How old do goldfish live?

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.

Can goldfish live for 5 years?

On average, goldfish live for 5 to 10 years. However, their lifespan varies massively depending on how well they are looked after and the conditions they live in. A goldfish kept in poor conditions will die within days or weeks. Whereas a goldfish that is well looked after can live for more than 10 years.

Can goldfish live 20 years?

Goldfish are part of the carp family and are closely related to Common carp (which have very long lifespans). As a result, the maximum Goldfish lifespan can be up to 20 years when kept in the right conditions. Of course, there are always outliers. The oldest Goldfish ever recorded died at the age of 43 years old!

Can goldfish live for 12 years?

It might surprise you to know that goldfish can live for decades! The average life expectancy of a goldfish is 10-15 years, but it's not uncommon for them to live 20 years or longer. The longest living goldfish on record was a goldfish a young boy won at a fair in the UK.

Can goldfish live 40 years?

There are hundreds of varieties of goldfish in the world, and your fish's genetics and their early development will set natural limits on their possible lifespan. In general, however, goldfish are the longest-living pet fish and can live up to 40 years!

How Long Do Goldfish Live? What Is The Average Lifespan Goldfish

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.

What's the oldest goldfish?

Goldfish 43 years

A goldfish named Tish, owned by Hilda and Gordon Hand of Carlton Miniott, North Yorkshire, UK, lived for 43 years. Hilda's son Peter won Tish at a fairground stall in 1956.

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.

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.

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.

Do goldfish need friends?

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.

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.

How big can a goldfish get?

According to National Geographic, goldfish are usually around 7 to 16.1 inches long and weigh 0.2 to 0.6 pounds, but can top 5 pounds in the wild.

How often do you need to change goldfish water?

Generally speaking, you should change some of your goldfish's tank water once per week. We say “generally speaking”, because you will need to do more regular water changes in some situations.

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.

Do goldfish like being touched?

Although goldfish don't like being touched, they may playfully nip your hand if you hand feed them. Usually, this only happens if they have already bonded with you. Try to get other goldfish so it can have playmates.

How big is a 1 year old goldfish?

Your goldfish will reach about 2 inches in 6 months. As long as it has adequate nutritional support, it'll reach over 3 inches by the end of its first year.

Is my goldfish a boy or girl?

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 do you know if a goldfish is happy?

Is it normal for goldfish to lay on the bottom of the tank?

You indeed have a problem when a goldfish is bottom sitting. Possible causes are ammonia spikes (filter issues, changes in temperature, pH etc, a high volume of nitrates, overcrowded tank - causes most of these problems (40-50 gallons per common goldfish are needed).

How do I bring my 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.

What do goldfish do all day?

First of all, it's normal to see your goldfish swim, play and explore during the day and sleep at night. Do fish sleep? Yes, but because they have no eyelids, they can't close their eyes like we do. The goldfish behavior can be influenced by the environment, tank mates and also by its owner.

Why are goldfish so cheap?

They're mainly so cheap because they're mass bred as feeder fish. If you don't want to have a large tank or pond in the near future, I would recommend returning them to the store as soon as possible. Comet/Common goldfish are indeed sold pretty darn cheap.

Do goldfish eat each other?

Goldfish by nature are not aggressive, and are not predatory. The short answer would be, "No, they don't eat each other".