Is it safe to eat live goldfish?

To sum it up, you shouldn't eat goldfish, even though it's technically edible. Your pets or wild animals shouldn't eat them either. This type of fish, whether in the wild or as a pet, shouldn't be ingested. Goldfish can carry mycobacteria or parasites that can damage your health if you ingest this fish.
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Can you eat real goldfish?

Can you eat goldfish? The short answer is goldfish are as edible as any other freshwater fish; however, they are most likely not very tasty. Goldfish would taste of the foods that they eat – so, for example, a pet goldfish would probably taste a bit like fish flakes and pellets!
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Is it illegal to eat goldfish?

Yep, they've got a law about that. Not so in the U.S., although eating an animal alive could be considered animal cruelty even if a state doesn't explicitly forbid it. The crime of animal cruelty is about the mental process of the human being and the suffering of the animal.
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Why can't you eat a goldfish?

Even if they appear healthy, goldfish are often affected by parasites that can be transmitted to humans. You may not die from eating the fish, but the parasites are dangerous to humans. Eating goldfish can transmit intestinal worms and mycobacteria, which causes Fish-Handler's Disease.
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What do real goldfish taste like?

Like carp, goldfish take on the taste of the water that they swim in. If you are going to eat one, don't expect it to be tasty like trout or tuna – even if it's caught in the wild, a goldfish will most likely have a strong taste of mud and detritus, even when it is fully cooked.
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How To Keep Your Goldfish Alive For 15 Years



Is goldfish poisonous?

Goldfish are not toxic in any way. This myth likely stems from the large amounts of ammonia these fish excrete, but all fish excrete ammonia, not only goldfish. Goldfish do tend to be messy and eat a lot. They are also a heavy-bodied species, so they excrete more waste than other species of smaller sizes.
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What fish can you not eat?

Are you aware that four fish have been designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( USDA ) and Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) to be unsafe to eat due to their typically high levels of mercury? Making the “do not eat” list are King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish and Tilefish.
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Can you get sick eating a live goldfish?

Yes, you can get sick from eating a goldfish. In fact, in some cases, it might even be fatal. Goldfish can sometimes carry bacteria with them. Notably, a bacterium called mycobacteria, aka fish tuberculosis.
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Can you eat goldfish from a pond?

Goldfish are as edible as any other freshwater fish. If you choose to eat it, know these facts first: That gross flake and/or pellet stuff is what your fish has been eating exclusively. Pop a pellet or two, that's what your fish will most likely taste like.
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Can you get sick from goldfish?

Although fish and aquarium water can spread germs to people, illness due to keeping fish is rare. By giving routine care to your fish and their aquarium as well as following some simple health tips you are less likely to get sick from touching, feeding, or owning aquarium fish.
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Is it illegal to eat live animals?

Eating live animals, or parts of live animals, may be unlawful in certain jurisdictions under animal cruelty laws. Religious prohibitions on the eating of live animals by humans are also present in various world religions.
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Can you eat pet fish?

Although it isn't illegal to eat your pet fish, it is better to give them away if you don't want them anymore. But if you have a fish that you think would be better off as food, then there's no one that can stop you.
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Can you eat pond fish?

It makes one wonder, are pond fish safe to eat? The answer is yes and no. Like rivers and lakes, ponds provide an excellent source of food in the fishing world. In fact, well maintained fish ponds all over the world are where a lot of fish being sold on the market today come from.
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Is a goldfish a carp?

Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) are part of the carp family but do not have barbells around their mouths. They vary in their fin configuration, coloration and in their body size, which is directly influenced by their environment.
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Did people swallow goldfish in the 20s?

While the Internet's cinnamon, saltine, mannequin, and ice bucket challenges may be just recent memories, mankind has long been swept up in crazes of daring. Things were no different in the early 1920s. Popularized in American schools, the challenge consisted of swallowing a live, wriggling goldfish whole.
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What happens to fish swallowed whole?

Even in the case of fish being swallowed alive, the high-acid/low-oxygen content of the stomach acid and chime present in the predator's digestive tract would likewise cause it to perish from suffocation fairly quickly.
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Did people used to swallow goldfish?

One of the weirdest, most revolting fads of the last century, started with a boast and a bet. In 1939, a freshman named Lothrop Withington, Jr., reportedly bragged to his friends that he had once eaten a live fish.
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What is the unhealthiest fish to eat?

Worst: Orange Roughy

These fish, also known as slimeheads, can live up to 150 years. But that means they've been around unhealthy elements, like mercury, for a long time. So they're not the best option for a healthy diet.
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What fish is poisonous if not cooked properly?

The Japanese delicacy fugu, or blowfish, is so poisonous that the smallest mistake in its preparation could be fatal.
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Are catfish OK to eat?

Yes, it is safe to eat catfish. The only time it is not safe to eat catfish is when it is undercooked. Catfish is low in calories is filled with many healthy nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. Incorporating baked or broiled catfish into your regular diet can help you promote overall good health.
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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.
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Can goldfish explode?

If you notice your goldfish looking fat, swollen or “about to explode” then the problem is probably dropsy.
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Can you eat fish out of dirty water?

Fish taken from polluted waters might be hazardous to your health. Eating fish containing chemical pollutants may cause birth defects, liver damage, cancer, and other serious health problems.
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Can you eat any fish you catch?

Making informed choices about the fish you eat

However, now that you know that contaminants may be present in your freshly-caught fish, you might wonder if you should avoid eating fish altogether. Not to worry! You can still safely eat the fish you catch - and don't forget that eating fish has many health benefits.
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