to the dramatic change.
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Can goldfish live 50 years?

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.
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Why do goldfish turn black?

Ammonia changes are, by far, the most common reason why goldfish turn black. Generally, the color change starts on the fins. Over time, it can get progressively worse and spread to the body. There, it'll appear as small batches of black skin that look burnt.
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How can you tell a goldfish's age?

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.
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Do goldfish need sunlight?

Yes, goldfish need light and they also need nightly periods of darkness. What is this? Using lights to illuminate your tank and simulate a day / night cycle is beneficial to your goldfish, the overall health of your tank and is an important aspect of successful goldfish care.
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How often should you feed goldfish?

Feed 2-3 times daily. 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.
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Can goldfish live in tap water?

Goldfish can only live in tap water when it has been properly treated to remove harmful chemicals. What is this? 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.
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Do goldfish get excited to see you?

Goldfish are certainly smarter than you think. Some have been observed to perceive and remember well enough to distinguish between people. They often notice the person who feeds them each day, and will get excited when they see them.
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Do goldfish get bored in tanks?

Fish-keepers sometimes see their pets 'glass surfing' – swimming repeatedly up and down the glass of the tank. This could be the aquatic equivalent of the pacing of a captive tiger that's bored from a lack of stimulation. But the fish could also be stressed from an overcrowded or unfamiliar tank.
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Is it OK to feed goldfish once a day?

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.
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Does a goldfish 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.
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What is the easiest fish to take care of?

In particular, guppies, zebrafish, goldfish, mollies, neon tetras, betta fish, and suckerfish are just some of the easiest fish to take care of in a community aquarium. Make sure to create a tank with plenty of rocks, caves, small toys, and plants to provide enrichment for the fish.
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Can I save a dying goldfish?

Most dying fish can be easily revived with changes to the water. Maintaining water quality is essential to keeping your fish happy and healthy—and alive. You can buy a fish tank water testing kit at most pet stores. These tests can help you identify any problems with the water, such as high ammonia.
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How do you bring a dead goldfish back to life?

Place the goldfish in a container filled with cool water from his tank. The cool water contains oxygen and will help to revive your fish. Some experts also suggest placing your goldfish right back into the water in his tank, even if he appears dried out.
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How do you know if a goldfish is happy?

Your fish are happy and healthy when they:
  1. 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.
  2. Eat regularly and swim to the surface quickly at feeding time.
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Do goldfish like being touched?

For example, goldfish don't like small fish bowls. They need space to perform well. Goldfish also don't like being touched on their bodies, bright lights, or loud noises.
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