Goldfish are a classic pet that has adorned households for hundreds of years .
Whether you picked one up at the local shop or won one during a state fair, you’ve got probably been exposed to some misconceptions about their care.
Goldfish are often advertised as these fish who can remain happy and healthy in small, solitary bowls. This can’t be beyond the reality .
Do you provide your pet with the simplest goldfish tankmates?
keeping goldfish with other fish?
Goldfish are typically not aggressive. On the opposite hand, they typically enjoy being kept during a community tank with other companions.
Although there are some fish which they’re not compatible with, they’re usually a secure addition to an outsized , community tank.
Goldfish are naturally social and can hunt down fish that they will socialize with regularly.
Temperature Range
Right off the bat, tons of potential tank mates are eliminated because they can’t sleep in an equivalent temperature range as goldfish.
Goldfish are classified as “cold water” fish. Technically, this term is wrong , but it’s what most of the people within the hobby call temperate fish that like better to live at a temperature range between 65° and 75°F (18°-24°C).
Most of the fish found within the aquarium trade originate from tropical areas round the world and wish temperatures between 75° and 80°F (24°-27°C). Keeping them in water temperatures below 75°F could stress and kill them over time.
For example, common aquarium fish, like bettas, gouramis or angelfish, got to be kept at temperatures near 80°F. So, to stay them with goldfish, either you’d need to keep the goldfish in temps that are too warm or the opposite fish in water that’s too cold.
Long term, this is often getting to stress one or the opposite and cause them to urge sick and die.
It’s critical to seek out fish which will thrive within the same temperature range as your goldfish
What Fish Can Live With Goldfish?
- Other Goldfish
GoldfishAdding another goldfish of an equivalent size and variety is one among the simplest ways to feature another fish to your goldfish tank.
Just remember that goldfish are omnivores and may be predatory. It’s important that tank mates are evenly matched.
Be very careful about size. Large goldfish will eat smaller ones in order that they should be roughly an equivalent size.
Also, fancy goldfish tend to maneuver more slowly than common ones and certain won’t be ready to compete for food.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
White Cloud Mountain MinnowsThe main reason that white cloud mountain minnows are an honest fit with goldfish is that they’re cold water fish which will had best within the same environment as goldfish.
They’re schooling fish and don’t had best on their own so you’ll need to add a minimum of 3, although 6 is best .
White cloud mountain minnows also are really fast and may usually outswim goldfish which makes it less likely that they’ll become prey.
- Rosy Barbs
Rosy BarbsRosy Barbs just like the same sort of water as goldfish. They also grow to be able 4 to six inches long so they’re an honest size match, too.
They’re not an aggressive fish and can leave your goldfish alone and they’re too big for your goldfish to eat.
Keep in mind that rosy barbs are schooling fish and obtain very stressed if alone or in small groups. they ought to be kept in groups of a minimum of 6.
- Rubbernose and Bristlenose Plecos
Bristlenose PlecoBoth a rubbernose or bristlenose pleco make great tank mates for a goldfish. Plecos are calm fish who will generally leave your goldfish alone.
They spend most of their day eating algae from rocks and grass, which also helps keep your tank clean.
Stay away from common plecos as there are reports that they need a habit of sucking the slime coat off of goldfish.
- Weather or Dojo Loaches
Like Goldfish, Dojo Loaches prefer moderate to cooler temperatures and had best as low as 50F. While very hardy and undemanding in terms of water chemistry they’re scaleless fish and susceptible to skin infections when kept in dirty environments.
They are also referred to as Weather Loaches because they become frantically active when the air pressure gets low, which frequently signals an approaching storm. In Asia they’re raised in outdoor ponds for food but occasionally find their way into the pet trade the West.
Dojo Loaches are similar in temperament and care to the smaller, better known Kuhli Loach. they ought to be provided a fine sand substrate as they like to burrow and sift for worms and leftover food.
Tubifex, Artemia salina , and other live or frozen offerings are a fine treat but they’re going to also take flakes from the surface with relish.
- Zebra Danios
Zebra DaniosA good match for normal goldfish since they just like the same water temperature and are fast enough to outswim them if they get hungry.
That said, they shouldn’t be mixed with fancy goldfish because they’re so fast, they’ll likely eat all their food.
Zebra Danios are schooling fish and wish to be kept in groups of 6 or more.
- Apple Snails
Apple SnailsOne of the foremost common snails available in pet stores is that the apple snail.
It’s one among few freshwater snail species that’s adapted well to life in captivity and it’s also great tank mate for a goldfish.
While a goldfish could be tempted to undertake to eat an apple snail, their hard shell and size make it next to impossible.
This pairing works best if the snail is introduced to the tank when the goldfish is young so it gets wont to sharing its space.
- Ghost and Cherry Shrimp
Cherry ShrimpShrimp are another animal which will had best with a goldfish, specifically ghost shrimp or red cherry shrimp.
Ghost shrimp are small and typically sold as food for other fish. They’re a stimulating addition to any tank and won’t cause any harm to the goldfish.
Red cherry shrimp are an excellent choice because they’re algae eaters and may help keep the tank clean.
While red cherry shrimp breed quickly, they also function food for the goldfish so it’s possible to stay the population balanced.
When keeping shrimp during a tank together with your goldfish, confirm to feature tons of caves and decorations. this provides them an area to cover and helps them survive as long as possible.
- Paradise Fish
Paradise Fish were one among the very first tropical fish to be introduced to the hobby. They aren’t as popular nowadays but they continue to be inexpensive, hardy choices for tropical and cold water setups.
Paradise Fish got to be carefully considered because they’re fairly aggressive and territorial. they ought to never be kept with Goldfish in an aquarium under 30 gallons as Goldfish are slow swimmers and can be harassed mercilessly.
In larger aquariums Paradise Fish offer a gorgeous compliment to the thick bodied Goldfish, with blue and red tones that nicely offset the yellows and golds.
Like most Gouramis Paradise Fish are carnivorous, preferring to eat small invertebrates like Daphnia, Bloodworms, and Tubifex. However they need been tank bred for many years and readily take prepared flakes and little pellets.
Species to Avoid Keeping with Goldfish
There are some species that you simply should avoid keeping together with your Goldfish either due to predatory behavior or aggression towards Goldfish.
These species include:
Angelfish
Some guides may tell you that Goldfish and Angelfish are compatible. I’m afraid I don’t share an equivalent opinion, and that i don’t recommend keeping the 2 together.
If you’re adamant about keeping them within the same tank, you’ll escape with it if you retain your goldfish with small angelfish, otherwise they’ll find yourself eating your Goldfish.
Swordtails, Mollies, Cory Catfish and Bristlenose Plecos make better companions for Angelfish.
Cichlids
Cichlids will definitely not recoil from tasting your Goldfish, plus their aggressive nature is one more reason why you shouldn’t keep these two species together.
Besides their aggression, Cichlids also are territorial fish and it’s only a matter of your time until Goldfish cross into territories claimed by Cichlids.
Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend adding Cichlids to your tank of Goldfish.
Other Large Fish
Avoid keeping Goldfish with other large fish which will mistake them for food. Predatory fish and aggressive fish also are a nasty match for Goldfish.
Goldfish are lively and sociable community fish that get along well with other species similar in size and temperament, but confirm you read abreast of possible compatibility issues between different species, so you’ll be better prepared to avoid any problems together with your fish.
What Size Tank Do I Need for Goldfish?
Believe it or not, you need, at minimum, a 20-gallon tank for a goldfish. which may appear to be tons but considering they will live up to twenty years, it’s important to offer them a home where they will thrive.
One of the most reasons goldfish need a much bigger tank is because they’re messy. The smaller the tank, the more work you’re getting to need to do to stay the water clean. meaning more water changes and a consistently stressed goldfish.
If you would like to feature more goldfish, you would like a good larger tank. Add 10 more gallons for every goldfish you add.
As you’ll see, keeping only a couple of goldfish can actually require a reasonably large tank! But why?
For one thing, goldfish are very bulky. They’re not thin and streamlined, they’re chunky and work a touch harder to chop through the water. meaning they use more oxygen. Goldfish also grow quickly and obtain pretty big which needs even more oxygen.
This is one reason that fish bowls are particularly bad for goldfish. There’s not enough oxygen for them and there’s not enough space to feature the required filtration needed to stay the water clean.
Can goldfish live with tropical fish?
When temperatures are high, nobody keeps coldwater fish. Likewise, in areas of the planet where the climate means even an unheated aquarium runs at tropical temperatures, it’s often common practice to stay Fancy Goldfish in with surprisingly different tank mates like Discus.
Given the fragile nature of a number of the highly bred sorts of Goldfish, we will see that a pleasant warm tank may be a great environment for them and that they will often thrive.
The big problem here is that as a fish with a rate designed to function at a way lower temperature, Goldfish are just too messy and demanding to measure with tropical species at their preferred temperature. To use an analogy, it might be like attempting to stay rabbits during a stable with a horse! one goldfish can create a waste load which will cause levels of pollution that tropical fish cannot tolerate and albeit the water remains clear, organic waste levels can cause fatally high nitrate levels or at the acute , a filter clogged with solid waste.
Another side effect of keeping coldwater fishes at tropical temperatures is that the much shorter lifespan which will arise thanks to the fish always being kept at unnaturally high metabolic rates. By keeping your coldwater fishes cool, they’re going to enjoy a way longer, healthier life.
Other Aquatic Species Compatible with goldfish
ultView Original Although you’ll be looking specifically for fish to place within the tank, goldfish get along side other species also . Whilst watching what fish can accept goldfish, you’ll also consider non-fish species, like those below.
Adding amphibians and other invertebrates can make a tank for interesting. they will provide additional benefits as helping to wash the tank.
These are a couple of of the opposite species that you simply might want to think about which make suitable goldfish tank mates:
African Dwarf Frogs – These are a reasonably compatible tank mate for nearly all tropical aquariums. Their name suggests that they’re smaller and that they work well with smaller fish like goldfish. this is often a shy species though so confirm that they need many room to cover . They’ll also work better with a minimum of two thanks to their social nature.
Is An goldfish Tank Right For Me?
If you don’t have an goldfish fish yet but are ready to introduce some to your tank, just keep in mind the guidelines we told you about above. While an goldfish fish can do just fine on its own, it can be quite fun to have a full aquarium that is brimming with aquatic life.
These fish are excellent pets! While they may not be suitable for everyone, they are fish that should be considered by every aquarium hobbyist at one point or another.
Conclusion
Goldfish are good-natured, peaceful fish which will enjoy the corporate of an outsized sort of equally sized, peaceful seafood .
Perfect tank mates for Goldfish include swordtails, mollies, platies, Cory catfish, and few others i discussed during this article.
With some fish like Bettas and Angelfish, you want to take various precautions if you’re planning on keeping them together to avoid fights and injuries.
If you would like to line up a community aquarium, always do your research about the fish you’ll and can’t keep together.
I hope that this text will function an honest basis for your research on the fish compatible with Goldfish, and you’ll be inspired to stay other seafood too alongside your Goldfish fish
