I just got three goldfish and I decided to look on the internet to make sure I take the best possible care of them. (I read that they can live 20-25 years. Is this true? Anyway, I want to take good enough care of them so I can take them off to college with me in two years So, I found this site and I've been browsing around the forums. Firstly, I just want to say thanks to everyone who's contributed to them, because I've already learned a lot.

Now, onto my question: How often do you feed your goldfish? The bottle on the pellet food I bought says twice a day, as much as they'll eat in 3-5 min. However, the woman at the pet store said feed them every 3-4 days. I've seen that a lot of people feed their fish peas twice a week. Is that instead of pellet or flake food? Also, do peas cover all nutritional needs? What I mean by that is: could I just feed my fish peas and nothing else? Or or they sort of like a suplement. I'm sorry if any of these questions have been answered before. I think maybe what I'm looking for is a suggestion of a sample feeding schedule, using only peas and pellets. In addition (last question, I promise), what other vegetables or fruits will goldfish eat, and how should those foods be prepared and presented to the fish?

Thanks to anyone who replies (or even who took the time to read that whole post .

I feed my guys at least twice a day, sometimes smaller "snacks" if it is my day off. I use flakes, a mix of 3 kinds of floating pellets, and sinking crumbles. At least once a week, I try to feed them peas, dried seaweed or some other vegetable.
Peas are good to feed once or twice a week, but I wouldn't suggest more often because they do not have all of the nutrients a goldie needs. My suggested feeding schedule would be, give them pellets or GF flakes at every feeding. Once a week, perhaps the day before a water change, feed them peas for a meal. The peas can "clean them out" so that's why you would want to do it before the water change

Most goldfish will also eat oranges if you peel them and remove the white inner peel and cut them into chunks. Zuccini is also good if sliced and boiled just long enough to make it soft. Also just about any leafy green vegetable will make good food for a goldie as long as the pieces are small enough to eat.

Thank you so much, for both the info and the welcome.

Much more important than food, how big is your tank and what kind of filtration do u use?

In an aquarium USA magazine (which is by Aquarium Fish Magazine editors) it said that if the tempeture is above 70, feed them twice a day, if it is 60-69, feed them once a day, and if it is 55-59, feed them a small meal once every other day, and don't feed them pellets, bloodworms, or other hard to digest foods at 55-59 degrees. Goldfish should get vegetables 3-4 times a week.

I fed 4 times a day, but in small amount.I fed him pea every other day.I also give him bloodworms as a supplement.