Home Goldfish Tank Goldfish Care Benefits: 8 Reasons Why Goldfish Are Good Pets

Goldfish Care Benefits: 8 Reasons Why Goldfish Are Good Pets

by Christina Crowe
13 comments
Why goldfish are good pets

Photo by Lachlan Donald (Flickr)

Why goldfish?

There are both pros and cons of raising pet goldfish. But while caring for goldfish can have some amazing and wonderful advantages, you need to keep up with a routine cleaning and feeding schedule for proper goldfish care. You also need to prepare your aquarium first before actually introducing your goldfish to their new home. This includes buying a good-sized goldfish tank, along with aquarium decorations and plants.

In the end, if you take the time to really learn the fundamentals of goldfish care, you’ll understand why goldfish make such great pets and your aquarium will quickly become the highlight of any room.

Dive In: Why Goldfish Make Great Pets

Goldfish are captivating, with their many arrays of colors and completely unique personalities. Since you’re here, you’re probably thinking about buying a goldfish at some point.

But why goldfish? Why should you raise these colorful freshwater fish and how can you make the most of them?

Let’s take a look.

  • Goldfish are easy to maintain. You don’t need to take sick goldfish to the vet. Your goldfish won’t go on a barking frenzy and wake the neighbors. Your goldfish don’t even need routine walks around the block in freezing cold weather. When you go on vacation, you don’t need to hire anyone to look after your fish – there are automatic feeders just perfect for those long getaways. In fact, goldfish don’t even need a heater unlike most tropical species who depend on warm water temperatures to thrive. And unlike the betta, goldfish aren’t fussy eaters and will eagerly gobble up anything you throw into the aquarium (though it’s up to you to give your fish quality, nutritional food). What’s not to love?
  • Goldfish are cheap and available everywhere. I don’t know of a pet store that doesn’t have at least one goldfish for sale. Goldfish are everywhere! And some goldfish, feeder fish mostly, are priced as low as 50 cents. And a majority of fancy varieties only cost a couple of dollars! Though you’ll need to buy the appropriate aquarium equipment, caring for goldfish isn’t nearly as expensive as raising other pets. In fact, their affordable price is one reason why goldfish are found in so many homes across the globe.
  • Goldfish aquariums can reduce anxiety and lower blood pressure. Stressful day at work? Why not set up an aquarium? Studies have shown that there is a noticeable decrease in anxiety when in the presence of an aquarium (source 1 and 2). Even by setting up a goldfish tank without adding any fish, you can experience calm and tranquility (though the effects are reduced compared to an active aquarium with goldfish). This is one of the reasons why goldfish are found in large aquariums situated at the very center of many waiting areas.
  • Watching goldfish can improve your appetite. According to this Purdue University study, exposing yourself to an aquarium can increase your food consumption by 17%. So if you’ve lost your appetite or you’re having trouble eating, goldfish can help with that! This same report states that keeping an aquarium can also make you feel more relaxed and alert.
  • Keeping goldfish is a wonderful learning experience. Teach your children the importance of goldfish care and how to raise fish of their own, including how much to feed and when to change the aquarium water. By raising goldfish, children learn responsibility and discipline as they maintain the aquarium and keep up with feeding. Caring for goldfish can be so fun and rewarding, it’s hard not to see why goldfish offer a great learning experience for children. Encourage creativity when setting up the tank for the first time, and let the imagination run wild! Make maintaining the goldfish tank a family event and the whole family will come closer together.
  • Goldfish inspire creativity. How many aquariums have you seen that looked exactly alike: same tank setup, same species of fish, same aquarium plants and ornaments? Most likely, none! No two goldfish tanks are exactly alike, just like all aquarium fish behaviors and habits are unique in their own little way. And there are simply so many goldfish types to choose from, with breathtaking arrays of colors and shapes. In fact, a goldfish aquarium can look particularly stunning in a dark, gloomy room.
  • You can make money with your fish keeping hobby. While I only recommend this for advanced goldfish hobbyists, you can breed your goldfish for desired traits and sell the results on eBay or your own website. Don’t want to breed goldfish? Why not build a business cultivating aquatic plants?
  • Goldfish are great for busy folks. Fish are relatively low maintenance and don’t require much besides routine water changes and a regular feeding schedule. And with so many incredible benefits, who wouldn’t want a goldfish? So get out there, and set up your first goldfish aquarium!

Goldfish are beautiful, peaceful, and mesmerizing. There are so many goldfish varieties available, which is why goldfish have become such popular pets. But they also need loving care and attention just like any pet. Are you prepared to give your goldfish what they need to thrive? Read more about the care demands of pet goldfish.

What About You?

Do you have goldfish? Have you discovered why goldfish make great pets? What amazing benefits have YOU noticed?

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13 comments

Ariel Rose June 20, 2012 - 11:56 pm

Hi! I’ve had my common gold fish Azumi for a year now. She was very sick when I found her and I put her in my empty 10 gallon and nursed her back to health. She had really bad ammonia burns and was very skinny. She was terrified when I first brought her home and now that she is getting way to big for that little 10 gallon, I’m setting up my first 55 gallon just for her (and maybe a new friend for her to swim with). I’m going to make it a planted tank because she loves her salad and who am I to say no. lol! But ever since I brought her home I been so relaxed. I can’t imagine sleeping without the sound of my filter running or my bubbler humming. My family laughs at the way I openly express how much I miss her when I leave on long trips. I now believe a house is not a home without a goldfish!

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Christina Crowe August 30, 2013 - 2:43 pm

Ariel, Azumi sounds so adorable! I’m happy you were able to nurse her back to health and give her such a loving home! I’m sure she’d enjoy a companion as well.

I have one of my own aquariums set up in the bedroom, and it’s so wonderful to open my eyes to their cheerful faces every morning! I have a whisper power filter, and while there might be a low hum, it doesn’t disturb my sleep in the slightest (and I’m a very light sleeper!).

I’m so glad Azumi is doing so well. Keep her healthy and well cared for and she’s sure to live a long life!

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Joanne August 6, 2013 - 6:43 pm

My son just won a goldfish at the fair. I have had fish tanks in the past so I know that I have to prepare one properly for this fish. I live in a small rural town and there are no tanks to buy here. I just barely found fish food! I need to order a tank but I am wondering how to keep this fish alive until I get my new tank and can get it set up. Any suggestions? I just have it in a large glass bowl with gravel and a stick right now. I used filtered water. Any help is appreciated.

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Christina Crowe August 30, 2013 - 3:02 pm

Hi Joanne,

Congratulations on the new goldfish! I would change a small amount of water per day (about 15%) and complete some water tests until you can order that tank. It wouldn’t hurt to have an underground filter running either, since I know it’s hard to set up a power filter on the round glass of a goldfish bowl (and you wouldn’t want to anyway, since water from a filter with that much current doesn’t circulate well in a bowl). The water changes will help keep ammonia levels down until you can setup a decent filtration system in a new aquarium.

Try not to overfeed your goldfish and give them only a pinch of food (no more than your fish can eat in a minute or two if you’re feeding multiple times per day), since excess food can lead to dangerous ammonia spikes quickly in a goldfish bowl.

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Amanda September 24, 2013 - 8:11 am

are goldfish calm animals for when you start to get mad

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Christina Crowe September 24, 2013 - 8:49 pm

Hi Amanda – goldfish are very peaceful pets to have. Watching them in your aquarium can also have a calming effect. They’re definitely not as aggressive as some other types of fish, though some goldfish can be very active (usually slim-bodied types like the comet). Fancy goldfish are generally slower though, especially the bulkier varieties.

Keep in mind that goldfish do require a lot of room to grow, so you’ll need a 20-gallon aquarium at the very minimum for one or two fancy goldfish.

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Amanda September 24, 2013 - 8:12 am

are goldfish good pets

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Christina Crowe September 24, 2013 - 8:51 pm

I personally love them! All pets have their advantages and disadvantages. You can read some disadvantages about goldfish here. Like any pet, goldfish will need lots of love and attention to grow!

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Rachel December 3, 2015 - 5:41 am

I own fancy goldfish and they are the best pet I’ve owned. Pretty, easy to take care of, nice to watch aside from the tv. They are clumsy and entertaining. I owned a betta and he just hid , whereas my goldies always busy and greet me every morning for food, I found a tooth today in their too lol !!! Fun fact they actually do have teeth at the back!!

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Christina Crowe December 18, 2015 - 11:37 pm

That’s so awesome Rachel! I love goldfish because they’re so friendly – they’re not afraid to swim up against the side of the glass right before a good feeding! It’s really adorable.

Based on my experiences with bettas, they’re more mellow and relaxed. Never once have I seen them dance against the glass for their food! Mine just like to stare at me in eager anticipation. 🙂

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Rachel December 26, 2015 - 2:14 pm

Completely agree , as pretty as bettas are I didn’t find mine to be very interesting, it just hid. My goldies are characters , my friends think I’m just mad, but they are more pet like than tropical

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Rachel December 26, 2015 - 2:29 pm

Ps if you haven’t already watch Solid Gold on youtube she’s a goldfish nut , you’d love it 😊

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Christina Crowe December 28, 2015 - 3:14 pm

I love Solid Gold! I’ve been subscribed for several years now, and Jennie always puts up pretty good stuff. The goldfish fry videos are especially interesting! Have you seen them? I love watching how quickly those little bodies can grow. 🙂

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