The goldfish were one of the earliest types of fish to be kept as pets and their popularity as one of Britain’s favourite pets continues to grow. They are easy to look after and do not require too much attention, apart from cleaning the water every other week and feeding them fish flakes once a day. For this reason I decided that I would get a goldfish and have it as a pet, after my cat and rabbit died. I wanted a no-fuss pet so I chose a goldfish – that was about 15 years ago! I have read that goldfish can live up to 40 years but that the average domestic goldfish live between six to eight years. If that is the average then my goldfish is now double the average age of a household fish. They are so simple to keep as pets, that even I have managed to keep one alive for 15 years! You can also style their tanks so that they match the room that you choose to keep them in. I keep my fish in the bathroom and as my bathroom is blue and white, I bought a clear bowl and filled it with blue and white stones so that it blends into my decor. If I can manage to keep a fish alive for 15 years and counting I’m sure anyone else will be able to as well.