Goldfish hearing range

Goldfish hear frequencies from about 20 Hz to 3,000 Hz – a span of 7.2 octaves. Compared with humans (about 20 Hz–20 kHz), goldfish hear a narrower band.

20 HzLowest frequency

3,000 HzHighest frequency

7.2Octaves

0.1×Upper limit vs. humans

How it compares

Greater wax moths Bottlenose dolphins Beluga whales Bats Mice Rats Cats Opossums Gerbils Guinea pigs Dogs Hedgehogs Ferrets Sheep Rabbits Pigs Raccoons Goats Cows Horses Chinchillas Humans Elephants Owls Budgerigars (parakeets)Canaries Cockatiels Tree frogs Catfish Bullfrogs Goldfish Chickens Tuna

10 Hz1001 kHz10 kHz100 kHz

Shaded band: typical human range (20 Hz–20 kHz). Log scale.

Tones goldfish can hear

Tones goldfish cannot hear

Frequently asked questions

What frequencies can goldfish hear?

About 20 Hz to 3,000 Hz.

Can goldfish hear ultrasound?

No – their upper limit is below 20 kHz.

Can goldfish hear infrasound?

No – their lower limit is above 20 Hz.

Sources & credits

Wikipedia – Hearing range (compiled from Fay 1988; Heffner & Heffner) · Approximate hearing ranges from behavioural audiograms (largely Fay 1988 and Heffner & Heffner), usually measured at 60 dB SPL. Individual animals, ages and studies differ.