A goldfish is a small, orange fish that people keep as pets in bowls or aquariums. Goldfish were originally bred in China over a thousand years ago from wild carp, making them one of the oldest domesticated pets. Though most goldfish are bright orange or gold-colored (which is how they got their name), they can also be white, black, red, or even speckled.

Many people think goldfish have three-second memories, but that's actually a myth. Goldfish can remember things for months and can even be trained to recognize their owners and do simple tricks. In proper conditions, with enough space and care, goldfish can live for ten to twenty years and grow quite large. The ones you see in tiny bowls at carnivals are usually just surviving in cramped conditions, not thriving.

People also use goldfish as a metaphor for having a short memory. If someone forgets what you just told them, you might joke that they have “the memory of a goldfish.” But now you know that's actually unfair to the fish!