A lonely goldfish in an aquarium is a sorry sight. Although it will survive and do just fine, it is worth remembering that goldfish are social animals. They enjoy the company of other creatures and actively interact with other fish. So, it is a good idea to keep goldfish with other aquatic creatures. And the most obvious choice would be another goldfish. But, can goldfish live together?
Yes, goldfish can live together. If multiple goldfish are kept in a tank, they will be active and interact with each other. However, all types of goldfish can’t stay together. They should be of similar size and swimming ability to be together. Otherwise, they can end up competing for food and space.
Goldfish are peaceful, fun-loving fish that get along with other goldfish. However, there are certain things to keep in mind when while keeping goldfish together. Let’s talk about them now.
How To Keep Different Types Of Goldfish In The Same Aquarium?
Did you know that there are hundreds of varieties of goldfish?
Common pet store varieties like the comet, common goldfish, and shubunkins have slender bodies and single tails.
Then, there are fancy goldfish varieties. These are double-tail fish with long fins and tails.
These fancy goldfish are bulkier than other types of goldfish.
Their multiple, long fins force them to swim slower than the single-tail goldfish.
Goldish can be either flat-shaped or egg-shaped.
Flat-shape goldfish have streamlined bodies that help them swim fast.
Meanwhile, the fancy varieties have bulky, egg-shape bodies that do not easily cut through the water.
Their elaborate fan tails also slow them down.
Due to this difference in swimming abilities, it is not recommended to keep flat-bodied goldfish with fancy varieties.
The bigger fish, due to their size and slower mobility, would struggle for food. They are also rather fragile.
Many of them have trouble seeing clearly and do not have quick reflexes. It could lead to small goldfish bullying them. So…
If you decide to keep more than one goldfish here are some recommendations:
- Choose goldfish of the same type. Avoid keeping flat-shaped fish and egg-shaped goldfish in the same aquarium.
- If you cannot find two goldfish of the same type, at least make sure that the fish you choose have similar size and swimming ability.
- Keep unusual and rare varieties of fancy goldfish with their kind or other fish that will not nip at its long fins. Check for species compatibility before housing goldfish with other fish. Avoid keeping it with smaller and faster goldfish.
Recommended Further Reading:
- How To Take Care Of A Goldfish? (Goldfish Care In 3 Simple Steps)
- Do Goldfish Eat Each Other? And How To Keep Them Together?
- Do Goldfish Eat Other Fish? (Why And When They Attack Other Fish)
How Many Goldfish Can You Keep Together In The Same Aquarium?
Goldfish can grow quite big. The size it finally achieves will depend on its enclosure.
Take pond goldfish, for instance. They can grow more than their counterparts in indoor aquariums as they live in a bigger space.
Goldfish in favorable environments enjoy long and healthy lives.
It benefits from larger spaces and access to live foods that satisfy their nutritional requirements.
Since goldfish grow indeterminately, keep only as many goldfish as your tank can comfortably accommodate.
The lesser goldfish you keep in your aquarium, the better off it will be.
A small tank or fishbowl restricts the movement of the fish.
Due to inadequate space, its activity level reduces, resulting in stress and stunted growth.
Although the goldfish will survive, it will not thrive.
Now, if you put the same goldfish in a bigger enclosure, it will have more space to swim and exercise.
So, the fish will naturally be much happier and healthier.
Related Further Reading:
- What Do Goldfish Eat In A Pond? What To Feed Them In Ponds?
- What Do Goldfish Eat In The Wild? (Typical And Ideal Goldfish Diet)
Tank Requirements For Different Types Of Goldfish
Each goldfish needs at least 10 gallons of water.
You should not place more than one fancy goldfish in a small tank of 20 gallons.
So, a pair of goldfish will need an aquarium that can hold at least 40 gallons of water.
Although the aquarium may look empty initially, it will be the right environment for your goldfish to grow and thrive.
Over time, your goldfish can grow to between 6 inches and 2 feet long. So, it is sensible to invest in a big tank earlier on.
Or, you will have to upgrade when your fish outgrow their enclosure.
For every new goldfish, you should add at least ten extra gallons of water to prevent overcrowding.
Additionally, your goldfish will have access to space and resources to flourish.
Now, you may have noticed that aquariums at pet shops hold a lot of fish. So, how does it work?
Well, you should remember that these aquariums are only temporary arrangements till the fish find a permanent home.
Also, pet stores clean and maintain the tanks continuously as opposed to a home aquarium.
Nevertheless, it is not an ideal environment for goldfish in the long term.
Maintenance Of Aquariums Containing One Or More Goldfish
You may already know that goldfish defecate into the same water that they live in. Now, isn’t that what all aquarium fish do?
But there is a difference. Goldfish are messier than most other fish.
They eat a lot and eliminate most of what they consume. This process dirties the tank very quickly.
And goldfish are highly affected by water quality. An increase in ammonia levels will impact their health and well-being.
To prevent them from falling sick, you must frequently change their water.
It means that tank maintenance will be an ongoing task for any goldfish owner.
Changing the water too often is costly and difficult. Filtering the water is more practical.
A goldfish filter will temporarily remove the waste from the water and keep it aerated and clean till the next water change.
Although you will still have to clean the filter to keep it running, it is much easier than changing the water every few days.
Interesting Further Reading;
- Can Goldfish Live Alone? And Will Goldfish Get Lonely?
- Can Goldfish Live In Ponds? How To Setup The Pond For Goldfish?
- 4 Main Reasons Why Goldfish Cannot Live With Bettas
- Can Goldfish Live In Tap Water? (Untreated vs Treated Tap Water)
Related Questions
Do goldfish need live plants in their aquarium? Although goldfish do not need live plants, they thrive in planted aquariums. Goldfish like to snack on edible plants in their surroundings. Planted aquariums will also provide baby goldfish plenty of places to hide from the adults. They can hide from their parents and other predators until they grow big. If you do not want your goldfish to eat all the plants and turn your aquarium into a wasteland, choose fast-growing plants or types of plants that they do not like. The Java Fern, Anubias, and Vallisneria are good options.
Can goldfish breed in an aquarium setting? If you have both male and female goldfish in your aquarium, and the conditions are optimal for reproduction, they may breed. During the mating season, the male goldfish will continuously chase the female until she is exhausted and releases her eggs. The male will then release his milt, which will fertilize the eggs. This process causes the water in the tank to turn cloudy. The fertilized eggs are sticky and attach to the walls of the aquarium, plants, and other surfaces. Since goldfish eat their eggs, not all survive. Those that survive will hatch into baby goldfish within a week. The baby goldfish may also be eaten by the adults when they are very small. If they manage to hide and escape the adults, they will grow big. Once the baby goldfish are bigger than the adult goldfish’s mouth, they are safe.
