How big do goldfish get?

[BooGiMaN]

My lil kid and I were out doign the father son thign at a carnival and ended up winnign a goldfish.
My wife and I decided we would teach him responsiblity so we have him feed it accordingly and have it in a bowl in his room with an oxygen pump.
I have noticed recently is grown quite a bit, I would estimate it to be about 5 or 6 inches nowwhereas when we borught it home it was maybe 2 or 3.
I am wondering how big it will get?
I would like to know if i am going to need a full fledged aquarium, if so maybe thats somethign else i will get my kid for xmas.

I just dont remember them gettign this big when my mom had soem when i was a kid.

 

[Bignate603]

Goldfish will continue to grow until they reach they the size dictated by their container/food source. It is my understanding (from AP bio) that they actually secrete a hormone that breaks down at a specific rate. As it grows it produces more. This also regulates it's growth, if the concentration is too high it will stop growing. This keeps it from outgrowing it's environment. Just let it keep growing, it will reach it's equilibrium sooner or later, then stop growing.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Maybe it's a Koi (Coi?). Some goldfish get pretty big. If your kid likes it, get him a cheap aquarium and add a couple more compatible fishes. The only drawback to pet fish is when you take them outside to play. They can't seem to jump high enough to catch the Frizbee.

 

[Wallydraigle]

If you plan to keep it alive, get an aquarium. They can get over a foot long if they stay alive long enough, and live for over twenty years. Fish grow as long as they live, so goldfish have a long time to grow.

 

[KenGr]

Goldfish are carp. They will grow as long as they live and the available food and space allow. Basically reptiles and many fish never stop growing, they just slow down or are limited by the environment. I know cheap goldfish put in a garden pond get to be 6 inches to a foot long fairly quickly. I'd say you're overfeeding the sucker if it's growing that fast in a tank.

 

[notfred]

If you give it enough space (a pond) it'll easily get a foot long or bigger.

 

[BooGiMaN]

Wow i didnt know theyd grow that big, the evil side of me is telling me to grow and attack fish! heheheh

so Koi fish are just big goldfish? What makes them so expensive?

what would be compatible fish for an aquarium?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
Wow i didnt know theyd grow that big, the evil side of me is telling me to grow and attach fish! heheheh

so Koi fish are just big goldfish?

No, they are similar, but different, species of fish

What makes them so expensive?

They're like purebred dogs

what would be compatible fish for an aquarium?

Almsot anything that can live in the same temperature water and isn't big enough to eat the goldfish.

 

[KenGr]

The exotic Koi breeders try to tell you how smart they are etc. but I think they are just pretty carp.

When the fish get big they are more fun. I've had garden pond goldfish that will take food from your hand. Never got one to take any interest in a frisbee though, or behave on a leash.

 

[Aquaman]

Meet Bruce the Goldfish

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[BooGiMaN]

Man that bruce is one big mofo!!

how deep and big was ur pond KenGr. I have a small waterfall in the corner of my yard the previous owners put in, hmmmm i wonder if i can expand that basin to fit big goldfish.

I have always wanted a salt water aquarium, but i have been told they are a major pain to maintain as well as expen$ive.

 

[spaceman]

woah this is one big ass goldfish!

 

[spaceman]

darn same pic

 

[Harvey]

Big goldfish are the same as carp. Most of the decorative red-gold variety are known as koi. Here's some info.