Goldfish can live 20-30 years but are routinely kept in conditions that kill them within months and cause chronic suffering.
Goldfish welfare is severely compromised by widespread keeping in bowls and inadequate water systems. The fish experience chronic ammonia exposure, temperature extremes, and oxygen deprivation in undersized containers. Lifespan of months rather than decades reflects systematic welfare failure. Education at point of sale and better regulations could dramatically improve goldfish welfare.