goldfish

Everyday

1. A small orange or gold-coloured fish, often kept as a pet in a tank or pond. tree →
2. "A goldfish bowl" can mean a place where everyone can see what you are doing. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and pet care, goldfish need a large tank with clean water and a filter, the right amount of food (not too much), and their water partly changed regularly. A small round bowl is not a good home. Goldfish can live for over ten years if looked after well. In science, they breathe oxygen dissolved in water through their gills. Myth: goldfish do not have a three-second memory; they can learn and remember for months. Phrases: "goldfish bowl", "goldfish pond", "feed the goldfish".

Examples

• We won a goldfish at the fair. tree →
• Feed the goldfish only a pinch of food. tree →
• Our goldfish swim in a big tank with a filter. tree →
• Goldfish breathe through their gills. tree →
• The pond in the park is full of goldfish. tree →
• My goldfish, Bubbles, is five years old. tree →
• Change some of the tank water every week. tree →
• Three goldfish and two snails live in the tank. tree →
• The raven sat down on the edge of the marble basin and tried to peck the goldfish. tree →

Note

Plural: usually "goldfish" (three goldfish), though "goldfishes" is sometimes used. One word: goldfish. They are a kind of carp. Myth: their memory is longer than three seconds. Overfeeding makes the water dirty and can make fish ill.