150 gal + goldfish question

So my fiancé and I have had our two 55 gals for a while the one is housing 6 goldfish and a sailfin Pleco we are working in the next six months of buying a 150 gal tank. Now I am still new to fish keeping we are getting the larger tank mainly due to the fact that we have one sail fin and my fiancé accidentally picked up another one. So they will definitely be going into the 150 gal tank. Now my question is can my goldfish go in that tank and life happy fishey lives?


Emilynn

 

Yes, they can.

 

Yeah i'm sure they will be fine. My .02 is that Plecos and Goldies should not be together though. Plecos love the flavor of goldfish slime coats. They will latch on and bobble up the slime coat if a Goldie is clumsy while sleeping. But as far as size...150 is pretty big and they'll be happy. Just wait till you see a 150 in person, they're monstrous compared to a 55

 

Yeah i'm sure they will be fine. My .02 is that Plecos and Goldies should not be together though. Plecos love the flavor of goldfish slime coats. They will latch on and bobble up the slime coat if a Goldie is clumsy while sleeping. But as far as size...150 is pretty big and they'll be happy. Just wait till you see a 150 in person, they're monstrous compared to a 55

I haven't ever seen my Pleco even try to do that they all are pretty cool together. And have pretty much been together since they were all pretty little and my gold fish are a pretty decent size. I've seen my telescope and calico bully him sometimes when it comes to his wafers but other than that they have been happy so far.


Emilynn

 

Sailfin plecos, depending on the type, are not as grumpy or aggressive as Common plecos. I had one, a Goldspot, for a while with my goldfish and she behaved herself until one goldfish was on its deathbed, floating at the top for days while I tried everything to get her down. At that point, it was just "taking out the trash" to the pleco. She saw a feeding opportunity and she was taking it, doing her job as a bottom feeder. Other than that, she was great with the goldfish, and never bothered them.

A pretty good rule is 20 gallon per fish when stocking goldfish. So your tank is a great size. You may see issues arise between the plecos as they grow, and depending on the type of Sailfins they are, you may need to rehome one to make tank maintenance a bit easier. Some get as large as several feet long, and with two of those, and six goldfish, that will get messy

 

I haven't ever seen my Pleco even try to do that they all are pretty cool together.
Emilynn

Fish are a lot smarter than we think. They do what we don't want them to do when we are not watching. They know when we are away or sleeping.

Is there any way you could keep Plecos in your 55G and Goldies in your new tank?

 

My one pleco that I had in the Goldie tank almost died when he was alone in his own tank when he was little. I am scared of that happening again. And I have heard the plecos could quickly out grow the 55. I was thinking if they are in the 150 I would like to start a second Goldie tank

 

You are the boss, and can do what you choose when it comes to your pets, but once Plecos taste Goldie slime coat they become addicted and don't stop till Goldie is no more. That threat is real.

 

He always has plenty to eat to not go after the Goldie's.

 

He always has plenty to eat to not go after the Goldie's.

HI Emilynn, what has been explained above is just a risk to consider. It may happen, it may not, just something for your to monitor or suspect if your goldies start showing signs of abuse. Best of luck with your large tank Please post pictures when its set up.

 

My only thing is how could that be possible a pleco is an omnivore. He sustains himself on mainly the algae in the tank in wafers. I have had him in a tank with dying Goldie's because I screwed up with my first tank and he never went after them. I think that is just his disposition. If he has food hand fed to him pretty much everyday then why go for the Goldie's. That is just how it's been. I have never had problems being in the same tank and everyone's tank experience is a different one. I understand it's something to look for but my Goldie's don't bother him and he lets them be. I chose to hand feed him due to my goldfish would steal his wafers. So I mean I am not trying to argue with anyone but I don't appreciate feeling like I am being scolded for knowing my fish and their temperaments they are just like any other kind of animal with their own personality and temperaments.

 

I hope you don't consider my posts "scolding." I apologize if you do as it is not my intent. A few months ago we lost a Goldie, for reasons we were not aware about in advance. I took it very hard. As Riv says, we just want you to be aware about the risks.

 

I was taking rivs more as scolding seeing as he and I do not see very eye to eye. I understand there are risks but that comes with any aquarium. I think of my fish like someone would think of dogs or cats in such as a dog can hate cats or vise versa or they can get along pretty well if handled with care. I feel all my fish have personalities of their own. Pin the sense my Pleco is pretty laid back and chill. But thank you for the concern.


Emilynn

 

It's not very often a fish gets to live in a 150 Gallon. Your fish are all very lucky to have an owner like you

Btw, where did you end up getting a 150? New, used? They're so ridiculously expensive where I live

 

I really do not think you were being scolded by Riv. I think he was just trying to say keep an eye out for problems, because there is that potential.

I know when someone doesn't agree with your point of view it can sound like scolding, but in reality people are just trying to be helpful. Remember that FishLore's rules do not require you to follow any advice given. If you feel the advice isn't helpful, rather than feeling scolded, just ignore it knowing that the person meant well.

 

I'll just add my .02

You said yourself you are new to fish keeping. I've kept them and studied them (as an aquarist) for 43 years. Let me just tell you that even though you know your plec.... you don't know your plec. They can turn. It might not, but it might, and none of us have any way of predicting it. For this reason I would not risk a large plec with fish I was attached to unless they were able to defend themselves, which goldfish never will be.

Also your goldfish will have reduced lifespans if you keep them at tropical temperatures, which the plecs should be at.

Also most large plecs, including Sailfins, are territorial towards other bottom-dwellers, and especially other plecs. Two will probably not live together even in a 150.

A 55 is not big enough for a Sailfin plec, in my opinion.

 

When hampalong talks I listen. . I felt the same way about my Betta in my community tank. Everything was perfect. They all loved each other until one morning we woke up to a total massacre. I also did not believe EricV when he told me that Golden Dojo Loahes kill snails. My favorite Dojo proved me wrong.
As to Riv he is the gentlest of our Mods and as knowledgeable as he is diplomatic. I love when Mods comment on my posts, this is how I learn. My goal is to keep my fish thriving. Information coming from Mods is a lot more reliable than from those of us who are still learning and have more good intentions than actual experience.