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Goldfish

Carassius auratus

Fish · family Cyprinidae · order Cypriniformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Goldfish
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Heptagon assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
41 years[3]

The goldfish is a fish in the family Cyprinidae, and it is not native to the United States[4][5]. It is not listed under the Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the goldfish a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. The US Fish and Wildlife Service data show it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. In the states where NatureServe tracks it, the state rank is SNA[7], and NatureServe lists it as introduced (not native) in those places[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[5] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where Goldfish lives

USGS lists the goldfish as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States[5]. NatureServe records it as introduced, not native, in 42 places, including Texas, Florida, New York, Oregon, Washington and Utah[8][7]. The District of Columbia is also on that list[8]. Observers on GBIF report it most in Illinois, Ohio, New York, Maryland and Texas, but those counts follow where people look, not how many fish there are[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: introduced, state rank SNAMEWisconsin: introduced, state rank SNAWIVermont: introduced, state rank SNAVTNew Hampshire: introduced, state rank SNANHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: introduced, state rank SNAMINew York: introduced, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: introduced, state rank SNAMAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNASDIowa: introduced, state rank SNAIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: introduced, state rank SNAPANew Jersey: introduced, state rank SNANJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: introduced, state rank SNAUTColorado: introduced, state rank SNACONebraska: introduced, state rank SNANEMissouri: introduced, state rank SNAMOKentucky: introduced, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: introduced, state rank SNAWVVirginia: introduced, state rank SNAVAMaryland: introduced, state rank SNAMDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: introduced, state rank SNANMKansas: introduced, state rank SNAKSArkansas: introduced, state rank SNAARTennessee: introduced, state rank SNATNNorth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: introduced, state rank SNADCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: introduced, state rank SNALAMississippi: introduced, state rank SNAMSAlabama: introduced, state rank SNAALGeorgia: introduced, state rank SNAGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: introduced, state rank SNATXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (42 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNANot Applicable
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
IowaSNANot Applicable
KansasSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaSNANot Applicable
MaineSNANot Applicable
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MassachusettsSNANot Applicable
MichiganSNANot Applicable
MississippiSNANot Applicable
MissouriSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNANot Applicable
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable
South DakotaSNANot Applicable
TennesseeSNANot Applicable
TexasSNANot Applicable
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontSNANot Applicable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WisconsinSNANot Applicable
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records goldfish in big and medium rivers, creeks, pools and shallow water[10]. They are usually found in still water with plenty of plants, such as lakes, reservoirs, ponds and quiet streams[11]. They live in both clear and cloudy water[11]. They spawn in shallow water, and the eggs are scattered and stick to objects[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

Goldfish eat aquatic insects, molluscs, crustaceans and worms, and they also eat plants[12]. NatureServe lists adults as invertivores (animal eaters that have no backbone) and herbivores (plant eaters)[13]. The typical length recorded is 30 cm (12 in)[14]. The longest recorded lifespan is 41 years in the wild, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[3]. Females lay several lots of eggs, with 8 to 10 days between lots[15]. Hatching takes from 2 to 14 days, and the time depends on temperature[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 30 cm (12 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 41 years (wild)
Food habits[13] Invertivore, Herbivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

Goldfish spawn in spring and summer[15]. NatureServe calls them non-migrant, though populations can differ[16]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in July, August and September[17]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[17].

January: 102 recordsJanFebruary: 102 recordsFebMarch: 325 recordsMarApril: 719 recordsAprMay: 851 recordsMayJune: 893 recordsJunJuly: 1,063 recordsJulAugust: 1,120 recordsAugSeptember: 955 recordsSepOctober: 816 recordsOctNovember: 231 recordsNovDecember: 598 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[17].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January102
February102
March325
April719
May851
June893
July1,063
August1,120
September955
October816
November231
December598

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Goldfish as present in 18 park units[18]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Illinois, Ohio, New York, Maryland, Texas[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the goldfish endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure)[2].
Is the goldfish native to the United States?
No. USGS lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species, and NatureServe records it as introduced in 42 places[5][8][7].
What do goldfish eat?
They eat aquatic insects, molluscs, crustaceans, worms and plants[12].
How big do goldfish get?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 30 cm (12 in)[14].
How long do goldfish live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 41 years in the wild[3]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].

Facts and sources

  1. Goldfish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Goldfish: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 41 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a fish in the family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. USGS lists Goldfish as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Goldfish (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe lists Goldfish as introduced (not native) in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,... NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Goldfish: Illinois, Ohio, New York, Maryland, Texas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Goldfish: Big river, Medium river, Creek, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Goldfish. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Goldfish. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 30 cm (12 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Goldfish. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Goldfish: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. GBIF observation records of Goldfish in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  18. NPSpecies park lists recording Goldfish as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Heptagon assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.