10 Best Food for Goldfish

Goldfish can live for well over a decade. The oldest Goldfish ever recorded was 43 years old! But, the harsh reality is, most never get to live out their full life span.

Why?

Because the majority of owners don’t understand how to properly feed their fish. And honestly, it’s not their fault. There’s too much bad information available.

Many inexperienced goldfish owners think of their fish as pets that they need to simply feed once or twice a day, and that’s it. But, in reality, goldfish require much more care and need to be fed the right foods and treats to keep them happy and healthy in their little goldfish world.

There are hundreds of treatment options on the market for goldfish, so it can be frustrating to find one that is not just tasty to your goldfish but also healthy. We all love our goldfish and want to give them the best life possible, which includes giving them tasty treats from time to time.

In this buying guide, we’ll give you some of the Best Goldfish Food for 2025, along with reviews to help you make the right choice for your goldfish friend.

10 Best Food for Goldfish 

1. Omega One Freeze-Dried Bloodworms

Ideal for both freshwater and marine fish, Omega One Freeze-Dried Bloodworms are packed with high protein and essential nutrients. These bloodworms retain more natural color and nutrients due to Omega’s unique drying process, making them a superior alternative to frozen options. The 0.46 oz jar is easy to use and mess-free, offering a clean feeding experience. Perfect for finicky eaters, this treat enhances color vibrancy and supports growth and vitality. Great for bettas, tetras, and other small tropical species.

Key ingredients:

• Freeze-dried bloodworms
• Rich in protein and natural color enhancers.

Pros:

• Excellent protein source that promotes vibrant coloration.
• Highly palatable for goldfish and ideal as a treat.
• No added fillers or artificial preservatives.

Cons:

• Not a complete diet—should be supplemented with other goldfish food.

Check Price: on Amazon 

2. Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm 250 Count Red Wiggler Live Composting Worm Mix

Uncle Jim’s Red Wiggler Worms are excellent for composting, gardening, and bait. This 250-count starter pack boosts soil aeration and microbial life, resulting in healthier plants. The worms thrive in compost bins and naturally break down organic matter into rich vermicompost. Whether you’re an eco-conscious gardener or looking for live bait, these worms deliver reliable performance. Shipped live and active, they help reduce waste while enriching your garden soil with essential nutrients.

Key ingredients:

• Live red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida)
• Organic compost dwellers.

Pros:

• Natural live food that stimulates natural hunting behavior.
• Rich in protein and essential fats.
• Can be cultured for long-term use.

Cons:

• Not a practical everyday option for all aquarists.

Check Price: on Amazon

3. Hatortempt 5 lbs Protein-rich non-GMO dry worms

These 5 lb organic, non-GMO dried mealworms are a high-protein treat ideal for chickens, wild birds, and reptiles. Packed with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, they promote egg production and feather health in poultry. The large quantity ensures long-term feeding value, especially in backyard farms. These mealworms are clean, shelf-stable, and free from additives—making them a healthy alternative to live feed. They also attract wild birds like bluebirds and cardinals.

Key ingredients:

• 100% dried mealworms (organic, non-GMO).

Pros:

• High in protein and fat—great for boosting energy.
• Long shelf life and easy to store.
• Can be used as a supplemental treat for large goldfish.

Cons:

• Too rich as a staple food for goldfish.

Check Price: on Amazon  

4. Repashy Super Gold – Goldfish and Koi Gel Food

Repashy Super Gold is a premium gel-based formula tailored for goldfish and koi. With high digestibility and low waste output, it supports optimal growth, coloration, and digestion. The 12 oz jar prepares multiple servings, offering flexibility and control over feeding. Made with quality ingredients like krill, spirulina, and plant matter, this food reduces water pollution and is ideal for fancy goldfish and pond koi. Fish loves its natural flavor and soft texture.

Key ingredients:

• Whole krill, squid
• Spirulina
• Algae, and essential vitamins/minerals

Pros:

• Scientifically formulated for goldfish digestion and growth.
• Sinks slowly and avoids air ingestion issues common with flakes or pellets.
• Gel format reduces water pollution.

Cons:

• Requires preparation (mixing and setting).

Check Price: on Amazon  

5. Blue Ridge Fish Food, Platinum Professional Formula 3/16″ Floating Pellet, Koi, and Goldfish

Blue Ridge’s Platinum Pro Formula is a top-tier floating pellet designed for koi and goldfish. The 3/16” pellets are easy to digest and perfect for all pond sizes. With a balanced blend of protein, vitamins, and probiotics, this 4.5 lb bag enhances color, supports immune health, and reduces pond waste. Made in the USA, it floats well for easy surface feeding and monitoring. It’s an excellent year-round diet for champion-quality koi and healthy pond ecosystems.

Key ingredients:

• Fish meal
• Wheat germ
• Spirulina
• Shrimp meal
• Multivitamins.

Pros:

• Designed for both goldfish and koi—high versatility.
• Floating pellets encourage active feeding.
• Enriched with probiotics for digestive health.

Cons:

• Pellet size may be too large for juvenile or small goldfish.

Check Price: on Amazon  

6. Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance

TetraPond Koi Vibrance is a well-balanced floating pond food ideal for koi and goldfish. The soft sticks are easy to digest, making them perfect for all pond temperatures. This 3.31-lb bag offers essential nutrients with stabilized vitamin C, promoting vibrant color and immune health. The floating design encourages surface feeding, which makes monitoring intake simple. It’s a great choice for smaller ponds and casual hobbyists looking for quality and value.

Key ingredients:

• Wheat starch
• Fish meal
• Corn gluten
• Soybean oil
• Vitamins (C, E, B12), and color enhancers (astaxanthin)

Pros:

• Soft texture makes it easy for goldfish to chew and digest
• Enhances natural red and yellow coloration
• Floats well, reducing waste and making feeding easy

Cons:

• Not ideal for colder water feeding due to the wheat-based

Check Price: on Amazon  

7. Blue Ridge Fish Food [50lb], Platinum Professional Formula 3/16″ Floating Pellet, Koi and Goldfish

TetraPond Koi Vibrance is a well-balanced floating pond food ideal for koi and goldfish. The soft sticks are easy to digest, making them perfect for all pond temperatures. This 3.31-lb bag offers essential nutrients with stabilized vitamin C, promoting vibrant color and immune health. The floating design encourages surface feeding, which makes monitoring intake simple. It’s a great choice for smaller ponds and casual hobbyists looking for quality and value.

Key ingredients:

• Fish meal
• Wheat germ
• Spirulina
• Shrimp meal
• Vitamin C and digestive enzymes

Pros:

• Designed for high growth and immune support
• Fortified with probiotics for better digestion
• Excellent value for large pond keepers

Cons:

• The pellet size may be too large for small goldfish

Check Price: on Amazon  

8.  Blue Ridge Fish Food Pellets, Koi and Goldfish Growth Formula, Mini Floating Pellet

Targeted at juvenile koi and goldfish, this 25lb Mini Growth Formula features smaller-sized pellets that are protein-rich and highly digestible. Blue Ridge formulates this feed to accelerate growth while maintaining water clarity. It’s an ideal transition food post-hatching, helping younger fish build body mass and color intensity. A reliable choice for seasonal feeding or daily use in actively growing ponds.

Key ingredients:

• Fish meal
• Wheat germ
• Spirulina, and essential vitamins and minerals

Pros:

• Mini pellets are ideal for smaller goldfish and juveniles
• High protein supports rapid growth and vibrant colors
• Floats well with minimal clouding

Cons:

• Not suitable for winter feeding due to the protein-rich formula

Check Price: on Amazon  

9. Blue Ridge Fish Food, Platinum Professional Formula 3/16″ Floating Pellet, Koi, and Goldfish

This 14lb bag of 3/16″ pellets from Blue Ridge is a premium option tailored for mature koi and goldfish. Its Platinum Pro Formula includes color enhancers, probiotics, and essential nutrients for vitality and vibrant scales. These medium-sized floating pellets are ideal for daily feeding in moderate to large ponds. Great for fish keepers focused on both aesthetics and health.

Key ingredients:

• Fish meal
• Wheat germ
• Brewer’s yeast
• Spirulina and vitamins

Pros:

• Medium-sized pellets suit a wide range of pond fish
• Contains immune boosters and digestive aids
• Clean water formula with minimal waste

Cons:

• May require soaking for smaller fish

Check Price: on Amazon  

10.  Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance

Offering the same benefits as the 3.31-lb variant, this 5.18-lb version of TetraPond Koi Vibrance is more economical for frequent feeding. It supports vibrant coloration and immune strength while being gentle on digestion. The soft, floating sticks encourage surface activity, which helps observe fish behavior and ensures food doesn’t go to waste. A dependable, cost-effective food for vibrant, healthy pond fish.

Key ingredients:

• Corn starch
• Fish meal
• Soy protein
• Shrimp meal and color enhancers (carotenoids)

Pros:

• Economical bulk pack for multi-fish ponds
• Enhances red and orange tones
• Floating sticks stay intact, reducing debris

Cons:

• Not as nutrient-dense as premium brands

Check Price: on Amazon  

Buyer’s Guide

Ingredients:  Treats should have as few ingredients as possible, so read labels carefully. The majority of snacks just have one component; however, some may contain two or three components for extra nourishment. Less is more when it comes to the materials used to make snacks for your goldfish, since unnecessary additives may contaminate the tank water and drive your fish to overeat without providing them with any real benefit.

Source: If you’re giving a live treat, it’s best if you know where it came from. Farm-raised insects, on the other hand, are less likely to have been exposed to pesticides and other toxins that might harm your fish. If you catch crickets in your yard or dig up earthworms from your garden, you run the risk of introducing harmful chemicals to your aquarium. Instead of not knowing where the worms have been dining, you may rest easier if you keep them in a compost pile or tend a pesticide-free garden.

Nutritional Content: Fish of varying ages have diverse dietary requirements, and being overweight is detrimental to a fish’s health and lifespan. Fattier treats are more likely to cause weight gain and should be given in moderation. Breeding fish, young fish, and fish that are recuperating from sickness will all benefit from high-protein treats. The most important thing to keep in mind is that treats should only be given occasionally, and not as a replacement for the animal’s regular food. The best method to guarantee your fish is receiving all the nutrients it needs for peak health is to feed it food that is specifically formulated to act as a major nutritional source for fish.

Sinking/Floating:  Some fish, like fancy goldfish, are more prone to swim bladder issues and should be fed sinking meals to prevent them from gulping air. To get to their food, some fish swim to the surface, while others are timid and remain below in the water column. By learning what kind of treats your fish is like, you can give it something that will benefit it.

Freeze-dried: Frozen: These meals are freeze-dried, meaning they’ve been dehydrated by being frozen and then having the ice removed. After soaking in water for a while, these snacks will swell. Freeze-dried meals are a healthy alternative since they retain many of the nutrients found in fresh foods while posing less of a risk from parasites and harmful chemicals.

Frozen: Cold storage involves freezing the food in ice cube trays. While thawing these meals first is ideal for many fish, some won’t mind eating right from the floating ice cube. When possible, stock up on frozen goods at a shop close to home. This will let you transport frozen goods safely from the store to your home freezer.

Live: Fish love eating live things since they are entertaining and nutritious. The introduction of harmful chemicals like lawn chemicals and pesticides may be avoided if you know where your living foods come from.

Processed: From a health perspective, processed snacks are the worst option. The fillers in these meals are what give them their distinctive forms, such as sticks, pellets, and flakes. While processed foods may last longer in the pantry than fresh items, they also tend to be higher in calories from fat and lower in nutrients when compared to fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried options.

Bloodworms: Bloodworms are the larvae of midge flies, and their native habitat is slow-moving, shallow water. Bloodworms are consumed by a wide variety of aquatic carnivores, including fish, snails, turtles, crabs, and frogs.

Red worms/earthworms: In the world of earthworms, the red worm is a subspecies that is known for its tiny size and exceptional composting abilities. They are a suitable food source for fish of medium to large sizes due to their high nutritional density and manageable size. Nightcrawlers are the other common species of earthworm, and they are bigger and better at aerating soil than decomposing trash.

Shrimp/krill: Small freshwater shrimp are a fantastic source of protein and fiber for fish because of their high fiber and protein content. Goldfish will consume whatever shrimp they can fit in their jaws, including cherry shrimp and ghost shrimp, even though they are often offered to fish freeze-dried or frozen.

Black soldier fly larvae: The grub-like black soldier fly larvae are excellent at decomposing and recycling organic matter. Even dead fish will be composted along with food trash. They are high in healthy fats and nutrients, making them ideal for larger fish.

Daphnia: Daphnia is not an insect despite their common name of “water fleas.” Small crustaceans like this exist as a kind of plankton. You may buy daphnia in a variety of forms, including live, freeze-dried, and frozen, and there are even kits available for cultivating your daphnia.

Mosquito Larvae: Goldfish are pleased to take care of the mosquito larvae that populate ponds and other bodies of water in warm climates. You can capture mosquito larvae to feed to the fish in your tank if you are sure of the quality of the water, but mosquito larvae are often only found in stagnant, low-quality water. Those who want to feed their fish mosquito larvae may buy them frozen or freeze-dried from specialty stores.

Mealworms/super worms: Mealworms and super worms, both named after fictional characters, are the larvae of several species of beetles. In many pet shops that also sell reptile supplies, you may find them both alive and freeze-dried.

Waxed worms: The larvae of wax moths are a popular delicacy for reptiles. They may be bought fresh at the pet store or frozen and dried.

Crickets: You can get live crickets at most pet shops, and you can also find them freeze-dried. Even though crickets are packed with protein, most species are too big to be given to fish fry or smaller fish.

FAQs:

Q. What’s the best thing to feed a goldfish?

A mixture of specialized goldfish flakes and granules is a good staple diet. Ideally, supplement this with live brine shrimp and a mixture of frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and veggie mix. The diet can also be supplemented by scalded peas, small invertebrates, and duckweed.

Q. Are pellets or flakes better for goldfish?

Pellets. Almost all goldfish diets will start with the pellet vs. flake debate. Very small fish will likely need to start with flakes, but as soon as your fish graduate to having a mouth that can handle a small pellet, it is better for their overall health.

Q. Is it OK to feed goldfish once a day?

Until they are one year old, you should feed goldfish 2 or 3 times per day. Once they are older than one year, you should feed goldfish just once per day. There are, however, a number of factors that could lead you to adjust this schedule. Also, the type and amount of goldfish food you feed your goldfish are important.

Q. How often should goldfish be fed?

How Often Should You Feed Your Goldfish? The general rule to follow is that you should feed your goldfish 2 or 3 times per day.

Q. How do I know if my goldfish is hungry?

You will see the goldfish looking around for food, and you will visibly know that your fish is hungry. This is a mild sign of hunger. If you notice this happening often, you may want to adjust the amount of food you are giving your goldfish or the times that you are giving it to them.

Conclusion

Overfeeding is a major contributor to fish mortality, so remember that if you only remember one thing from this essay. If your fish are swarming the front of the tank pleading for food, don’t fall for it. They are not dying of starvation. Always eat at the same time of day, and make sure everyone in the family knows they need to do the same.

My philosophy is that little is more. Daily, for 30-60 seconds, feed your Goldfish high-quality gel food and add them some greens. The gel food’s high-quality components make for a healthy staple diet, while the greens round things off by providing additional fiber and beneficial nutrients.

When you get your routine down, it’s time to start rewarding your pal with some tasty goodies on occasion. If you’re new to caring for goldfish or are just feeling overwhelmed by all of the available alternatives, these evaluations should serve as a useful resource. I really think this information will be useful for you.

Best of luck to you and your fish!

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