How long can goldfish live?

In captivity they commonly live 10 to 15 years, and the officially recognized record is 43 years, with an unverified claim of 45 years.

Where do goldfish originally come from?

They were developed in China from mutant crucian carp through centuries of selective breeding, with formal breeding practices established during the Song dynasty, before spreading to Japan and eventually around the world.

Goldfishキンギョ

Carassius auratusNE— Not Evaluated

The goldfish is one of the world's oldest domesticated ornamental fish, bred in China over a thousand years ago from mutant crucian carp and later refined into hundreds of color and body-shape varieties. Hardy and highly adaptable, it can live over a decade in captivity, has been shown to retain memories for months, and has even traveled to space as a research subject.

Goldfish (reference photo) — Photo: Jiaqian AirplaneFan / CC BY 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Cypriniformes / Cyprinidae Source
Size: Usually grows to about 30 cm; individuals close to the wild type are 12–22 cm, and a record of 41 cm exists
Weight: Up to about 4.1 kg for the largest recorded individual
Lifespan: 10–15 years is typical in captivity; the official Guinness record is 43 years, and an unofficial record stands at 45
Diet: Omnivore Omnivorous, feeding mainly on algae and aquatic plants, and also eating animal foods and commercial feed
Distribution: Originating in China, the goldfish was developed through centuries of selective breeding from mutant crucian carp, with formal breeding practices established during the Song dynasty (960-1279); it later spread to Japan, Europe, and eventually the rest of the world. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Goldfish are tetraploid, carrying doubled sets of chromosomes, which makes them prone to genetic variation—one reason centuries of breeding have produced hundreds of distinct color and body-shape varieties. Source
Goldfish are tetrachromats, possessing four types of cone cells that let them perceive red, green, blue, and even ultraviolet light, and research shows they retain memories for at least three months and can distinguish shapes, colors, and sounds. Source
In July 1994, six goldfish from Yatomi, Aichi Prefecture, flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as experimental animals studying behavior in microgravity. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1

Aquamarine FukushimaFukushimaOpened in 2000

Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated (NE)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

A visit is a small, positive way to support the daily lives of the animals you care about.

Visit: A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving: Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei: Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

Support Aquamarine Fukushima

FAQ

How long can goldfish live?: In captivity they commonly live 10 to 15 years, and the officially recognized record is 43 years, with an unverified claim of 45 years. Source
Where do goldfish originally come from?: They were developed in China from mutant crucian carp through centuries of selective breeding, with formal breeding practices established during the Song dynasty, before spreading to Japan and eventually around the world. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?: Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org