Many people think fish food is just fish food, but there is quite a bit of science behind it, and choosing a food that’s healthy for your pet may be more challenging than you think. There are many brands available, and they vary quite a bit in the ingredients to use as well as the feeding method.
We’ve chosen 10 different brands of fish food specially formulated for goldfish to review for you so you can get an idea of what kind of food you would like to feed your pets. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each so you can see if there’s any brand you like better than the rest. We’ve also included short buyers guide where we discuss what makes hey goldfish food good or bad.
Join us while we take a close look at goldfish food and discuss ingredients, floating versus non-floating, what foods enhance color, and more to help you make an educated purchase.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Aqueon Goldfish Flaked Fish Food
Natural ingredients
Added vitamins and minerals
No artificial colors
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Best Value
Wardley Goldfish Small Floating Pellet Fish Food
Floating pellet food
No artificial colors
Clean water
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Premium Choice
Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance Goldfish Food
Natural color enhancers
Easy digestion
Less waste
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Omega One Medium Sinking Goldfish Pellets Fish Food
Rich in omega 3 and 6
Contains less starch
100% meal free sinking pellets
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TetraFin Floating Variety Pellets Goldfish Food
High protein fish meal
Encourages foraging
ProCare blend
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The 10 Best Goldfish Foods
These are the ten brands of goldfish food we will review for you today.
The only thing we didn’t like about Aqueon Goldfish Flaked Fish Food was that the flakes were extremely small and almost dust.
The Aqueon Goldfish Flaked Fish Food is our choice as the best overall goldfish food. This brand features all-natural ingredients, and those ingredients create its striking color. There are no artificial colors or preservatives, but there are added vitamins and minerals that provide a balanced diet for your goldfish. Our fish hurried to the top to eat this food, and it didn’t cloud the water.
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Pros
Natural ingredients
Added vitamins and minerals
No artificial colors
Will not cloud water
Provides a balanced diet
Cons
Small flakes
There was nothing bad to say about Wardley Goldfish Small Floating Pellet Fish Food except that some of our fish seem to stay away from the larger pellets and allow them to settle to the bottom of the tank where they would sometimes get wasted.
Natural ingredients
Added vitamins and minerals
No artificial colors
Will not cloud water
Provides a balanced diet
- Natural ingredients
- Added vitamins and minerals
- No artificial colors
- Will not cloud water
- Provides a balanced diet
Small flakes
- Small flakes
Wardley Goldfish Small Floating Pellet Fish Food is our pick for the best goldfish food for the money. This brand features floating pellets that contain no artificial colors or preservatives. It won’t turn your water cloudy or leave particles floating around in the water. It has a high concentration of vitamin C to help keep your fish healthy, and it didn’t have a strong odor like some other brands.
Pros
Floating pellet food
No artificial colors
Clean water
High vitamin C
Cons
Large pellets
The only downside to Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance Goldfish Food was that some of the pieces were too large for the smaller fish to eat, even after the water softened them a bit.
Floating pellet food
No artificial colors
Clean water
High vitamin C
- Floating pellet food
- No artificial colors
- Clean water
- High vitamin C
Large pellets
- Large pellets
Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance Goldfish Food Is our premium choice of goldfish food. This high-end food has ingredients that help naturally enhance the colors of your goldfish. It also contains protein from fish meal, and the flakes naturally soften in the water, which helps make them easier to eat and digest. This food does not cloud your water and our fish seem to really enjoy it.
Pros
Natural color enhancers
Easy digestion
Less waste
Cons
Sticks can be too large for young Koi
Natural color enhancers
Easy digestion
Less waste
- Natural color enhancers
- Easy digestion
- Less waste
Sticks can be too large for young Koi
- Sticks can be too large for young Koi
- Omega One Medium Sinking Goldfish Pellets Fish Food
Check Latest PriceOmega One Medium Sinking Goldfish Pellets Fish Food Is a brand formulated to help with sensitive goldfish digestion. It features a high amount of omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids to help build the immune system in your fish much the same way these fatty acids do in humans. It also contains less starch than many other brands, and it brings out your fish’s is natural pigments. These pellets sink to the bottom for easy consumption.
Most of our fish seem to like Omega One Medium Sinking Goldfish Pellets Fish Food, and the only problem we had was that any food left on the bottom would dissolve and cloud the water. The cloud would then linger for a long time.
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Omega One Medium Sinking Goldfish Pellets Fish Food Is a brand formulated to help with sensitive goldfish digestion. It features a high amount of omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids to help build the immune system in your fish much the same way these fatty acids do in humans. It also contains less starch than many other brands, and it brings out your fish’s is natural pigments. These pellets sink to the bottom for easy consumption.
Pros
Rich in omega 3 and 6
Formulated especially for sensitive Goldfish digestion
Contains less starch
100% meal-free sinking pellets
Cons
Undigested pellets can cloud the tank water
The only negative thing we can say about TetraFin Floating Variety Pellets Goldfish Food was that it was clear some of our fish preferred other food.
Rich in omega 3 and 6
Formulated especially for sensitive Goldfish digestion
Contains less starch
100% meal-free sinking pellets
- Rich in omega 3 and 6
- Formulated especially for sensitive Goldfish digestion
- Contains less starch
- 100% meal-free sinking pellets
Undigested pellets can cloud the tank water
- Undigested pellets can cloud the tank water
TetraFin Floating Variety Pellets Goldfish Food Is a high-protein fish meal that encourages foraging by falling to the bottom, and the ProCare blend helped boost their immune system while enhancing their colors naturally. We didn’t have any problems with cloudy water.
Pros
High-protein fish meal
Encourages foraging
ProCare blend
Cons
Some fish don’t care for the taste
- Marineland Color-Enhancing Goldfish Flakes
Check Latest PriceMarineland Color-Enhancing Goldfish Flakes are based on a formula to enhance the natural color of your fish, especially in the red-orange part of the color spectrum. The round pellets are suited to aquariums, and the high protein diet will provide your fish with plenty of energy. They cook the flakes in a special low-heat process that preserves more of the nutrients, and they won’t breakdown and cloud your water.
They only downside we experienced while reviewing Marineland Color-Enhancing Goldfish Flakes was that the flakes tended to be too hard for some of our fish.
High-protein fish meal
Encourages foraging
ProCare blend
- High-protein fish meal
- Encourages foraging
- ProCare blend
Some fish don’t care for the taste
- Some fish don’t care for the taste
Marineland Color-Enhancing Goldfish Flakes are based on a formula to enhance the natural color of your fish, especially in the red-orange part of the color spectrum. The round pellets are suited to aquariums, and the high protein diet will provide your fish with plenty of energy. They cook the flakes in a special low-heat process that preserves more of the nutrients, and they won’t breakdown and cloud your water.
Pros
Naturally, enhance color
High protein
Round flakes
Doesn’t cloud water
Cons
Hard flakes
Our fish did seem to like this brand, and they ate it regularly. Our main complaint about API Sinking Pellets Goldfish Food is that not all the pellets sink, and quite a few remain floating on the surface. We also feel that the Palace are a little too small for most goldfish.
Naturally, enhance color
High protein
Round flakes
Doesn’t cloud water
- Naturally, enhance color
- High protein
- Round flakes
- Doesn’t cloud water
Hard flakes
- Hard flakes
API Sinking Pellets Goldfish Food Provide your goldfish with a complete and balanced diet. Ingredients like alfalfa, spirulina, and marigold help bring out the colors of your goldfish, while yeast and garlic help keep them healthy. The special blend helps reduce waste and bring down the ammonia level in the water.
Pros
A complete and balanced diet
Bend of alfalfa, spirulina, and marigold
Yeast and Garlic
Reduces waste
Cons
Don’t all sink
Small pellets
- Hikari Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish
Check Latest PriceHikari Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish brand Provides balanced nutrition for your goldfish. It uses all high-quality ingredients and contains omega-3 and -6, as well as a full list of probiotics to keep your pet’s gut healthy. While we were reviewing this brand, most of our fish seemed to like it.
While we were reviewing Hikari Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish food, we found it to cloud the water quickly, and it has a terrible smell that lingers in the water long after use. These pellets were also very small, not much larger than sand.
A complete and balanced diet
Bend of alfalfa, spirulina, and marigold
Yeast and Garlic
Reduces waste
- A complete and balanced diet
- Bend of alfalfa, spirulina, and marigold
- Yeast and Garlic
- Reduces waste
Don’t all sink
Small pellets
- Don’t all sink
- Small pellets
Hikari Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish brand Provides balanced nutrition for your goldfish. It uses all high-quality ingredients and contains omega-3 and -6, as well as a full list of probiotics to keep your pet’s gut healthy. While we were reviewing this brand, most of our fish seemed to like it.
Pros
Fish like it
Probiotics
Balanced nutrition
Cons
Small pellets
Clouds water
Bad smell
- Blue Ridge Goldfish Pellets
Check Latest PriceBlue Ridge Fish Food Pellets Her professional-grade floating food that contains a higher level of protein to help speed up growth and development Revere fish. They also contain Spirulina and Canthaxanthin that are known to help with color enhancements. Probiotic immune stimulants help keep your fish free of disease and promote longer life.
The primary downside to Blue Ridge Fish Food Pellets is that it tends to cloud the water. We found that it often has a musty smell, and many of our fish avoid this food.
Fish like it
Probiotics
Balanced nutrition
- Fish like it
- Probiotics
- Balanced nutrition
Small pellets
Clouds water
Bad smell
- Small pellets
- Clouds water
- Bad smell
Blue Ridge Fish Food Pellets Her professional-grade floating food that contains a higher level of protein to help speed up growth and development Revere fish. They also contain Spirulina and Canthaxanthin that are known to help with color enhancements. Probiotic immune stimulants help keep your fish free of disease and promote longer life.
Pros
Professional floating food
Higher protein level
Spirulina and Canthaxanthin
Probiotic immune stimulant
Cons
Musty smell
Clouds water
Fish don’t eat
- Fluval Bug Bites Pellets
Check Latest PriceFluval Bug Bites Pellets is a unique brand of fish food that features black soldier fly larvae as its main ingredient. Black soldier fly larvae are a nutritious ingredient for fish, and up to 40% of this product’s ingredients are black soldier fly larvae. It’s very high in protein food that contains plenty of Omega fatty acids as well. Another interesting thing about this food is that it’s processed in small batches to preserve quality and maintain consistency.
The downside to Fluval Bug Bites Pellets is that they don’t sink very easily, and most pellets will stay on the top. Floating pellets will require your goldfish to gulp air as they attempt to grab the pellet from the surface, which can lead to bloating and other health issues in your pet. Also, these pallets are quite large, and if you have smaller goldfish, they may not be able to eat this food.
Professional floating food
Higher protein level
Spirulina and Canthaxanthin
Probiotic immune stimulant
- Professional floating food
- Higher protein level
- Spirulina and Canthaxanthin
- Probiotic immune stimulant
Musty smell
Clouds water
Fish don’t eat
- Musty smell
- Clouds water
- Fish don’t eat
Fluval Bug Bites Pellets is a unique brand of fish food that features black soldier fly larvae as its main ingredient. Black soldier fly larvae are a nutritious ingredient for fish, and up to 40% of this product’s ingredients are black soldier fly larvae. It’s very high in protein food that contains plenty of Omega fatty acids as well. Another interesting thing about this food is that it’s processed in small batches to preserve quality and maintain consistency.
Pros
40% black soldier fly larvae
High in protein
High Omega fatty acids
Processed in small batches
Cons
Don’t sink
Large pellets
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Goldfish Food
Let’s take a look at what’s important for your fish food to provide your goldfish to remain healthy and happy.
40% black soldier fly larvae
High in protein
High Omega fatty acids
Processed in small batches
- 40% black soldier fly larvae
- High in protein
- High Omega fatty acids
- Processed in small batches
Don’t sink
Large pellets
- Don’t sink
- Large pellets
Floating vs Non-Floating Food
You can break fish food into two categories, floating and non-floating. In most cases, we’re going to want the non-floating type of fish food because floating fish food causes your goldfish to gulp air as it tries to grab flakes of food. Gulping air can cause bloating in your goldfish which can lead to other health problems as well. It’s best to let them pick the food up off the ground I need it that way.
The downside to non-floating food is that it tends to sit on the bottom, where it breaks up and makes your water cloudy.
Ingredients
As we would for any of our pets, we want our fish food to contain high-quality ingredients. First requires a good source of protein, which usually comes from peas or other types of fish, but it can come from several sources, and we have one brand in our list that uses fly larvae.
Probiotics in Omega fatty acids can also benefit your goldfish, and you should seek out foods that include these nutrients. Your goldfish will also benefit from some vitamins, primarily Vitamin C, and you should seek out food that supplies this nutrient as well.
- Common Goldfish: Care Guide, Varieties, Lifespan & More (with Pictures)
Color Enhancement
Most people like to enhance the color of their goldfish, and you can usually improve color by modifying the ingredients in their food. Most color-enhancing foods use carotenoids to enhance the orange color of goldfish, and this chemical is in carrots, peas, and several other vegetables. If you want to enhance the color of your goldfish, we recommend looking for food that contains carotenoids.
Conclusion
When choosing your goldfish food, we recommend a brand that uses all-natural ingredients without any preservatives. You also want to look for a brand that does not cloud your water to reduce the amount of maintenance you need to perform each week. After that, the choice is more personal about whether to buy color-enhancing or floating food. We highly recommend our top choice. The Aqueon Goldfish Flaked Fish Food is an all-natural brand that won’t cloud your water. Our fish enjoyed it, and they lived a long time while eating it. We also highly recommend our premium choice. Tetra Pond Koi Vibrance Goldfish Food is an easy-to-digest food with color-enhancing ingredients.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading over our reviews and found them helpful. Hopefully, you have found a brand that you will consider using. If you continue shopping, we hope that our buyer’s guide will help you sort through the many brands available. If you have found it useful, please share this guide to the best goldfish food on Facebook and Twitter.
For more reviews on fish food check out these posts:
- Best Food for Clownfish
- Best Saltwater Fish Foods
- Best Food for Angelfish
- Best Sinking Fish Foods
Featured Image Credit: Rabbitmindphoto, Shutterstock
