Best Goldfish For 20g (somewhat Beginner)?

I've been fish keeping for 12 months and I'm considering starting over and getting a goldfish.
I have a 20 gallon tall w/ two AquaClear 30 filters.

I'd like to get a fish that grows big enough (and attractive enough) for my family to appreciate (they're not impressed with any of the tropical fish I've tried this past year - gouramis, glofish, mollies, platies, rasboras, tetras, betta, otos, shrimp, snails, loaches, cories...). I've taken many fish back to the LFS.

They want Discus. I can't afford that hobby, nor do I feel I'm experienced enough. So Goldfish is my next best idea.

A few questions (if you don't feel like answering all of them please answer anything you're willing to):
(1) What Goldie do you recommend (for a somewhat beginner w/ a 20 gallon tall)?
My research says Fantails & Ryukin would be good options. Yes? Any others?

(2) Are there any other fish I can keep w/ it?
I believe I am limited to a single Goldfish, but can I have some larger cold water minnows, or anything else?

(3) What are the practices I need to change?
I've found a good rhythm for keeping beginner tropical fish. I'm guessing the practices for keeping Goldies might be a bit different.

Thank you!

 

1. None... particularly in a tall. One goldfish barely works in a 20 gallon to begin with, but in a tall I wouldn’t do it.
2. Once again, none. Or at least, none in this tank. The bioload and space is already going to be pretty tight and adding more fish to the hat will just cause issue.
3. Granted I have never actually housed a Goldie prior, I don’t believe you need to do much special. Just ensure the temp is at a good place and be on top of the parameters since they have high bioloads.

 

HI there! It made me so happy to see your post. I think goldfish are largely underrated. As for your questions...

(1) What Goldie do you recommend (for a somewhat beginner w/ a 20 gallon tall)?
I agree with you, fantails are great as a pet. I keep an oranda, a pinkie, and a black moor. I like the orandas because of their wen, but it kind of looks like a brain so it might not be the best idea for impressing a family (who sounds hard to impress lol). The black moor is pretty because of the stark color, but I'm super biased as he was my first ever fish in the hobby. Personally, I always look for fish that like to interact with me. It makes for a more enjoyable experience when your fish isn't timid or scared of movement. One side note, be careful not to over decorate your tank because they require a significant amount of swimming space.

(2) Are there any other fish I can keep w/ it?
Yeah, what you read is correct. You really aren't supposed to keep any other fish with goldfish. From my experience you're facing two battles... One is that the other fish could pose a threat to your goldie (ex. out compete for food, or try to eat the goldfish - plecos are notorious for the latter). The other is that your goldfish could harm the other fish. They are super messy fish and produce a lot of waste, both in ammonia and poop and this tends to be damaging to other fish you put in the tank. I would recommend just keeping your goldfish by itself, they won't get lonely.
On a side note, I have broken the "keep only goldfish in a tank" rule. I was offered some fry that was going to be given as food to some bigger fish at the LPS and they are living happily in my tank. Though, this isn't good practice imo and was a stupid decision on my part.

(3) What are the practices I need to change?
With a 20 gallon tank, it's important to keep up on water changes. It's pretty similar for your tropical fish. The only difference I've noticed in keeping both is that goldfish LOVE to beg for food. I have caught myself overfeeding, and had to scold my family members for doing the same thing. It's easy to do. But overall, water changes are the most important. One thing you might want to look out for: goldfish are natural scavengers. They like to pick at the substrate to find hidden goodies and the rocks can get lodged in their mouths, so be careful about that.

Welcome to the hobby and I hope you like it! This is exciting! Please let me know if you have any more questions or need a sounding board!
Bailey

 

I wouldn't do goldfish in a 20 gallon - my fantails are in a 90-gallon pond and use all the space, constantly on the move and love exploring.
If your family wants something interesting, why not an axolotl?
They may not be fish, but they are incredibly cool, aquarium pets.

 

My kids won 2 basic (I'll call them feeder goldfish) at the fair back in July while we were on vacation visiting my parents. Of course they had to keep them. We initially bought just a cheap 2.5 gal to put them in while we were at my parents house (honestly, I was hoping they would perish)...they did not. I transported them 726 miles back home in the back of the SUV (again, thinking they might just not make it...they did). I still did not have high hopes for these fish, but wouldn't you know it, they thrived and I had to move them to another tank...so I bought a 10 gal...and now a 20 gal where they are now residing, but still growing.

I have since gotten back into the hobby because of these 2 goldfish, and now have a 55 gal with guppies, mollies, angelfish, platys, corys, mystery snails, and neons...and all are living in harmony.

My gold fish aren't fancy, they have names (unlike the fish in the 55 gal) and my kids greet them every morning just like they would a dog. My advice is to get a fish that your kids can name. I wouldn't put a goldfish in a 20 gal cause it will outgrow it eventually. I would think that maybe an angel fish, or even a pair of angels would do ok in your tank...since it's a tall, angelfish swim all over (at least mine do), and they are pretty and interesting, and will grow to a decent size.

 

Goldfish should not be considered for a 20 gallon.

There are many many suitable fish that can thrive in a 20 gallon so pick one of those.

 

Goldfish should not be considered for a 20 gallon.

There are many many suitable fish that can thrive in a 20 gallon so pick one of those.

It's relatively agreed upon that one goldfish can live comfortably in a 20g, but you should add an additional 10 gallon per goldfish added (1 is 20, 2 is 30 so on). If this is incorrect, I have some upgrading to do... and that probably needs to happen quickly. Where did you hear this? Is it reputable or from experience?

 

Hi. I personally would not keep a goldfish in a 20g. Goldfish will survive in a small tank because they are almost impossible to kill - which is why they are so popular. If you are happy with an animal 'surviving', then go for it. Goldfish like to swim. Get them a bigger tank. Some of the fancier frilly-finned varieties don't swim as much so get one of those. Definitely not a normal or comet or shubunkin.

The most important advice I have is - don't buy a living creature to impress someone. Buy the one that suits you and you will enjoy. Goldfish are great pets - they are interactive like dogs and, in a big tank will get HUGE. My two will impress most people just because of their size.

If you want something pretty for your tank, go for an Angelfish. Some of them are gorgeous and they are happy floating about. If it doesn't have to be a fish, get something like a yabbie or crayfish. They are amazing pets. Hilarious to watch and interactive. Just be careful with anything else you want in the tank.

 

I would reccomend against both angels and goldies in a 20 gallon tank. They grow large, require space and do much better in larger tanks.

Consider some of the dwarf cichlids - like apistogramma? They got a lot of personality, and you could keep one or a pair in a 20 gallon with some other fish - like tetras, rasboras or the like.

Larger fish require larger tanks - or at least larger than what you're providing... have you and your family gone to a pet store together to look at fish and see what they like? Are they drawn to bright colours, movement, shape or anything above?

 

If you do decide on a goldfish, specifically the fancy variety, I'd get a simple Fantail or Ribbontail. They're common, so not difficult to find. Most importantly, they tend to be hardier. Most of the other fancies commonly sold have a lot of health issues.

 

I think 20 gallon is too small for goldfish and leaves very little room for error, so to speak. The smaller varieties of goldfish that I would recommend if you are insistent on trying a goldfish are the weirder ones. Telescope, Celestial Eye, maybe Fantails, and Pearlscale. these are generally not known to get more than 6" if you are providing the right environment for them. The only thing is that because of their features there will be some extra precautions you would need to take.

Usually goldfish prefer friends, but for those that don't have the best eyesight less competition would pull in their favor. However, in a 20 gallon you would be limited to the one fish, period. It's already a stretch to have one goldfish in a 20 gallon as it is, no more and you should have less worries.

Because of their modified bodies, fancy goldfish are very susceptible to bladder issues. So you need to pay special attention to the type of food you feed the goldfish. Sinking foods are usually better so the goldfish isn't gulping air at the surface, and moist foods, such as gel foods, presoaked prepared foods, veggies and fruits, frozen and live foods, further eliminate the chances of air getting stuck in their poorly evolved digestive tracts. It would be handy to have some peas on hand if needed. Frozen is fine, just defrost and blanch it and peel the skins off before serving. Goldfish are constant grazers so it is coded in their DNA to constantly forage for food. This means they will mouth at many things so avoid choking hazards like gravel (bare bottom or sand would be best), and they will eventually learn to associate you with feedings and will put on their best show to guilt you into feeding them extra. RESIST!! Trust me, it's for their own good. One or two SMALL feedings a day; as much as they will eat in 30 seconds to a minute. None of this 5 minute malarkey. Remember their squished digestive tracts, it's no different than a koi or comet but it's squished into the shortened bodies of these fancy goldfish.

If you go with a type of goldfish that features it's eyes, I personally implore you to exercise great caution with filtration, siphoning, or anything sharp in the tank. I still feel bad about leaving the siphon unattended during a water change and coming back to my brand new butterfly telescope goldfish stuck in the tube missing an eyeball. I was gone for all of 2 minutes. Thankfully she made a speedy recovery and is doing well. It's not difficult to damage their eyes. Either always supervise siphoning and take it out if you need to step out a bit, or put the goldfish in a separate container during maintenance. A prefilter over the filter intake can come in handy if you are concerned about that, I haven't had an issue with that but it's not to say that others haven't.

Over filter the tank. I would probably go so far as to get a 40 gallon rated filter for that 20 gallon tank. Water changes will still be very important, a weekly 50% would be a good start. Oxygenation is important too, so invest in an air pump.

I can't think of anything else, but dig into it further if you're about the goldfish idea. The web will tell you some controversial things about goldfish but if you find something that says fancy goldfish should be kept in a minimum 30 gallon tank with an additional 10 gallon per additional fish, and long-bodied goldfish should be kept in a minimum 50 gallon tank with an additional 20 gallon per additional fish, then it should be informative.

Otherwise, I agree with what ginger theredheeler said and that you shouldn't feel obligated to buy fish to impress others. Do what YOU want to do, because it will make taking care of it seem less like a chore and more like a hobby that you can thoroughly enjoy and not mind putting the work to do. Cheers.

 

1. None... particularly in a tall. One goldfish barely works in a 20 gallon to begin with, but in a tall I wouldn’t do it.
2. Once again, none. Or at least, none in this tank. The bioload and space is already going to be pretty tight and adding more fish to the hat will just cause issue.
3. Granted I have never actually housed a Goldie prior, I don’t believe you need to do much special. Just ensure the temp is at a good place and be on top of the parameters since they have high bioloads.

Thank you. Is it not safe to keep a Fantail Goldfish in a 20 gallon tall tank for a year and then upgrade?

Thank you everybody. This has been very helpful. A little discouraging as I thought a 20 gallon tall would be sufficient for a single Goldie, but I'm very grateful for the advice.
I'm leaning toward getting a Fantail and then upgrading later.
Also, as hard as I've tried to be happy with the fish that I like, I really want my whole family to love the fish. I want it to feel like a family pet, rather than "Dad's little fish that he likes". Maybe eventually I'll give that up, but for now I'm committed to that quest! I just hope that doesn't turn into a 100 gallon tank with Discus. That sounds overwhelmingly difficult. Fingers crossed for a 20 gallon Fantail that I can eventually get in a 30 gallon tank within 2019!

 

I've been fish keeping for 12 months and I'm considering starting over and getting a goldfish.
I have a 20 gallon tall w/ two AquaClear 30 filters.

I'd like to get a fish that grows big enough (and attractive enough) for my family to appreciate (they're not impressed with any of the tropical fish I've tried this past year - gouramis, glofish, mollies, platies, rasboras, tetras, betta, otos, shrimp, snails, loaches, cories...). I've taken many fish back to the LFS.

They want Discus. I can't afford that hobby, nor do I feel I'm experienced enough. So Goldfish is my next best idea.

A few questions (if you don't feel like answering all of them please answer anything you're willing to):
(1) What Goldie do you recommend (for a somewhat beginner w/ a 20 gallon tall)?
My research says Fantails & Ryukin would be good options. Yes? Any others?

(2) Are there any other fish I can keep w/ it?
I believe I am limited to a single Goldfish, but can I have some larger cold water minnows, or anything else?

(3) What are the practices I need to change?
I've found a good rhythm for keeping beginner tropical fish. I'm guessing the practices for keeping Goldies might be a bit different.

Thank you!

Wouldn't do goldfish in a tank that small. I think even a standard 55 gallon wouldn't be enough.

 

Thank you everybody. This has been very helpful. A little discouraging as I thought a 20 gallon tall would be sufficient for a single Goldie, but I'm very grateful for the advice.
I'm leaning toward getting a Fantail and then upgrading later.
Also, as hard as I've tried to be happy with the fish that I like, I really want my whole family to love the fish. I want it to feel like a family pet, rather than "Dad's little fish that he likes". Maybe eventually I'll give that up, but for now I'm committed to that quest! I just hope that doesn't turn into a 100 gallon tank with Discus. That sounds overwhelmingly difficult. Fingers crossed for a 20 gallon Fantail that I can eventually get in a 30 gallon tank within 2019!

Honestly, I can't help but think contrary to others, so I'm always questioning the status quo. In regards to goldfish, the majority are too focused on tank size, when the number one thing they should look at is feeding. Most people feed improperly. They feed way too much and the wrong kind of food. Feed lightly once or twice a day, and you should be fine. You'll know if, and when, you need to upgrade

 

Ideally you would purchase the correct size tank for the species you want to keep. This would reduce the chances of stunting or the unfortunate situation of the upgrade not happening.

I personally feel that a goldfish in a 20 gallon is underwhelming for me as a fishkeeper. I also feel that the goldfish deserves other fish to interact with and an environment that is stimulating i.e. where it can search for food etc. but I realise these are not automatic considerations for all people keeping fish.

I do have 20 gallon tanks that I find interesting and I am sure meet the needs of the fish. I have Golden White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Cardinal Tetras and African Dwarf Frogs (mine are in separate species tanks).

 

Honestly, I can't help but think contrary to others, so I'm always questioning the status quo. In regards to goldfish, the majority are too focused on tank size, when the number one thing they should look at is feeding. Most people feed improperly. They feed way too much and the wrong kind of food. Feed lightly once or twice a day, and you should be fine. You'll know if, and when, you need to upgrade

I agree, I try not to tell people what to do but at least try to dish out as much info as I can so they know what to possibly expect in the event that they do the thing anyway. In the end, it's what they want to do and really no one can stop them lol.

For a beginner I think more water volume gives them more room to mess up and still be able to recover. Especially with a waste factory like goldfish. In my little... book that I replied with lol... I stressed feeding and big filtration. So hopefully that will put OP on the right track. I have vague memories of my grandma keeping a massive goldfish in a 20g, the thing was easily 10" and it was older than me at the time, I was probably 7 at the time. The thing is though, she's quite a meticulous person so I think lots of water changes played a big role in keeping that beast big and healthy. It's not impossible, but for a beginner I want to encourage them to have the best chance possible.

 

Holy moley guys. I have been comfortably keeping my goldfish in a 36. I have two in there and one in a 20. How many gallons should I use for my two goldies?

I’m glad I said that because I wouldn’t have known. This just goes to show how little you should trust a big brand pet store right?

Sorry OP!
Bailey

 

what they are talking about is full grown goldfish (8-10" long).

if you start off with the small 2" long ones they'll be fine for a year or so in a 20G. as they get bigger you'll need to upgrade to a longer tank.

 

what they are talking about is full grown goldfish (8-10" long).

if you start off with the small 2" long ones they'll be fine for a year or so in a 20G. as they get bigger you'll need to upgrade to a longer tank.

Whew. Good okay. I didn’t want to doom my babies. What should I look for to tell when my tank is too small? I mean they’re both still growing and look happy, but I don’t know if they’re actually happy.

Yikes.

Thanks for your help and sorry for taking over your post OP,
Bailey

 

as long as they have plenty of room to swim around, and your parameters stay 0,0, <40

 

Whew. Good okay. I didn’t want to doom my babies. What should I look for to tell when my tank is too small? I mean they’re both still growing and look happy, but I don’t know if they’re actually happy.

Yikes.

Thanks for your help and sorry for taking over your post OP,
Bailey

Probably when you can tell they look a bit cramped and/or it's getting much more difficult to upkeep good water quality. In terms of space, you will want the depth of the tank (not the height) to comfortably allow the fish to turn around. If you have a 10 inch fish I would probably double that at least to give them a lot of turning room and allow them more comfort and room to forage and explore.

You should monitor your water parameters regularly, so if you notice higher readings when your feeding and maintenance regimen has not changed, you have to increase your maintenance regimen to keep up. Which is why I try to encourage over-filtering to help combat the growing goldfish waste production. But after a certain point you find yourself doing daily 80% water changes or something, you probably want to upgrade and give more water volume to distribute the wastes a bit more and give your fish some breathing room and give yourself a break.

 

Hello again,

I'm negotiating with someone on Facebook Marketplace for a 50 gallon tank.
If I'm able to get it please let me know:

1) Would you recommend having 2 Goldfish in a 50g? (a Fantail and Ryukin)
2) What's the minimum filter requirements for 2 Goldfish in a 50g?

 

Hello again,

I'm negotiating with someone on Facebook Marketplace for a 50 gallon tank.
If I'm able to get it please let me know:

1) Would you recommend having 2 Goldfish in a 50g? (a Fantail and Ryukin)
2) What's the minimum filter requirements for 2 Goldfish in a 50g?

Great find, OP!

A good rule of thumb that’s worked for my three tanks is a step above. Usually when at the store I see which one would fit my tank and then go for the next bigger filter. Sounds like a 75 gallon filter would work.

(But please wait for confirmation on that before purchasing one!!)

Hope this helps!
Baileu

 

Hello again,

I'm negotiating with someone on Facebook Marketplace for a 50 gallon tank.
If I'm able to get it please let me know:

1) Would you recommend having 2 Goldfish in a 50g? (a Fantail and Ryukin)
2) What's the minimum filter requirements for 2 Goldfish in a 50g?

1. 2 goldies is a 50 gallon would be good for them. If you want, you could add additions (1-2) without much issues and still keep it relatively understocked.

2. Some say get double what its rated for. For example, for your 50 gallon tank get a filter rated for a 100 gallon tank. Others reccomend a turnout per hour - like 8 - 10x the tank volume. Eg, for your tank you want something around 400-500g/h. IMO, but are great in gauging how much filtration you need, and are great starting points.

I think its definitely better to overfilter than under. Water circulation is just as important as media volume, and ensure that all areas of the tank are receiving some water flow.

 

I just got a 50 gallon tank

I'm considering doing a Goldfish tank.
Please let me know...
(1) which options would work
(2) which would be best
(3) which to absolutely not do

(50g tank w/ AquaClear 70 and 30)

OPTION 1



OPTION 2



OPTION 3



OPTION 4



OPTION 5

 

4 and 5. Guppies and minnows will end up as food once the goldies mature - been there, and would reccomend others not to do the same - and bloodfins tend to do better in water setups, while goldies do fine in water setups, ultimately do much better in cooler tanks.

You could add an additional fancy goldie (like another black moor, fantail, ryukin, telescope eye or oranda) without much issue as well.

 

4 or 5
I would also suggest you run only the AC 70 power filter. Stuff it with extra bio. Change the AC 30 to an air pump driven sponge filter.

 

I'd do option 5 and add some type of bottom feeder. The most common suggestion I've seen is bristlenose plecos, but you could also add some snails and shrimp if there's lots of hiding places (and as long as you're okay with some shrimp ending up as a snack).

 

I wouldn’t put a plecco in with Goldie’s......but that’s me.
I raised ranchu successfully with just nerrite snails for cleanup.
I tried mystery snails at first but my Goldie’s figured out how to get them out of the shell. Escargot anyone?

 

So it turned out to be a 45g, but I’m not complaining... tank & stand for $40!
It is now home to a baby Shubunkin, Ryukin and 2 Nerite Snails.
Thank you again for everyone’s help!

 

That’s a great tank for two fancy goldfish!

Unfortunately, the shubunkin is actually a long-bodied breed and will definitely outgrow that tank. It could also cause some problems for the ryukin since the fat bodied fish are slower swimmers, so long bodied goldies will often harass them and they can’t get away. If possible, I’d suggest returning the shubunkin and getting another “fancy” goldfish with a fat body. They won’t outgrow the tank and will be more compatible with your ryukin.

 

That’s a great tank for two fancy goldfish!

Unfortunately, the shubunkin is actually a long-bodied breed and will definitely outgrow that tank. It could also cause some problems for the ryukin since the fat bodied fish are slower swimmers, so long bodied goldies will often harass them and they can’t get away. If possible, I’d suggest returning the shubunkin and getting another “fancy” goldfish with a fat body. They won’t outgrow the tank and will be more compatible with your ryukin.

 

It seems like you just can’t catch a break...

Nice tank find though, it looks super nice!! Envious!