Should you feed goldfish in a tank during winter?

Goldfish are coldwater fish, which means they can survive in water with temperatures below 72°F. However, their winter activity is slowed down considerably, and as such they require less or no food during this time. Most keepers recommend skipping one day of feeding to allow the fish’s digestive tracts rest while clearing themselves of waste they may not be able to expel at a colder temperature. However, if water temperatures are consistently hovering between 72° and 78°, you can feed goldfish less, but never remove food completely; their digestive systems never completely stop working.

Feeding in Winter:

It is also possible to skip feeding your fish for more days at a time, especially since your fish should be eating less already (as previously stated). But before doing this, we highly suggest checking that the temperature in your tank will not be exceeding 72°F while you’re out or sleeping. We also recommend not changing your goldfish’s water before leaving for vacation, as the new incoming water may be colder and this can cause issues. Instead, we recommend doing a large water change before you go, and if you feel the need to change water more while away, try to siphon only a little dirty water out of the bottom of the tank rather than replace a substantial amount. This will still allow for fresh, oxygenated water to reach your fish.