Goldfish (common/comet)

Care at a glance

The goldfish may be the best-known aquarium fish in the world, and at the same time the most wrongly kept: a bowl is no place for it. It is a coldwater fish that grows large, can live for decades and produces a lot of waste, so space and solid filtration are not luxuries.

Single-tailed forms like the comet really belong in a pond; for indoors the calmer fancy varieties are the better fit. Goldfish are social animals best kept in company, and they are enthusiastic plant eaters, so choose robust plants or accept some damage. A heater is unnecessary; cool water suits them fine.

Good to know

• Outgrows most home tanks
• Eats or uproots live plants

Related species

• Blind cave tetraAstyanax mexicanus
• Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii
• Ember tetraHyphessobrycon amandae
• Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna
• Black neon tetraHyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
• Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius