Common Goldfish
Carassius auratus
The Common Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 90 litres (24 US gallons), water held at 39-82°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Common Goldfish Tank Setup
Goldfish need at least 90 litres (24 US gallons) with powerful filtration and cooler water around 39-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5. They produce far more waste than most tropical fish, so don't skimp on the filter. They reach about 20 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Common Goldfish Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Common Goldfish Tank Mates
The Common Goldfish is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. At around 20 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Common Goldfish Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Common Goldfish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Common Goldfish need?
Common Goldfish need a tank of at least 90 litres (24 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Common Goldfish need?
Keep them at 39-82°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Common Goldfish eat?
Common Goldfish are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Common Goldfish good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Common Goldfish to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Guides that pair with this fish
- Goldfish care guide - Filtration rhythm and tank sizing.
- Goldfish tank mates - Cold-water pacing versus tropical impulse buys.
- Goldfish with tropical fish - Temperature mismatch pitfalls explained.
- Goldfish myths - Short lifespan misconceptions corrected.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Common Goldfish
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarTropical fish - too warm for goldfish tanks
- AxolotlTropical fish - too warm for goldfish tanks
- Betta (Male)Tropical fish - too warm for goldfish tanks
