how long does it take for a goldfish to reach it full size?

Answer 1

They grow all their life but they do the most growing the first few years of their life, so they should be pretty big by the time they are a couple years old.

They don't grow to the size of their tank. If they are stuffed in a tiny bowl they won't stay baby sized, they won't reach their full size either though, if they actually stay alive they will become stunted and eventually die from that anyway. If they are in a 5000 gallon pond all to them self they won't grow more then they should but they will be able to actually grow to their full size.

Answer 2

Let's clear up a few things, I hate the thumbs down people get because others find a fact too hard to believe and so assume it must be wrong.

Mabe is absolutely correct - these fish grow all of their lives, so technically it takes until they die to reach their full size. It's also true that the bigger and older they get, the slower they grow, and at a certain point it's so slow you may as well say their growth is done, but the fact stands that they are still growing.

And a goldfish will grow to the size of their tank - but this isn't nature being clever, it's a fish getting stunted in growth, health, and ultimately, life. Whether you think it's worth all of this to keep it in a bowl is a personal decision, some people place the life of the creature higher then others.

Answer 3

It depends on the living conditions, for the best conditions possible, as in clean healthy water, plants, and large living area with correct lighting it could take anywhere from 6 months to a year for a hatchling to grow to full size which depending on the type of goldfish could be around 6-8 inches. There is a secret though, if you feed them a food with more protein it may become a bigger goldfish even faster such as baby shrimp or any other turtle food. But your fish might only live a few years this way, If you want it to outlive you and probably your children then go with the healthier way.

Answer 4

It depends on the variety. But goldfish (like the genetics of people)may only grow to a maximum length of about 23 inches (59 cm) and a maximum weight of about 9.9 pounds (4.5 kg), although this is rare; few goldfish reach even half this size. In optimal conditions, goldfish may live more than 20 years (the world record is 49 years), but most household goldfish generally live only six to eight years.

P.S. -- I think it's just a myth that goldfish growth is dependent on the size of their bowl, i.e., their environment. Think about it: A goldfish in a pond or lake is not going to get as HUGE as a whale because it is constantly growing in relationship to the amount of water it is in. :)

Answer 5

In the healthiest conditions, a goldfish will grow 5 inches a year, reaching its potential full size in 3-5 years.

Answer 6

I had a goldfish who lived ten years in a ten gallon aquarium , he was a regular goldfish who grew to about 7 inches from nose to tail.

Answer 7

if in a correct pond/tank size and with good water conditions it should grow at a good steady pace. around 2 years or so. if you consider a fancy can get from 8-12" and a common 12-14".
their full life span can exceed 30 years.

Answer 8

the size of the fish usually depends on the size of the tank...(i.e.) a ten gallon won't get them too big....a fifty gallon may get them a good size....if you want big goldfish try putting them in a pond

Answer 9

goldfish will grow as large as their environment allows. if you are keeping them in a fish bowl, they are probably at their max size already. if they are in a pond, they will reach several pounds over the next few years.

Answer 10

with enough room, a goldfish will never stop growing.