Mixing goldfish with other fish

[Maxxsgirl]

I recently took in 3 goldfish and 2 tuffies from my place of work where they were no longer wanted. Not the fish I would have chosen to start with, but I have them nonetheless and I enjoy them quite a bit.

I just purchased a 36 gallon acrylic tank to move them into. I understand they'll eventually need a much bigger space, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I was having a conversation with a coworker about my new tank and what I'd be able to add to it, and he said to me that goldfish are coldwater fish and coldwater fish tend to harbour disease, so I'll never be able to add fish successfully to my tank because of disease and temperature differences. How much of this is the truth, and what will I be able to do with my 36 gallon tank?

[Faith_at_Large]

Temperature is a huge issue, and regardless of whether or not goldfish carry disease, you will want to be sure that any other fish you put with them are also suitable for cold water temperatures and not tropical fish. A warm water fish would be too stressed out and more susceptible to disease in a cold water environment, even if goldfish were the cleanist fish in town.

There are many varieties of fancy goldfish that would make a lovely addition to your tank. Some can be quite beautiful with long fins and interesting head and eye shapes. You can even get them in black.

Goldfish, if cared for, can live a very long time (10-12 years) and get fairly large so if you do not just love them, you may wish to seek someone with a pond (one one who wants to build one) or who just loves goldfish.

There are fish compatibility websites that might have some alternative tank mates for your little buddies.

Good luck.

[Fishguy2727]

What is the scientific name of the tuffies?

Are the goldfish fancy, round-bodied or the long torpedo shaped ones?

[Maxxsgirl]

I work at a nature preservation where we feed feeder fish to snakes, turtles, etc. A few favorite fish (aka the pretty ones) weren't fed and eventually, as we ran out of space in our feeder tank downstairs, they had to go home with someone, and here I am.

So I have torpedo shaped feeder goldfish (exactly what type, I don't know) and I think the tuffies are rosy red minnows (Pimephales promelas). I've read that the slower moving fancy godfish aren't a good edition to a tank with fast fish because they can't compete for food. And I'd prefer to not take on more goldfish, as they do get quite large and eventually I'll have to rehome them or figure out a proper solution ie. making myself a pond.

I'd never mix tropical and coldwater fish. I haven't gone out and purchased any books yet, but I'm well aware of this from what I've gleaned off the internet and by using some of that awesome common sense :ezpi_wink1:.

[Fishguy2727]

If you add more goldfish they would have to be torpedo type (the exact type does not matter). Since you don't want more goldfish there are some other fish that may be fine. I personally would not add anything since the tank is not big enough for what is in there now as they grow, so adding more will just mean that that bridge will come that much sooner. If you do decide to add more, dojo loaches would be fine, as would more roseys (to make for a school). White cloud mountain minnows would usually be fine, but I think they may end up as a treat to large enough torpedo shaped goldfish. Some also have good luck with certain species of snails for algae control.

[cocoa_pleco]

If you add more goldfish they would have to be torpedo type (the exact type does not matter). Since you don't want more goldfish there are some other fish that may be fine. I personally would not add anything since the tank is not big enough for what is in there now as they grow, so adding more will just mean that that bridge will come that much sooner. If you do decide to add more, dojo loaches would be fine, as would more roseys (to make for a school). White cloud mountain minnows would usually be fine, but I think they may end up as a treat to large enough torpedo shaped goldfish. Some also have good luck with certain species of snails for algae control.

ditto with loaches. a weather loach is good and coldwater

[Rue]

I've never heard of CW fish harbouring disease just because they're CW fish...

However, although some people have mixed goldies with tropicals, it's not the best environment for either...since you have the goldies living at the top of their temperature range and the tropicals at the bottom of theirs...

Fancy goldfish and single-finned goldfish don't mix...again, it's not set in stone, but is a logical practice. Comets are faster, more aggressive and get to the food first...plus, they get a lot bigger...

Even bubble-eyes and celestials should be kept as a variety-only tank...they have limited vision and feeding is difficult for them...and they are also easily injured...

[Lady Hobbs]

Your co-worker is correct. That's why goldfish and warm water fish are not together in the fish stores.

[cocoa_pleco]

when i first got fish i mixed tropicals with goldies, and trust me, its no good. The goldfish's metabolism goes really fast, and they lose about 50% of their average life.

[gm72]

This is all very good advice. I agree as well, I wouldn't add more fish since you are already overstocked for the future. I'd just hold off, plan on your larger tank, and have fun with your current tank when it comes time to move its current inhabitants.