Turning 38, the world’s oldest goldfish– won at a fair in 1977
HE’S lived through everything from Charles and Diana’s wedding to Live Aid and the London Olympics – if only he could remember any of it.
This is Splash, who is about to mark his 38th birthday, possibly making him the oldest goldfish in the world.
Along with his female mate, Splish, he was won at a funfair in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, in 1977 by Richard and Ann Wright’s young son and daughter and taken home in a water-filled plastic bag.
The children, Hayley and Matthew, are now in their forties and have long since left home, but Splash is still being looked after by their parents, although Splish sadly died two years ago.
Goldfish normally live for five to 15 years, but Mr Wright, 71, said: ‘He looks as if he’s coping fine but I’ve no idea how he’s still alive.
‘It feels like he’s been around for ever and he’s even outlasted our children living at home with us.
‘We’ve never done anything out of the ordinary to care for Splash; we’ve been blessed with a really hardy fish who’s lived through it all.’ Splash is fed only on normal goldfish food – one £3.50 tub a year – and weeds in the tank.
Since Splish departed for the great goldfish bowl in the sky, little seems to have changed in Splash’s life, said Mr Wright, a retired human resources consultant. ‘Splash just swims around looking happy as he always has but I’m sure he grieved for Splish,’ he said. ‘They were a double act for such a long time it’s been a bit odd seeing Splash on his own but he’s still battling through, which is fantastic.’
The Wrights said that although he moves at a slower pace and his eyes have swelled a little, he is still the ‘same old Splash’.
The oldest recorded goldfish was Goldie, from Devon, which died aged 45 in 2005.