AnimalsThe goldfish was bred from a dull-coloured wild carp in China more than a thousand years ago. It is one of the most commonly kept pet fish, and with good care it can live for many years.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Carassius auratus
- Group
- Fish
- Diet
- Omnivore (eats plants and animals)
- Lives in
- Worldwide, with people; from East Asia
- Habitat
- Ponds and aquariums
- A young one is called
- fry
- A group is called
- school or troubling
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
- Order Cypriniformes
- Family Cyprinidae
- Genus Carassius
- Species Carassius auratus
Other members of the family Cyprinidae on this site: rohu.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The goldfish is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.