How Long Can You Expect Your Goldfish to Live? (2024)

Goldfish generally have a lifespan of 5–10 years in captivity, but they can live as long as 30 years when kept in larger ponds. The oldest recorded goldfish lived a whopping 43 years! Goldfish lifespan can vary depending on the species and their environment.

Most goldfish eventually grow too large for small aquariums, resulting in poor water quality and stress. This may result in secondary illness due to decreased immune function from chronic stress. To take proper care of your goldfish in their later years, be prepared for 30 gallons or more per fish. Here's how to help your goldfish live a long, healthy life.

Goldfish Lifespan

There are several types of goldfish in the pet industry. For most comet goldfish, you can expect at least 20 years. Most fancy goldfish varieties should live into their teens, but 20 years is not common. Fancy goldfish can be quite elaborate with round bodies, protruding eyeballs, and ornate fins. Many generations of goldfish have been crossbred to create these unique individuals, which has led to fancy goldfish having shorter life spans than standard comet goldfish.

How to Help Your Goldfish Live Longer

To help your goldfish live a long and happy life, proper care comes down to providing the correct environment and diet. Goldfish death is commonly attributed to old age, but limited space and poor water quality are the most common causes of goldfish death. Your goldfish's needs will change as it gets older and grows larger.

Aquarium Size

All fish may start small, but many goldfish have the potential to grow as large as a dinner plate! Contrary to popular belief, goldfish do not grow to the size of their container. Starting your goldfish in a 20-gallon aquarium (per fish) will work for the first few years, but plan on upgrading them as they grow over the years. Never keep your goldfish in a bowl; they thrive in properly filtered aquariums.

Water Quality

Goldfish are hungry fish, but they don't convert their food into mass very well and produce a lot of waste. This waste ends up in their aquarium water, causing water quality issues that require frequent cleaning. When fish swim in gross water, their immune system does not work well and the fish will get sick from secondary infections due to environmental bacteria and any lingering
parasites.

Diet and Feeding

There are a wide variety of goldfish diets on the pet store shelves. Often, owners are overwhelmed with options and settle on flashy packaging or pricing to guide their decisions, neither of which has any influence on food quality. When choosing a goldfish diet, pay attention to the protein and fat content that is listed on the label.

• Goldfish require approximately 30% protein for proper body maintenance.
• Growing juveniles will require more protein, around 35-45%.
• Fat requirements for goldfish are low due to their limited activity.
• For maintenance, adult goldfish require around 6% fat.
• Young fish and reproductively active fish need about 10% fat in the diet.
• Replace your container of fish food every six months to maintain good vitamin content.

Flakes vs. Pellets

Flake diets are only for tiny fish. Once your goldfish can eat a pellet, they should be switched over from flakes to pellets. Goldfish pellets come in very small sizes these days, so size is not an excuse to keep feeding your fish flakes. Pellets retain their nutrition significantly better than flakes due to their lower surface-to-mass ratio.

Your fish may not like the switch because flakes smell and taste better than pellets. Use some tough love and tell your fish it’s better for their overall health, not to mention less waste for you to clean!

How to Care for Older Goldfish

Your goldfish will reach geriatric age in their late teens and early 20s—or early teens for fancy varieties. As they get older, expect to see some changes in their behavior. Your goldfish may not swim as much and may take extended rest periods at the bottom of their aquarium.

Keep their water quality and tank clean to support them in their later years. Some goldfish may start to eat a little less, but this is uncommon. Older goldfish may be more selective about their diet, so offer a variety of pellets to maintain their nutrition. Don't just feed treats, such as dried or frozen shrimp. All fish require a well-rounded diet that most pellets can provide, made from a mix of proteins and veggies.

Overall, goldfish are one of the most long-lived pet species, so a death at less than 10 years old is usually not age-related. More often, as they grow, goldfish max out their space and resources. What is appropriate for a small goldfish will not be the same for life. Adjust the aquarium size and filtration as your pet goldfish grows to provide a proper habitat for a long and happy life.