Goldfish are well-known among aquarists for their beautiful and graceful appearance and ease of care. Not only that, but they’re also peaceful fish, so they don’t mind if another fish is in the aquarium with them. But if you’re interested to know about some great goldfish tank mates, then you’ve found the right article!
In this article not only will you find out the following information, you’ll also learn, the requirements these tank mates need and how to care for them!
So keep reading to find out everything you need to know!
The Shortlist
Goldfish don’t bother other fish, so putting them with other fish that won’t bother them is easy. Moreover, they are not territorial, so you may feel comfortable keeping various species in the same aquarium. Here is a list of other fish that can live with your goldfish.
- Hognosed Brochis
- Dojo Loach
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Rubber Nose/Lip Pleco
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Daisy’s Ricefish
- Hoplo Catfish
- Zebra Danios
- Giant Danios
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Rosy Barbs
- Guppies
- Swordtails
- Cherry Shrimp
- Nerite Snails
- Celestial Pearl Danio
- Ghost Shrimp
- Platy
- Checker Barbs
- Mystery Snails
Goldfish Tank Mates – An In-depth Look
Now that you know the list of the best goldfish tank mates, here is a more in-depth look!
Hognosed Brochis
Hognosed brochis are great tankmates for goldfish as they’re friendly, calm and won’t bother your goldfish. If you want to keep them with goldfish make sure you put sand on the bottom of the tank so they don’t hurt their barbels when they’re digging.
Also, if you have plants in the tank, tie them to a piece of driftwood or rock since these fish like to pull plants out of the ground.
You’ll also only be able to keep them together when the goldfish are small. Once the goldfish gets bigger, they may become a threat to your hognosed brochis.
- pH: 6.0-7.0
- Temperature: 70-75°F
- Tank Size: 30 gallons
- Fish Size: 4 inches
- Lifespan: 8 to 10 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Intermediate
Dojo Loach
Dojo loaches, also known as weather loaches and pond loaches get along great with goldfish, because not only do they both have the same temperaments, but they also occupy different areas in the tank. But, remember, they’re pretty big, so if you want to keep them with goldfish, you’ll need a giant fish tank. They also like to dig and burrow, so use a sand substrate to protect their fins and scales.
Keeping the pH at 7.0 and the temperature on the lower end and the temperature around 68-70°F is going to be perfect for both fish.
And like with all fish, make sure you’re keeping the tank well planted. Your dojo loaches will love to eat any decaying plant matter that falls to the substrate as well.
- pH: 6.0-8.0
- Temperature: 65-75°F
- Tank Size: 100 Gallons (For three)
- Fish Size: 12 inches
- Lifespan: 7 to 10 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Bristlenose Pleco
Bristlenose plecos are another great fish to keep in the tank with your goldfish thanks to how hardy, peaceful, and easy to care for they are. They’re also going to help keep the tank clean by eating algae and leftover food. Temperament wise, they’re incredibly peaceful, and will keep out of your goldfish’s way.
When you’re adding bristlenose plecos to your tank, make sure that you’re putting driftwood in the tank as they love it. Also, you’re going to need keep the tank’s temperature at the low end for plecos and the high end for your goldfish.
Bristlenose plecos do particularly well with fancy goldfish, because you won’t have to worry at all about any fin nipping happening in your tank.
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Temperature: 70-80°F
- Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum for a single fish
- Fish Size: 4-5 inches
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Rubber-Lipped/Nose Pleco
Goldfish also get along well with rubber-lipped plecos which are not only calm and peaceful but because they also like the same water conditions as goldfish too! One problem to note about keeping rubber nose plecos with goldfish is that as they age, they may become territorial and aggressive.
Rubber-Lipped Plecos are similar looking to bristlenose plecos, apart from the fact their noses lack bristles. If you can’t find rubber lipped pleco in your local fish store, they’re also called bulldog plecos, so you can also try asking for those instead.
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- Temperature: 70-78°F
- Tank Size: 25 gallons minimum for a single fish
- Fish Size: 5-7 inches
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
White Cloud Mountain Minnows
White cloud minnows are a great addition to any goldfish tank. Even though they are small and could get eaten by your goldfish, they are such fast swimmers they can easily escape from goldfish that move slowly. Just make sure you’re feeding them a nice mix of flake food, live foods, and blanche vegetables.
To be safe, if you do want to keep goldfish with WCCM, it’s best to make sure you’re only keeping small goldfish with them. And of course, keep plenty of hiding places, and plants in the tank for them as well to help them feel safe.
Lastly, white cloud mountain minnows are schooling fish, so if you do plan on keeping them, make sure you’re keeping them in schools of 5 or more.
- pH: 6.0 to 8.0
- Temperature: 64°F-72°F
- Tank Size: 15 gallons minimum for six fish
- Fish Size: 1.5 inches
- Lifespan: 5 to 7 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Daisy’s Ricefish
Daisy’s ricefish are very hardy and have almost the same water requirements as goldfish, which makes them great tank mates for your goldfish. Like minnows, they are small enough for goldfish to eat, but they move too fast to catch. Just make sure to keep at least six of them together.
It’s important to note, that if you plan on keeping these two fish together, you’ll need to keep the tanks temperature at the lowest it can be for your Daisy’s ricefish. And make sure there are plenty of hiding places in the tank so they your Daisy’s ricefish will feel secure.
Lastly, if you do want to keep Daisy’s ricefish with your goldfish, you’re going to have a lot more success keeping them in tanks with smaller goldfish.
- pH: 6.5 to 7.5
- Temperature: 73°F-81°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for six fish
- Fish Size: 1.6 inches
- Lifespan: 3 to 4 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Hoplo Catfish
Hoplo catfish and goldfish are peaceful and social animals that display little-to-no territorial or aggressive behavior. On top of this Hoplo fish look amazing, it’s like having, and will add such a unique look to your tank.
On top of this a Hoplo Catfish’s friendly nature, and ability to adapt to varying water conditions, make them great tank mates.
Since they are bottom-dwellers, Hoplo Catfish need a soft or fine substrate in their aquarium to prevent damage to their barbels, which they use to dig for food. And make sure that you’re keeping lots of plants in the tank as they’ll love to eat anything that falls to the substrate.
- pH: 6.0 to 8.0
- Temperature: 72°F-86 °F
- Tank Size: 55 gallons minimum for 5 fish
- Fish Size: 6 inches
- Lifespan: 4 to 6 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Zebra Danios
Zebra Danio’s are small, peaceful fish that moves quickly and lives in the same kind of water as goldfish. Even though zebra danios might be small enough to fit in a goldfish’s mouth, they swim pretty fast and can be challenging for a goldfish to catch because of this. Although, it’s best to keep them in smaller tanks.
If you keep them together, watch out when you feed them because zebra danios can usually eat all the food, leaving the goldfish hungry. If this is a problem, try to sprinkle the flakes across the surface of your tank, so every fish get’s a chance.
And lastly, keep your zebra danios with smaller goldfish for the best results, and make sure that you’re providing lots of hiding places for both fish.
- pH: 6.5 to 7.5
- Temperature: 64-78°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for 5 fish
- Fish Size: 1.5 to 2 inches
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Giant Danios
If you have bigger goldfish, then giant danios are going to be the best choice of tank mate, thanks to the fact they won’t get eaten. Not only are they are big enough that goldfish won’t eat them, but they also move quickly, so your goldfish won’t be able to get them.
If Giant Danios seem like the best choice for you, just remember that their size combined with your goldfish’s size means that you’re going to need a large enough to tank to house them both adequately.
- pH: 6.0 to 8.0
- Temperature: 72-81°F
- Tank Size: 55 gallons minimum for 5 fish
- Fish Size: 4 to 6 inches
- Lifespan: 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin Rasboras are another great tankmate for your goldfish thanks to how hardy they are and their ability to survive in a range of water conditions. However, one thing to note is that rasboras do like warmer water, so the temperature of the tank will need to be maintained at the higher end of what a goldfish can handle, and the lower end of what harlequin rasboras need.
Apart from that, though, harlequin rasboras and goldfish have a very similar diet, so you can simply feed them the same food flakes, as well as supplementing their diet with live food from time to time.
- pH: 6.0 to 7.8
- Temperature: 72- 81°F
- Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum for 6 fish
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 5 to 8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Rosy Barbs
Rosy barbs are ideal goldfish tankmates as they have similar water requirements, temperament, and an energetic nature that provide a stimulating environment for your goldfish.
They are non-aggressive, vibrant fish that love scavenging amongst plants and hiding away in caves, adding an extra splash of life to any aquarium.
And the best part is they can thrive in the colder waters that goldfish need. In fact, they can live in temperatures between 64–72°F.
- pH: 6.0–8.0
- Temperature: 64–72 °F
- Tank Size: 30 Gallons
- Fish Size: 6 inches
- Lifespan: 5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Moderate
Guppies
Guppies make great goldfish tankmates as they have an active, lively nature which brings lots of life to your aquarium. They’re hardy fish that can tolerate a variety of water parameters, so they will be able to adapt easily to goldfish.
When you’re setting the tank up try to add plants like hornwort, anacharis, java fern and java moss. These will help give your guppies places to hide. As well as plants, try adding driftwood, and caves to the tank to give them more hiding places as well.
- pH: 6.8–7.8
- Temperature: 74–82°F
- Tank Size: 5 gallons
- Fish Size: 1.5-2.5 inches
- Lifespan: 1–3 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Swordtails
Swordtail Fish make great goldfish tankmates thanks to the fact they have similar water parameter needs, and a positive temperament.
Swordtails are relatively hardy fish which can adapt well to their environment, although some maintenance may be required to keep water parameters steady, for them.
Keep Swordtails in groups of 4-6 for maximum happiness, and make sure you’re keeping them at a 2:1 or 3:1 female to male ratio.
- pH: 7.0–8.0
- Temperature: 72–79°F
- Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum
- Fish Size: 5.5″
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Cherry Shrimp
Cherry Shrimp are another great tankmate for goldfish due to their ability to do well in a large variety of water parameters. They’re also going to offer a beautiful contrast with your goldfish, featuring deep red hues instead of the more common colors found among other fish.
If you’re going to keep cherry shrimp in a tank with goldfish, make sure you’re keeping goldfish that are still small. Goldfish will eat anything that fits in their mouths.
- pH: 6.5–8.0
- Temperature: 72–82°F
- Tank Size: 5 gallons
- Size: 1.25 inches
- Lifespan: 1–2 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Nerite Snails
Nerite Snails are ideal goldfish tankmates mainly due to their non-aggressiveness. They’re also great scavengers, feeding on various types of algae that can accumulate on the substrate or the glass of the aquarium. Their vividly colored shells will add vibrant hues of browns, yellows, and oranges to the underwater landscape and give any aquarium plenty of eye candy!
- pH: 7.0–8.0
- Temperature: 72–78°F
- Tank Size: 5 gallons
- Fish Size: 0.75″
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Celestial Pearl Danio
Celestial Pearl Danios make ideal goldfish tankmates due to their peaceful demeanor and ability to live in the same kind of water as goldfish.
Their vibrant colors which range from shining blues and greens to reds and pinks, are going to make them contrast perfectly with your goldfish as well!
You should bare in mind however, that you should only keep celestial pearl danios with small goldfish to make sure they don’t end up becoming snacks for larger ones.
- pH: 6.6–7.5
- Temperature: 72–78°F (18–23°C)
- Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Fish Size: 0.8 inch
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Ghost Shrimp
Ghost Shrimp are excellent goldfish tankmates due to their wonderful scavenging capabilities. Not only are they fascinating to watch as they sift through the substrate, but they also provide beneficial aeration in the tank.
Remember, though, it’s entirely possible that your goldfish will try to eat your ghost shrimp, so make sure you’re okay with that before adding them to the tank.
Ghost shrimp breed quite easily though, so as long as you’re keeping more males than females in the tank, you should be able to make sure that your tank never runs out.
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- Temperature: 65–80°F (18–26°C)
- Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Fish Size: 1.5″
- Lifespan: 2–3 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Platies
Platies come in many colors and patterns, so a school of platies might just be the best tankmate for your goldfish. On top of this, platies are livebearer’s which means that your goldfish will have a source of live food a lot of the time.
Feed them a varied diet of pellets, flakes, veggies, and sometimes live food, and maintain a consistent water temperature.
Also once again, it’s better to keep platies with smaller goldfish, too ensure they’re not getting eaten. However, if you do have a larger platy, you might have a bit of luck with them and bigger goldfish.
(While technically it is possible to keep these two together, so I’ve included it on the list, here’s some more reasons goldfish an platies aren’t a good idea.)
- pH: 6.8-8.5
- Temperature: 70-80°F
- Tank Size: 10 Gallons
- Fish Size: 3 inches
- Lifespan: 2 to 3 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Checker Barbs
Checker barbs are another great choice for goldfish, as long as you keep them with goldfish that are still small. Bare in mind that checker barbs do best in groups of 6 or more, so you’ll need a tank large enough to house all of them and your goldfish.
Apart from that, they have a very similar diet, and with lots of plants in the tank, it’s going to be an ideal environment for both fish!
- pH: 6.0-7.0
- Temperature: 68-75°F
- Tank Size: 20 Gallons
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 8 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Mystery Snails
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- Temperature: 68-82°F
- Tank Size: 10 Gallons
- Fish Size: 2 inches
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
- Difficulty Keeping: Easy
Lastly, you can keep mystery snails with your goldfish as well. Mystery snails will be mostly ignored by your goldfish apart from maybe slight curiosity. And when you keep them in your tank, you’ll realise they require very little care.
If you’re going to keep mystery snails with your goldfish, just make sure there’s enough algae in the tank for them to eat.
Goldfish
And of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without including other goldfish. Both fancy goldfish and common goldfish can live together well, so it doesn’t matter whether you have comet goldfish, shubunkin goldfish, or fancy goldfish.
Just make sure you’re keeping your first goldfish in a tank which is at least 20 gallons in size, with an additional 10 gallons for every other goldfish. And of course, use a power filtration system to ensure the water stays clean!
Can You Mix Goldfish With Other Fish?
Goldfish are often peaceful, making them suitable tankmates for various community fish. In fact, because they are so calm, many fish can live with them. Just make sure you don’t choose fish that are mean or like to bite other fish’s fins so that your goldfish don’t get hurt.
The best fish to keep with goldfish are ones that have almost identical water requirements as goldfish do. This way, you won’t have to change the water parameters which will potentially stress one or both fish out. Since goldfish live in colder water than tropical fish, putting them in a tank with other cold water fish is your best choice.
Another important fact that people often forget is that goldfish poop more often, especially when they have overeaten food. If more fish waste is in the water, the ammonia level can rise quickly, which is terrible for your fish. Because of this, hardy fish that can handle dirtier water for a small period of time are your best choice.
And lastly, the best thing you can do is make sure you’re not mixing your goldfish with smaller fish. It’s not uncommon for goldfish to eat small fish, simply because they see them as food.
What To Look For In Goldfish Tank Mates?
Goldfish are a hardy and peaceful fish species that can do well with various tank mates. But make sure your goldfish are kept with fish that get along with them to keep both fish healthy and happy. Here are some characteristics of a great tank mate for your goldfish to live with.
1. Peaceful Temperament
Goldfish are peaceful fish, so it’s a good idea to keep them together with other fish that are also peaceful. Putting aggressive fish in the same tank as goldfish can stress out your goldfish, weakening its immune system and making it more likely to get sick. Aggressive tankmates can also attack and hurt your goldfish, leading to fin rot or infections.
2. Big Size
Goldfish aren’t aggressive, but if you put them in a tank with small fish that fit in their mouths, they might get eaten. Goldfish are opportunistic eaters, so you have to be careful about the fish you put in a tank with them. It’s best to keep bigger tankmates so they don’t get accidentally swallowed, especially during feeding.
3. Prefer Low Temperatures
Another thing that makes a good tankmate for your goldfish is a fish that likes cool water. Goldfish do best in water between 65°F and 75°F, so keeping them with fish that do well in this temperature range is good. That way, you won’t need to bother about maintaining a specific temperature range for the sake of your goldfish and the tankmate.
What To Avoid In Goldfish Tank Mates?
Even though goldfish are peaceful, friendly, and sociable fish, there are still many other fish species that shouldn’t come near your goldfish. To avoid stressing out both fish, you shouldn’t house species that don’t get along in the same tank. Here are some fish types you don’t want as tankmates for your goldfish.
1. Avoid Aggressive Fish
You shouldn’t put goldfish in a tank with fish that are aggressive. Goldfish are calm and peaceful fish that can’t defend themselves if attacked by other fish. If aggressive fish keep picking on them, they could get stressed or hurt. When this happens, your goldfish’s immune system can weaken, killing it in the long run.
2. Avoid Small Fish
Goldfish are naturally curious and taste anything new, including plants, substrate, and tankmates. When choosing tank mates, consider how big a full-grown goldfish can get. If you think at any point, your fish could end up fitting in your goldfish’s mouth, then you should think twice about adding them to the tank.
3. Avoid Tropical Fish
Goldfish can live in a broader range of temperatures than most fish species, but they mostly like it cooler. This means you’ll have to keep the water in your aquarium cool, which isn’t suitable for most tropical fish. If you wanted to keep a goldfish and a tropical fish in the same tank, you would have to keep the temperature at a level neither fish likes.
4. Avoid Extra Sensitive Fish
You should never put goldfish in a tank with fish that need very clean water. Goldfish are known to make a lot of waste, which can cause spikes in ammonia and nitrate that could kill other fish in your tank. Most of the time, hardy fish that can handle small
Which Tank Mates Should You Avoid?
Even though goldfish are peaceful, there is still much fish you shouldn’t put in their tank. You should always be careful when choosing your goldfish’s tankmates to ensure the health of your goldfish and their tankmate. Here is a list of fishes that you shouldn’t keep with goldfish.
1. Barbs
Many species of barbs get along well with other fish in community tanks, but some tend to be half-aggressive. They will also pick on and bite the fins of goldfish and other slow-moving fish. Keeping your goldfish with barbs can cause a lot of stress, weakening their immune system, which is terrible for their health in the long run.
3. Cichlids
You also shouldn’t put cichlids in your goldfish’s tank because they are aggressive fish that can easily bother and stress out your goldfish. Cichlids also need warmer water, but goldfish need colder water. If you keep goldfish in warm water, their metabolism will speed up. This can cause them to make more waste, which is terrible for cichlids because they need clean water.
4. Arowanas
You shouldn’t put your arowana and goldfish in the same fish tank because the goldfish will likely end up getting eaten. The arowana fish can grow quite big and are pretty aggressive. They will eat goldfish if they are in the same tank as them. They also don’t have the same water temperatures, so keeping them together isn’t a good idea.
5. Oscar Fish
Keeping oscars and goldfish together is not a good idea because the two types of fish need water temperatures that are very different. Also, oscars will try to eat anything that fits in their mouths, including your goldfish. Together, these fish will make a lot of waste, which can quickly worsen the water quality and stress out both.
6. Discus Fish
Like the other fish on this list, the discus’ water needs differ greatly from those of goldfish. The water that discus fish like to swim in is much warmer than the water that goldfish like. Goldfish also poop a lot, making the water less clean, which can then lead to stressing the discus because they must always be kept in clean water.
7. Bettas
And of course, one of the most popular aquarium fish, the betta fish. While you may love to have both in a tank, it’s never a good idea to keep them together. Not only do they need completely different water temperatures, but your betta will most likely end up being aggressive towards your goldfish if kept in a tank with them.
(Find out more about bettas and goldfish.)
8. Hillstream Loaches
A lot of people say that you can keep goldfish and hillstream loaches together, however, this isn’t the case. Hillstream loaches prefer clean, well oxygenated, strong flowing water, whereas goldfish tend to be messy fish that can lower the quality of the water.
9. Corydoras Catfish
While technically it’s possible to keep goldfish and corydoras together, it’s not recommended. If you were to keep the two together in a lot of cases, the tank would be on the cold end for corydoras and the warm end for goldfish.
On top of this, a goldfish’s large size means that they may also end up nipping at your cory’s.
10. Platies
It’s also not a good idea to keep your goldfish with platies either. Although they’re both popular, platy fish require different water parameters than goldfish, especially when it comes to temperature and water quality.
How To Introduce Tank Mates To Your Goldfish?
Therefore, it’s essential to correctly add a new tankmate to your goldfish tank. Here is a step-by-step guide on introducing new tank mates for your goldfish.
1. Quarantine The New Fish
Before putting your new fish into the main tank, always quarantine them in a separate tank for at least two weeks. You may never know for sure if a fish is sick or not, so putting it in a quarantine tank lets it show signs of illness first. Doing this can help you prevent diseases and parasitic infections from entering your main goldfish tank.
2. Acclimate New Fish
After the new fish has been in the quarantine tank for a while, put it in a plastic bag and transfer it to the goldfish tank. Let it float for 15 minutes so that the water in the bag and aquarium are at the same temperatures. Then, open the plastic bag without letting any water out to the aquarium, allowing air to circulate inside for 15 more minutes.
3. Slowly Introduce The New Fish To The Water
After letting the new fish get used to the aquarium’s environment, you can now slowly add aquarium water to the bag to help the fish get used to your aquarium’s water chemistry. You need to pour half a cup of aquarium water into the open plastic bag. Keep doing this step every 15 minutes for at least two hours.
4. Transfer The Fish
After letting the new fish settle in for two hours, you can put it in the aquarium with your goldfish. Take the fish out of the bag with a small net and move them quickly to the aquarium. If you only have big fish nets, you can slowly pour the plastic bag into the fish net over the bucket, then quickly put the new fish into the tank.
5. Observe The New Tankmate And Goldfish
Leave the new fish with the goldfish for a few hours so the goldfish can get used to the new environment. Also, observe both fish and see if they start acting strange. In addition, you can also add a pinch of fish food to the aquarium to divert the attention of the goldfish and their new tankmate.
FAQ
Can You Mix Goldfish With Tropical Fish?
Most of the time, you shouldn’t put goldfish and tropical fish in the same fish tank. This is because most tropical fish need warm water to stay healthy and active, and goldfish need cool water, so they don’t get stressed out. However, some tropical fish can survive in the water conditions of some goldfish varieties.
Do Goldfish Eat Other Fish?
Goldfish are usually calm and don’t attack other fish, so they don’t usually eat other fish. But they will eat anything that fits in their mouth, even small fish. Make sure you don’t put small fish with goldfish so that the small fish don’t get eaten by accident.
Can Goldfish Be Cannibals?
Because goldfish are not predatory fish, goldfish will not eat other or their own kind. However, they will eat dead goldfish or smaller goldfish that are small enough to fit their mouths. Also, goldfish don’t have parental instincts, so they may eat their eggs or fries after breeding.
Can Goldfish And Shrimp Share The Same Tank?
Invertebrates like shrimp shouldn’t be kept in a tank with goldfish because they will happily eat them. But if you only have small goldfish and keep big shrimps like bamboo shrimps, the small goldfish will ignore the big shrimps. You can also put a lot of water plants in the fish tank to give your shrimp a place to hide.
Recap
Goldfish are a hardy and peaceful fish species that can get along with other fish in a tank. Even though they are friendly, you should always be careful about who they live with to ensure both fish are healthy and happy, as aggression can happen from time to time. Refrain from putting aggressive fish or fish that need clean water with goldfish to not stress them or their tankmate.
Now you know all the best tank mates for your goldfish, leave your comment below, with which your favourites are!