Elderly: Splish and Splash were won as a prize in 1977 and have lived for so long that they have gone grey
A pair of fairground goldfish believed to be the oldest in the UK have celebrated their 34th birthday.
Splish and Splash were won as a prize in 1977 and have lived for so long that they have gone grey.
The fish, who belong to Richard and Ann Wright, from Brockworth, Gloucestershire, have even outlived four family pet cats.
They originally belonged to the pairs son Matthew and daughter Hayley, who were six and nine when they brought the goldfish home from a county fair in Cheltenham.
Though Matthew and Hayley have now moved out to start families of their own, the fish have remained at Richard and Ann's home.
Despite having an expected lifespan of just ten years - with fairground fish often living much shorter than that - Splish and Splash have survived for three decades.
Long life: The fish belong to Richard (pictured) and Ann Wright, from Brockworth, Gloucestershire and have even outlived four family pet cats
Their owners say they are baffled as to how the fish have managed to live such long lives.
Mr Wright said: 'I've no idea why they've lasted so long, they've just been cleaned out really regularly and given a pinch of food every morning, but we haven't done anything special.
'They're amazing, really.'
He added that, like their human counterparts, the fish have started to show signs of age, with them losing their gold colour in the last few years.
Retired human resources consultant Mr Wright said: 'Since we got them they have obviously grown, although they don't dart around the tank like they used to.
'In the last few years they've lost their gold colour - they've gone grey, like me.'
The two fish shared a goldfish bowl given to Ann by a former boss, which was only replaced eight years ago with a more modern version equipped with a filter.
Mr Wright said: 'When we got the new tank my wife said 'they'll die now you've bought that new tank', but they didn't.
'We call it 'The Old Fish Home'.'
source: dailymail