goldfish-foodGoldfish Food

Keeping goldfish as a pet comes with great feelings in terms of the joy and liveliness that a goldfish can bring in the aquarium. However, it is unfortunate many goldfish keepers are prone to making a whole lot of mistakes in the sense that they incorrectly feed the goldfish.

One of the most common wrongful myths in term of goldfish feeding revolves around the fact that most of us think that goldfish can only thrive by eating goldfish flakes and pellets. 

Contrary to this wrongful myth or opinion for that matter, goldfish are natural omnivores and eat different types of food while in the wild.

It is therefore, highly advisable to mimic what goldfish eat in the wild while still ensuring that you do not overfeed the goldfish; thus ensuring that the goldfish remain healthy and disease free.

The Best Types of Food for Goldfish

A proper Goldfish feeding of goldfish calls for the need of a varied and tasty diet that not only ensure that the goldfish is healthy and disease free, but also kept from any poisonous food that may harm the goldfish.

You should always keep in mind that the goldfish is in need of a varied diet that include minerals a mixture of vitamins, as well as lots of fiber. However, most pet stores stock goldfish food that are not rich in fiber, and can lead to constipation problems.

It cannot be doubted that specialized goldfish flakes and granules are the best staple food. This should be ideally supplemented with freshwater shrimp, live Daphna, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Additional duck weed, small invertebrates, scalded peas, as well as other food that are rich in carbohydrates is advisable. Keep in mind that any freeze-dried food should be first soaked before being given to the goldfish to avoid digestive problems and upsets. 

Again, ensure that all the hard vegetables such as carrots, rice and bean are either cooked, chopped or finely peeled before they are given to the goldfish.

What to feed goldfish

Sinking pellets

SaleBestseller No. 1
Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Food for Tropical Fish, Goldfish, Loaches, Catfish and Other Bottom Feeding Fish, 6.5 Ounces
Aqueon Shrimp Pellets Sinking Food for Tropical Fish, Goldfish, Loaches, Catfish and Other Bottom Feeding Fish, 6.5 Ounces
Ideal for bottom dwelling fish; Nutritious food ingredients that fish are naturally attracted to
$3.99 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 2
Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets, Balanced Diet, 1.87 Ounce
Tetra Goldfish Variety Pellets, Balanced Diet, 1.87 Ounce
GOLDFISH FORMULATION: Specially designed for use as a staple daily food for your goldfish.
$3.74 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 3
Aqueon Cichlid Slow Sinking Fish Food Pellets, Medium Size, 25 Ounce
Aqueon Cichlid Slow Sinking Fish Food Pellets, Medium Size, 25 Ounce
Formulated so that fish utilize more of what they eat and create less waste; Will not cloud water when fed as directed
$9.49 Amazon Prime
Bestseller No. 4
Kaytee Koi's Choice Koi Floating Fish Food, 3 Pound
Kaytee Koi's Choice Koi Floating Fish Food, 3 Pound
Provides necessary animal and vegetable proteins; Great for Koi, Goldfish and other pond fish
$11.99 Amazon Prime
Bestseller No. 5
Tetra TetraMin Tropical Granules 3.52 Ounces, Nutritionally Balanced Fish Food
Tetra TetraMin Tropical Granules 3.52 Ounces, Nutritionally Balanced Fish Food
CLEAR-WATER FORMULA: Won’t cloud water when used as directed.
$3.99 Amazon Prime

Last update on 2024-03-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Although expensive, different brands of fish pellets are easily found in stores. Just feed your goldfish sinking pellets in order to control protein intake.

Flake Foods

SaleBestseller No. 1
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 7.06 oz
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 7.06 oz
FOR DAILY FEEDING: Nutritionally balanced diet for optimal health, color and vitality.; PROCARE FORMULA: Helps support fish’s immune system for optimal health and long life.
$8.63 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 2
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 2.2 oz
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 2.2 oz
FOR DAILY FEEDING: Nutritionally balanced diet for optimal health, color and vitality.; PROCARE FORMULA: Helps support fish’s immune system for optimal health and long life.
$4.92 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 3
TetraFin Plus Goldfish Flakes 7.06 Ounces, Balanced Diet, With Algae To Promote Health
TetraFin Plus Goldfish Flakes 7.06 Ounces, Balanced Diet, With Algae To Promote Health
PROCARE FORMULA: Helps support fish’s immune system for optimal health and long life.; COLOR ENHANCING: Enhances the goldfish’s naturally brilliant colors.
$12.47 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 4
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 2.2 lbs
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 2.2 lbs
COMPLETE DIET: Nutritionally balanced diet for optimal health, color and vitality.; CLEANER AND CLEARER WATER FORMULA: Won’t cloud water when used as directed.
$28.90 Amazon Prime
SaleBestseller No. 5
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 0.42 oz
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 0.42 oz
FOR DAILY FEEDING: Nutritionally balanced diet for optimal health, color and vitality.; PROCARE FORMULA: Helps support fish’s immune system for optimal health and long life.
$1.57 Amazon Prime

Last update on 2024-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Flake foods are also important for your goldfish because of its nutritional values. You should feed flake or granules

Live food

Goldfish will feed on insect larvae, mosquito larva, daphnia, brine shrimp and blood worms.

Frozen food

Last update on 2024-03-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Frozen food are a bit expensive but can be kept for long. Unfreeze the amount that you intend to feed the fish. Frozen foods are better because freezing kills most of the germs.

How much to feed?

One thing that a goldfish owner should not worry about is about starving the goldfish. You should feed your fish two or three times a day.

This should be under the rule of feeding your Goldfish the amount of food that it can consume in two minutes. In other words, you should feed your fish the feed that that is as much as the size of the goldfish’s eye.

The Problem of Overfeeding

Overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes that goldfish keepers do. Overfeeding your goldfish will not only contaminate the tank with the excess food, but will also lead to blocked intestines that is ultimately not a good sign considering that your goldfish will have swim bladder problems.

This is evident when the goldfish swims upside down and tends to hang at the surface of the aquarium. In this regard, it is also advisable to remove all the uneaten food to ensure that the aquarium is not polluted.

How long can a goldfish live without eating?

You may be planning for a holiday and maybe wondering how your goldfish can survive when your are not around. It has been proven that goldfish can take around 8 days to two weeks without food and still be fine.

Therefore, you should only ask a friend or a neighbor to feed your goldfish if you are planning to be away for longer than two weeks.

Brands

For Fish care there are so many brands in the market and choosing a Good brand Food is also a important decision for caring for your fish. So here is a list of the top and most popular fish care brands. Know More

GET FRESHWATER AQUARIUM GUIDE WORTH $99 FOR FREE!

[Revised and Updated for July, 2019]
Sign up to our newsletter to enjoy quality aquarium information and techniques in your email. As an added bonus you will also get Freshwater Aquarium Guide worth $99 for Free
AVAIL NOW
Written by Debra Hutchinson, founder of FishXperts