Goldfish Food Guide: Flakes, Pellets and How to Feed

November 8, 2026

Goldfish food is easy to overdo. These fish eat eagerly, make a lot of waste and do best on small, varied meals. This guide explains flakes versus pellets, how much and how often to feed, and which goldfish foods we have in stock in Australia.

Key takeaways

• Use a food made for goldfish, not tropical fish flakes.
• Feed only what your goldfish can eat in about two minutes, then take out the rest.
• Flakes float and pellets can sink. Fancy goldfish with short bodies do better on sinking pellets.
• A varied plan beats one food forever: add a few vegetables as a treat.
• Overfeeding is the most common goldfish problem, so smaller meals are safer than bigger ones.

What do goldfish eat?

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are cool-water fish from streams, lakes and ponds across Asia, and the RSPCA Australia says a varied diet gives them the best health. A mix of goldfish flake and small pellets (granules) is ideal. Occasional extras like scalded peas, frozen brine shrimp and daphnia add variety and enrichment.

The RSPCA UK gives a clear warning about the main food. Buy the right type of food for your fish. It says not to buy tropical fish flakes for a goldfish, because the nutrient levels are different.

For example, don’t buy your goldfish tropical fish flakes. This is because they contain different levels of nutrients.

RSPCA UK, What to feed your pet fish

So a good goldfish food plan has three parts: a staple made for goldfish, a small amount of fresh or frozen variety, and a feeding habit that stops waste building up in the tank.

Goldfish flakes vs pellets

Flakes and pellets can both work. The right pick depends on how your goldfish feed, the shape of the fish and how much mess you want to manage. Many keepers use both and rotate them, as the RSPCA Australia suggests.

Why does the RSPCA say fancy goldfish should avoid floating food? It says fish that feed at the surface can swallow air, and swallowing extra air can cause gas bladder problems that affect buoyancy. Sinking pellets avoid that risk.

How much and how often should you feed goldfish?

Trusted sources give slightly different answers on how often to feed, but they agree on the main rule: small amounts, finished quickly. Start with the feeding guide on your pack, then watch your fish and adjust.

Both RSPCA pages warn against overfeeding. The RSPCA Australia says the most common problem with goldfish is overfeeding, which can lead to obesity and other health problems, and uneaten food breaks down and contaminates the tank. The RSPCA UK adds that it is better to underfeed than overfeed.

The most common problem with goldfish is overfeeding, leading to obesity and other health issues. Uneaten food also breaks down and contaminates your aquarium.

RSPCA Australia, How should I care for my goldfish?

If you keep more than one goldfish, feed in two or more spots in the tank so the quieter fish get a share too. Remove anything left after the feeding time.

Goldfish food we stock

These goldfish foods were in stock when we wrote this guide. Each listing is made for goldfish, or lists goldfish on its product page. Check the pack size and feeding guide on the product page, and start with small amounts when you change food.

Goldfish flakes

Flakes are an easy staple for most goldfish tanks. These three are sold for goldfish as a daily food. Use a small pinch and watch how fast your fish finish it.

Goldfish pellets

Pellets give you more choice in how the food behaves in the water. The Nutrafin Max pellets below sink, so they suit goldfish that feed lower in the tank. The colour pellets are a good rotation food alongside a staple.

Browse the full range in our fish food and aquarium and fish products categories. For a wider look at fish foods, see our fish food guide.

How to read a goldfish food label

Labels help you compare goldfish food without guessing. Look at the pellet or flake type, the pack size, the feeding guide and any listed analysis. Here is what the product pages for our in-stock foods tell you, in plain numbers.

A bigger pack is better value only if you will use it in time. RSPCA Australia says to discard food not eaten within one year of opening, so a small pack can suit one or two fish.

Vegetables and other extras

Both RSPCA pages suggest adding fresh variety. This keeps the diet balanced and gives your goldfish something to explore. Keep extras small and take away anything not eaten, just like the main feed.

• Peas: RSPCA Australia says scalded peas can add variety and enrichment.
• Chopped vegetables: RSPCA UK says goldfish love chopped vegetables such as peas and spinach.
• Frozen brine shrimp and daphnia: the RSPCA suggests these as an occasional extra. The RSPCA UK says to feed only small amounts of them to goldfish because they are high in protein.
• Freeze-dried food: RSPCA Australia says to soak it first to avoid digestive upsets.
• Avoid: RSPCA Australia says mammalian fats such as beef heart, meat and offal are poorly digested by fish and should not be fed to goldfish.

Why goldfish food amounts affect water quality

Goldfish food that is not eaten does not just disappear. The RSPCA Australia says fish waste, uneaten food and decaying plants all break down into ammonia. It says ammonia is toxic to fish at 0.1ppm, which is one part in 10 million.

Ammonia is toxic to fish at 0.1ppm (that is 1 part in 10 million!).

RSPCA Australia, Why is water quality important when setting up a fish aquarium?

That is why the feeding rules matter. A new tank takes four to six weeks to build up the helpful bacteria that clear ammonia and nitrite, so be extra careful with portions early on. The RSPCA suggests testing every two to three days in that period, then every one to two weeks.

Goldfish feeding tips that keep water clean

Goldfish are heavy feeders and high waste producers, so food habits and water care go together. The RSPCA Australia recommends weekly partial water changes of 10 to 25% with a gravel clean to remove waste and uneaten food.

• Measure the feed by watching your fish. Stop when the first fish slow down.
• Take out uneaten food after the feeding time.
• Treat tap water before it goes in the tank. Our aquarium water conditioner guide explains why.
• Keep food in a cool place. RSPCA Australia says to discard food not eaten within one year of opening the container.
• Cold water slows digestion. RSPCA Australia says to limit feeding when water falls below 8°C.

Common goldfish feeding mistakes

Most goldfish food problems come from habit, not from the brand. These are the mistakes to watch for. Fixing them costs nothing and helps keep the tank clearer.

• Feeding tropical flakes to goldfish.
• Giving a second or third feed because the fish still look hungry. Goldfish will keep asking.
• Using floating food only for fancy goldfish with short bodies.
• Leaving uneaten food in the tank.
• Using holiday feeding blocks. The RSPCA UK does not recommend them because they release a lot of food quickly and most of it may rot.

Want more pet care tips and our new arrivals? Our monthly pet subscription box is another way to stock up, and you can see the whole range in our aquarium and fish products section.

Specific questions about goldfish food

These are the questions owners ask most about goldfish food. If your fish look unwell, stop feeding extras and ask an aquarium or fish vet for advice.

What is the best goldfish food?

A staple goldfish food, such as a goldfish flake or small pellet, is the best base. Add a few vegetables as a treat. Do not use tropical fish flakes, because the RSPCA UK says the nutrient levels are different.

Are flakes or pellets better for goldfish?

Both can work. The RSPCA Australia suggests a mix of goldfish flake and small pellets. Fancy goldfish with short bodies should have sinking pellets, not flake or floating food.

How often should I feed goldfish?

The RSPCA Australia says once a day, and the RSPCA UK says two or three times a day for pet fish. Whichever you choose, offer only what your goldfish can finish in a couple of minutes.

Can goldfish eat vegetables?

Yes. The RSPCA says goldfish enjoy vegetables such as peas and spinach. Scald or prepare them as advised, chop them small and remove any left over.

How long does goldfish food last once opened?

RSPCA Australia says to store food in a cool place and discard any food not eaten within one year of opening the container.

What if I go on holiday?

The RSPCA UK says to ask a responsible person to check your fish each day and to leave clear feeding instructions. It does not recommend feeding blocks.

References

The advice in this guide on goldfish food comes from the animal welfare sources below. Product details come from each product page on our site. Ask an aquarium or fish vet if your goldfish has special needs.

• RSPCA Australia, How should I care for my goldfish?
• RSPCA UK, What to feed your pet fish
• RSPCA Australia, Why is water quality important when setting up a fish aquarium?
• RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase, Fish advice
• RSPCA UK, Ornamental fish advice

Dr Jay Rollings BSc DVM

Veterinarian – Dr Jay Rollings is a skilled veterinarian with 12 years experience in wildlife research and conservation

During veterinary school, he contributed to projects involving species such as hammerhead sharks, Shark Bay mice, woylies, mulgara, and kangaroos, gaining valuable hands-on experience in wildlife health and preservation.