A goldfish in a bowl looks harmless. You see them in restaurants, in shops and at funfairs. But is a bowl really a home?
Why play this game?
Goldfish are often bought as an easy pet, for a child or as decoration. Few people know what such a fish needs. In this game you find out for yourself. You will also come across the misconceptions about goldfish that are going around. Afterwards you can make a better choice. Or you can explain it to someone who wants a goldfish.
How it works
You get a goldfish. You make six choices: the tank, the company, the furnishing, the spot, the care of the water and where the fish comes from. After each choice you see what it means for the fish. At the end you see how your goldfish lives. It takes a few minutes.
Sources: Flemish government (Belgium), Huisdierinfo: Goudvis (in Dutch; aquarium at least one metre long, fishbowl unsuitable, group of three or more, 15 to 40 years, pond at least one metre deep, 10 to 20 °C, change a fifth of the water every week); Guinness World Records: Oldest goldfish ever (Tish, 43 years); Practical Fishkeeping: Do fish have a three second memory?; the example from IJmuiden comes from the article by Ton Dekker and Marijke Santen (1999). Consulted in November 2026. Game created in November 2026.
