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Best Goldfish Food

Updated February 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Ultra Fresh  Sinking Goldfish Food
Ultra Fresh
Sinking Goldfish Food
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Best goldfish food
Bottom Line

This high-quality food enhances the natural color of goldfish, thanks to the shrimp and certain seaweeds.

Pros

Its slow-sinking formula lets fish eat some food on its way down and forage some from the bottom. The added probiotics encourage healthy digestion. The clear water formula keeps tanks from getting cloudy.

Cons

Some complained that it sinks quicker than expected.

Best Bang for the Buck
TetraFin  Goldfish Variety Pellet Food
TetraFin
Goldfish Variety Pellet Food
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Best goldfish food for the money
Bottom Line

Since these pellets float, they're great for fish that like to eat flakes.

Pros

The bite-size pellets are great for goldfish on the smaller end of the spectrum. The "Procare" formula supports immune health, while prebiotic ingredients are great for digestion.

Cons

They contain more filler ingredients than is ideal, though they're not bad for the price.

New Life Spectrum  Large Pellet Goldfish Daily Diet
New Life Spectrum
Large Pellet Goldfish Daily Diet
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Worth checking out
Bottom Line

Thanks to their bigger-than-average size, these pellets are great for medium and large goldfish.

Pros

They contain quality protein and other nutrients from whole krill, squid and seaweed. They don't include notable filler ingredients, such as soybeans. Since they're sinking pellets, they're great for natural foraging behaviors and can help prevent swim bladder disorder.

Cons

They're best suited for fancy goldfish rather than common varieties. They're too small for pond goldfish.

Wardley Goldfish Small Floating Pellet Food
Wardley
Goldfish Small Floating Pellet Food
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Less Waste
Bottom Line

A fine, floating pellet for small goldfish, which includes the essential vitamins, minerals, and supplements younger fish need to grow up healthy.

Pros

Made with marine fish meal and fish oil. High protein and fat diet. Less waste, so water stays clearer. No artificial colors.

Cons

Soybean meal, wheat middlings, wheat flour, and corn gluten are the first 4 ingredients.

Tetra TetraPro Goldfish Crisps
Tetra
TetraPro Goldfish Crisps
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A Nutritious Meal
Bottom Line

This premium diet was baked with low heat, ensuring that fewer nutrients are cooked out of these floating crisps. An excellent choice for goldfish who have trouble finding sinking pellets.

Pros

Fish meal is the first ingredient. Includes high-protein krill for stronger muscles. Crisps float for longer than flakes. A low-waste food. High protein and fat diet. Available in 4 sizes.

Cons

Since this formula tends to float on the surface for longer, goldfish known for sucking in large gulps of air should avoid it.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for Which goldfish food is best?

With the right care, goldfish can live up to 10 to 15 years, with some varieties reaching 30 years old. Picking the right goldfish food is an important part of creating a long, healthy life for your fish.

Feeding it the wrong food or too much of it easily leads to health issues. If you're looking for quality fish food that suits most goldfish, Ultra Fresh Sinking Goldfish Food is an excellent choice. 

What’s the best goldfish food to buy?

Top goldfish food

Ultra Fresh Sinking Goldfish Food

What you need to know: This high-quality food enhances the natural color of goldfish, thanks to the shrimp and certain seaweeds.

What you’ll love: Its slow-sinking formula lets fish eat some food on its way down and forage some from the bottom. The added probiotics encourage healthy digestion. The clear water formula keeps tanks from getting cloudy. 

What you should consider: Some complained that it sinks quicker than expected. 

Top goldfish food for the money

TetraFin Goldfish Variety Pellet Food

What you need to know: Since these pellets float, they're great for fish that like to eat flakes. 

What you’ll love: The bite-size pellets are great for goldfish on the smaller end of the spectrum. The "Procare" formula supports immune health, while prebiotic ingredients are great for digestion.  

What you should consider: They contain more filler ingredients than is ideal, though they're not bad for the price.

Worth checking out

New Life Spectrum Large Pellet Goldfish Daily Diet

What you need to know: Thanks to their bigger-than-average size, these pellets are great for medium and large goldfish. 

What you’ll love: They contain quality protein and other nutrients from whole krill, squid and seaweed. They don't include notable filler ingredients, such as soybeans. Since they're sinking pellets, they're great for natural foraging behaviors and can help prevent swim bladder disorder. 

What you should consider: They're best suited for fancy goldfish rather than common varieties. They're too small for pond goldfish.

What to know before you buy goldfish food

Types of goldfish food

You'll find three main types of goldfish food:  

  • Flakes: This type of food is affordable and readily available, but it isn't the best for most goldfish. It's easy to overfeed goldfish with flakes, plus they can create digestive issues when fish gulp air while they eat from the surface of the water. 
  • Sinking pellets: Sinking pellets fall down to the substrate. These allow goldfish to engage in natural foraging behaviors as they search for food on the tank floor. It also keeps them from gulping air as they eat. 
  • Floating pellets: These have more nutritional value, and you're less likely to overfeed your fish with floating pellets. However, fish can still gulp air while they eat them. 

Nutritional requirements

It's a good idea to learn more about the nutritional requirements of your goldfish. 

  • Protein: Goldfish need a good amount of high-quality protein in their diets, predominantly from seafood sources, such as shrimp and krill. Young goldfish that are still growing need roughly 35-40% protein in their diets, while older goldfish need around 35-40%. 
  • Fat: Since goldfish get a lot of energy from fat, fats and other lipids should make up about 5%-10% of a decent goldfish food. 
  • Fiber and carbohydrates: Fiber is important for healthy digestion, and carbohydrates convert into fat deposits that keep fish alive through leaner months. Goldfish require food that contains around 10% of fiber and carbohydrates. 

What to look for in quality goldfish food

Pellet size

If you choose pellet food, most standard-size pellets work for small and medium goldfish. Large pellets are better for medium and large aquarium goldfish. And you'll need extra-large pellets for pond goldfish. 

Clear-water formula

Some fish foods have a clear water formula, which breaks down without clouding up the water. However, you should still have an aquarium with filters in the tank to keep the water clear and clean. 

Color-enhancing

The orange, red and yellow hues of goldfish all come from a carotenoids-rich diet. Fish food with significant quantities of carotenoids will enhance the colors of your goldfish. Look for color-enhancing goldfish foods with carotenoid-rich ingredients, such as krill meal and certain types of algae. 

Probiotics and prebiotics

Some foods contain probiotics, prebiotics or both to enhance the digestive health of your goldfish. Since these fish are prone to digestive issues, such as swim bladder disease, it isn't a bad idea to do what you can to support their digestive system.

How much you can expect to spend on goldfish food

The price depends on various factors, including package size and quality. Expect to pay $2-$15 for an average container of around 2 to 5 ounces. 

FAQ

How often should you feed a goldfish? 

A. You should feed your goldfish small meals two to three times a day, rather than one large meal. This helps prevent overfeeding.

You should space these feeds out roughly evenly and try to stick to the same times each day. A good rule to stick to is to not feed your goldfish more than they can eat in around two minutes. 

What real food can goldfish eat? 

A. Goldfish enjoy varied diets, so you can supplement their commercial food with fresh food. In terms of human food, goldfish can eat a range of veg, including shelled peas with the skin removed, leafy greens, zucchini, carrots and broccoli. Make sure tougher veg is steamed or boiled, diced and peeled. 

You can also feed your fish things like brine shrimp, mealworms and daphnia. Of course, when you supplement their diets with these foods, you need to reduce the number of pellets or flakes you feed them.