

The bigger the group of barbs, the more likely they are to just concern themselves with each other rather than the goldies. They are a schooling fish and being kept in too small of a group can cause them to be overly aggressive. Rosy barbs absolutely need to be kept in a group of five or more. Rosy barbs and goldfish can work together, but it has to be done just right. Minimum tank size: 30 gallons (113 liters).Temperament: peaceful (must be kept in a group of 5 or more, no exceptions!).

Only combine similar body types and swimming characteristics. For example, you can’t pair comet goldfish with bubble eye goldfish, because comets are too fast and will eat all the food. Your only consideration here is the speed and swimming ability of your type of goldfish. Even during breeding, males will not become aggressive. Firstly, goldfish are very social fish and love to be in the company of other goldfish.ĭisplaying schooling behaviors, goldfish are rarely aggressive towards one another. Yes, other goldfish make the best goldfish tank mates. With these established guidelines we’ve set in place for choosing tank mates for your goldfish, let’s go through some of the best options for you. They absolutely can’t be housed with aggressive species like Jack Dempseys or convict cichlids. Otherwise, you risk your goldfish being beat up, stressed or even killed. So any species you put in a goldy tank needs to be very peaceful. And their long trailing fins make them a target for any species of fish known for fin nipping, like tiger barbs or most tetra species. They really can’t stick up for themselves if another fish starts to bully them.
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They Need A Peaceful Temperamentĭespite their tendency to gulp down smaller tank mates, goldfish are considered extremely peaceful fish.įor the most part, they don’t go around nipping fins or acting aggressively. This gives the smaller tank mates room to get away from hungry goldfish.
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Pro Tip: You should only mix goldfish and smaller fish if you have a large tank, something like 40 gallons (151 liters) or more. Just be warned, any little fish that slows down, because it’s sick or elderly, is likely to end up as lunch. If you really want to keep smaller fish with your goldies (for the record, this is ALWAYS risky), then you should choose species that are so fast that they can easily outswim marauding goldfish. This leaves them vulnerable to highly active fast swimmers, who might nip at them or steal their food. This means you should look for tank mates who are faster swimmers and won’t be bullied or out-competed for food.įancy goldfish or bubble eye goldfish are much slower. For example, a comet goldfish will zoom around at great speeds. Swimming Speed & Activityĭifferent types of goldfish swim at different paces. This will ensure they’re not viewed as a snack. Your goldfish tank mate should be around 3-4 inches (7.5-10cm). They don’t set out to be mean, but they will vacuum up anything edible they can get in their mouths, and that includes other fish in the tank, no matter how long they’ve lived together. When they look around the tank and see other fish they’re governed by the philosophy, “If another fish can fit in my mouth, it must be food.” And the bigger a goldfish gets, the easier it is for roommates to start looking like potential snacks. Large Enough Not To Be Eatenįish are simple creatures. It’s critical to find fish that will thrive in the same temperature range as your goldfish. Keeping them in water temperatures below 75☏ could stress and kill them over time.įor example, common aquarium fish like bettas, gouramis or angelfish, need to be kept at temperatures near 80☏. Most of the fish found in the aquarium trade originate from tropical areas around the world and need temperatures between 75° and 80☏ (24°-27☌). Technically, this term is incorrect, but it’s what most people in the hobby call temperate fish that prefer to live at a temperature range between 65° and 75☏ (18°-24☌). Goldfish are classified as “cold water” fish. You need to make sure your potential tank mate for your goldfish can live in the same temperature range.

Here are the rules you need to follow when deciding on goldfish tank mates. To help you find the best goldfish tank mates, I’ve used my knowledge and experience to compile, not only this list of safe and compatible options, but also a set of guidelines you can use to look at any species of fish and know if it will be a suitable tank mate.
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But, it’s natural to want a thriving community tank full of different species of fish. Goldfish are considered one of the icon fish available in the aquarium hobby.
