What Kind of Fish Can You Keep with Goldfish?
- Zebra Danios. Zebra danios are probably one of the best goldfish companion species because they like the same water temperature and are fast enough to outswim hungry goldfish for food.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows. ...
- Buenos Aires Tetras. ...
- Gold Barbs. ...
- Rosy Barbs. ...
- Bloodfin Tetras. ...
- Dojo Loach. ...
- (Rosy Red) Minnows. ...
- Zebra Danios.
- Giant Danios.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows.
- Bristlenose Catfish.
- Corydoras Catfish.
- Dojo Loach.
- Banded Corydoras.
- Platy.
What other fish can I put with gold fish?
What Fish can Live With Goldfish?
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow. White cloud mountain minnows are a goldfish owner’s dream. ...
- Other Goldfish Breeds. There are a lot of different goldfish breed types, including celestial eye, telescope eye, ranchu, ryukin, shubunkin, comet, and the common goldfish.
- Dojo Loach. ...
- Rosy Barbs. ...
- Zebra Danios. ...
- Platy. ...
- Bristlenose Pleco. ...
- Giant Danios. ...
- Weather Loach. ...
What fish can be housed with goldfish?
What fish can be kept with goldfish?
- Other Goldfish.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows.
- Rosy Barbs.
- Rubbernose and Bristlenose Plecos.
- Weather or Dojo Loaches.
- Zebra Danios.
- Apple Snails.
- Ghost and Cherry Shrimp.
What types of fish can be put with GloFish?
The most compatible fish to include in with Glofish barb:
- Mollies
- Pleco
- Danio
- Dwarf Cichlid
- Platies
What other fish can go with my common goldfish?
- Another Goldfish
- Bristlenose Plecostomus
- Rosy Barbs
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Dojo Loach
- Zebra or Leopard Danios
- Hillstream Loach
- Rubbernose Pleco
- Rice Fish
- Flagtail Hoplo Catish
What Makes a Suitable Tank Mate for Goldfish?
It can be a little challenging to find the best aquarium mates for your beloved goldfish. So, take a look at these significant factors that you need to put into consideration in your search for the best aquarium mates for your goldfish.
What Fish can Live With Goldfish?
It is time for the fun part! Check out this list of finned pets that make terrific aquarium mates for goldfish.
Fish That Can not Live With Your Goldfish
Maintain a healthy and friendly environment for your goldfish by steering clear of these aquatic creatures.
1. Hillstream Loach
First on our list is the hillstream loach, another beautiful species with peaceful and likable character. They are not just easy-going neighbors, they are also caring – maybe in my own words – and that’s because they are seasoned algae eaters. What this means is that the tank gets to be free from algae and the menace it creates.
2. White Cloud Minnows
Just like the goldfish, the white cloud minnow is a hardy fish that is found in abundance in the well-vegetated slow-to-fast-moving waters of Vietnam and China. They prefer swimming in the middle or top layer of the aquarium and are arguably the most common tank mates of goldfish.
3. Zebra Danios
Zebra danios are a choice pet for many reasons; they are very sociable, peaceful, and easy to care for. To this end, they should make a good companion for goldfish. Zebra danios are relatively faster swimmers and will beat the goldfish for pace – so you can take that the zebra danio’s survival instinct [when up against a ‘bloodthirsty’ goldfish].
4. Bristlenose Pleco
This is comparatively a much bigger goldfish tank mate that is known for its algae-clearing habit – a cleaner and a safer tank is sustained with a bristle nose pleco in the mix. To sound a note of caution, you need to ensure that your aquarium’s filtration system is up to scratch as bristle nose plecos do generate a lot of waste.
5. Weather loach
Weather loach is not so named for no just cause; it is a credible storm predictor and can even survive outside – that’s by the way; this amazing aquatic creature, which is also called ‘dojo loach‘ or ‘oriental weatherfish‘ makes a wonderful tank mate for goldfish. They are generally sociable and somewhat playful.
6. Bloodfin tetras
Though not to be taken as a regular coldwater species, bloodfin tetras should be a good tank mate for goldfish – provided the temperature is kept at above 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Marked out by their distinctive red wavy fins, these aquatic species will yet add some colors to the aquarium along with their newly-found (goldfish) companion.
7. Rosy barb
Rosy barbs enjoy the company of one another as they swim about in a group, but will be fine with goldfish dwelling in the same tank they occupy. In the wild, rosy barbs are found in fast-flowing streams and rivers – but they can also thrive in stagnant waters.
What Fish Can Goldfish Cohabit With?
Finding an aquarium mate for your goldfish can be a challenge, especially if you’re not sure what to look for. However, getting to know your goldfish’s personality and temperament can go a long way. Below are the key factors to consider when finding live-in tank mates for your goldfish.
Best Tank Mates for Your Goldfish
Despite the specific conditions that need to be met to house goldfish with other fish, there are quite a few species that will bode well. Below is our list of the top 8 fish that can make ideal tank companions for a goldfish. This is not an exhaustive list, but these are some of the prime candidates to be tankfellows for your goldfish.
Which Tankmates Are Best for Your Goldfish?
To make a truly informed decision about which fish make the best mates for your goldfish, you’ll need to first assess the size of your tank. If you haven’t bought one yet, it’s a good idea to go a bit larger.
Major Consideration for Choosing Goldfish Tank Mates
The major consideration for choosing Goldfish tank mates for your new fish in a tank is to consider the personality of the fish. They are not all alike and you want to be sure that you are taking care of them as well as possible.
Temperature Range
The temperature range of goldfish is what makes it for some potential mates to be eliminated.
Nature and Size of Potential Tank Mates
Most cases and by nature, when fish are placed together in a tank they take advantage of their size.
Fast Swimming Fish
It is important to also house fast-swimming fish mates that can easily outswim the goldfish whenever they are been attacked.
Goldfish Tank Mates
The Rosy Barbs fish (Pethia conchonius) is a wonderful addition to the aquarium. They are active and fun to look at and are ideal for beginners as they are easy to care for and add a lot of variety to an aquarium.
Can Common Dace fish live with Goldfish?
There are a few reasons why some goldfish are often considered to be a good tank mate for other species of dace fish. Even though there are many species of dace that are suitable for tankmates, there are several differences in the appearances and characteristics of many goldfish.
Common Goldfish Tank Mates
The most popular types of fish that can be kept with goldfish are Corydoras, Cichlids, and Neon Tetras. These are the most popular types of fish that are available.
Only Child
Yes, your goldfish can be an only child. Most goldfish will be just fine on their own. They will get their interaction from their human family or other enrichment items in their tank. Some goldfish need to be solitary if they do not play well with others.
Other Goldfish
The #1 tank mate for a goldfish is… another goldfish! Keep in mind that if you mix standard, long-body or comet goldfish with fancy varieties, the comets will beat the fancies to the food every time, causing stress and competition. Keep long-bodies with long-bodies and short-squashed bodies with other locomotionally-challenged fishes.
Zebrafish
These small, striped fishes do best if kept in a small school. Given that they are large enough to not fit in your goldfish’s mouth, zebrafish are peaceful and tolerant of lower water temperatures.
Ornamental Minnows
No, we don’t mean the minnows in the pond or stream behind your house! Ornamental minnows have been specially bred in captivity for indoor living. Bringing wild fish into your home is NEVER a good idea.
Snails
There are many species of snails that may wander into your fish tank. Usually riding along on live plants, these invertebrates can replicate very quickly if you happen upon a hermaphrodite species. Nerite snails, on the other hand, have distinct sexes, so you will need a male and a female to start making baby snails.
Not Recommended Goldfish Tank Mates
Yes, we know goldfish can tolerate tropical climates. It will make them voraciously hungry and active. Just because you can mix goldfish in tropical tanks, does NOT mean you should. None of the following species are a correct answer to “what fish can live with goldfish.”
What Fish Can Live with Goldfish?
While goldfish are indeed beautiful and iconic enough to enjoy on their own, they make great additions to community tanks as well. Peaceful and playful, goldfish can thrive in a multi-species environment.
The Best Goldfish Tank Mates
Now that you know what to look for let’s go over some prime candidates! Finding proper companions for goldfish can be tricky. However, many species fit the bill if you pay close attention to care guidelines.
Species To Avoid
Any of the previously mentioned species should do just fine with your goldfish. However, there are many potential tank mates that you should avoid at all costs!
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, the best goldfish tank mates have a lot in common. You’re looking for a freshwater species that’s peaceful, fine in cool water, not overly active, and reasonably sized.
What Kind of Fish Can You Keep With Goldfish?
If you’ve ever seen a cool fish and wondered if it would go well with your goldfish, here are some general guidelines to follow:
1. Hillstream Loach
This amazing oddball fish looks like a miniature stingray and acts like a plecostomus (or pleco). It eats algae, scavenges for food scraps, and grips onto glass so tightly that goldfish can’t pluck them off. Best of all, they enjoy cooler temperatures just like goldfish do.
2. Brochis multiradiatus
Cory catfish generally aren’t a good idea for goldfish tanks because they’re small enough to fit into a goldfish’s mouth and often have spines in their fins. But what if you could get a giant corydoras? Enter the Brochis multiradiatus, also known as the hog-nosed catfish or Corydoras multiradiatus.
3. Dojo Loach
Dojo loaches (or weather loaches) are like foot-long hot dogs with fins that love to swim around, burrow in the gravel, and eat anything you throw at them. These friendly creatures thrive in cold water and are a popular addition to many goldfish tanks.
4. Bristlenose Pleco
This choice might be considered a little controversial, since some people online say that they can suck on a goldfish’s slime coat. In practice, we find that this occurs more with larger plecos that aren’t getting enough food (because the goldfish are gobbling up everything).
5. Rubbernose Pleco
Also known as the rubber lip or bulldog pleco, these plecostomus are very similar to bristlenose plecos, except they don’t have any bristles on their snouts. They have the same traits and care requirements, and they grow to about the same size of 5 to 6 inches long.
6. White Cloud Mountain Minnows
If you only own fancy goldfish, cold water minnows may be a good option. They’re very inexpensive, tend to school together, and only grow to 1.5 to 2 inches long. When you first buy them, they’ll be much smaller, so consider growing them out (and even breeding them) before adding them to the goldfish tank.