Goldfish Setup Question

I used to hate goldfish because they were always boring gold, they got huge, and they make a big mess. I have never owned a goldfish. Now I have discovered black moor and shubunkin goldfish. I am planning on getting one in the near future. I only want one, at the very most two. I have a 20-gallon fish tank that will be available for me to use when the three fish that are currently in it die. I have no idea when that will be, but when they are gone I can put a goldfish in it. It has a sponge filter rated for a 35-gallon tank in it, and if needed I could also put in a Tetra Whisper 10-30I filter. Could I keep one black moor and/or one shubunkin in it? If I bought a 30-40 gallon tank, how many goldfish could I put in it? So basically my main question is, what is the smallest/cheapest set up for one or two goldfish?

 

My two Fantails are now in a 20-gallon. They will move soon to a 29-gallon tank. If I could start over, I would plan everything else around a 48" long, 40-gallon breeder tank for two fancy goldfish.

 

Goldiemom

 

Shubunkins and black moors should not be kept together. Do not mix singletails (includes shubunkins) with fancies (such as moors).

Shubunkins get to around a foot long and need a massive tank.

Fancies stay smaller and cannot swim as fast but most still reach around 8" and make a lot of waste.

Don't just get one, they are very social fish. But 20 gallons isn't big enough for any. Bare minimum for fancy goldfish is a 40 gallon with 2 fancies.

Be careful what substrate you use. Sand is best since they like sifting through it. Bare bottom is ok and easily cleaned. Large pebbles can work to but don't use gravel -they can choke on it.

 

I used to hate goldfish because they were always boring gold, they got huge, and they make a big mess. I have never owned a goldfish. Now I have discovered black moor and shubunkin goldfish. I am planning on getting one in the near future. I only want one, at the very most two. I have a 20-gallon fish tank that will be available for me to use when the three fish that are currently in it die. I have no idea when that will be, but when they are gone I can put a goldfish in it. It has a sponge filter rated for a 35-gallon tank in it, and if needed I could also put in a Tetra Whisper 10-30I filter. Could I keep one black moor and/or one shubunkin in it? If I bought a 30-40 gallon tank, how many goldfish could I put in it? So basically my main question is, what is the smallest/cheapest set up for one or two goldfish?

Hello Allie...

Goldfish are beautiful fish and very active. I like them as much as my tropicals. I keep an Oranda, some Veiltails, Calicos, a Comet and the standard type too. You can have a couple or more young Goldfish in a 20 gallon. It takes years of very good care for them to get large. I have 20 young Goldfish in a 75 gallon tank and they've got plenty of room. Yes, eventually, they'll need a larger place, but that's years down the road.

Goldfish are social, so get a few small fish for your 20 gallon, but with the idea that they'll need a larger tank or pond at some point. Just keep their water very clean, with 50 percent water changes every week, no slacking.

Old

 

I have a 40 breeder tank with three fancies in it, two oranda and one Black Moor. I love my black moor, "Podrick" a lot but he seems so much laid back and "boring" if you will compared to my orandas. Then again I've read/heard that they should be kept in a species only tank because of their poor eye sight so that may be why he isn't as active. Personally I don't have the heart to break up the trio since I inherited from a dear friend, but in the future I would love to get another 40 breeder (over my husband's dead body) and get him a little black moor friend. They are adorable (and addictive!), welcome to the goldfish world!

EDIT** to answer your question, I would say a 30 gallon is the lowest I would go for two fancies. I'm not sure how cheap it is, but I would keep an eye out on craigslist. I found my 40 breeder for only 20$!!

 

Hello Allie...

Goldfish are beautiful fish and very active. I like them as much as my tropicals. I keep an Oranda, some Veiltails, Calicos, a Comet and the standard type too. You can have a couple or more young Goldfish in a 20 gallon. It takes years of very good care for them to get large. I have 20 young Goldfish in a 75 gallon tank and they've got plenty of room. Yes, eventually, they'll need a larger place, but that's years down the road.

Goldfish are social, so get a few small fish for your 20 gallon, but with the idea that they'll need a larger tank or pond at some point. Just keep their water very clean, with 50 percent water changes every week, no slacking.

Old

I’m afraid the growth rate is incorrect unless I am just an amazing goldfish keeper. My 2” comet is now 9” a year later. My 1” Blackmore baby) is now 4” less than a year later. My calico, fancy, and butterfly went from 2” less than a year ago to 4”+ in less than a year. A small 2” goldie will make it in a 20 but only one! Otherwise, 6 months down the line you are going to be scrambling for more space. Here’s a few pics to prove my point...top pic of each fish is when I first got them and one below is current, less than a year later with the exception of the comet which is the large one in the pond I had to build him...6 months later!

 

Let me add that my females, 2 black moors and a calico are in a 55G, my boys, the telescope and a large fancy are in a 29G, and my comet is now in my 125G garden pond.

 

I’m afraid the growth rate is incorrect unless I am just an amazing goldfish keeper. My 2” comet is now 9” a year later. My 1” Blackmore baby) is now 4” less than a year later. My calico, fancy, and butterfly went from 2” less than a year ago to 4”+ in less than a year. A small 2” goldie will make it in a 20 but only one! Otherwise, 6 months down the line you are going to be scrambling for more space. Here’s a few pics to prove my point...top pic of each fish is when I first got them and one below is current, less than a year later with the exception of the comet which is the large one in the pond I had to build him...6 months later!

HI Goldie...

You are an extraordinary Goldfish keeper! I keep a lot of Goldfish in larger tanks and they don't grow that fast! I've got about 30. 20 in a 75 gallon tank and 10 in a 38 gallon tank. These will all get larger, but not until they're a few years old. I keep them in very clean tanks and feed a variety of foods too. I'm brainstorming a 300 G pond, but from what I've seen from my Goldfish, I've got a couple of years anyway before I need to move them. You must have some type of Koi.

Old

 

Hello Allie...

Goldfish are beautiful fish and very active. I like them as much as my tropicals. I keep an Oranda, some Veiltails, Calicos, a Comet and the standard type too. You can have a couple or more young Goldfish in a 20 gallon. It takes years of very good care for them to get large. I have 20 young Goldfish in a 75 gallon tank and they've got plenty of room. Yes, eventually, they'll need a larger place, but that's years down the road.

Goldfish are social, so get a few small fish for your 20 gallon, but with the idea that they'll need a larger tank or pond at some point. Just keep their water very clean, with 50 percent water changes every week, no slacking.

Old

HI Goldie...

You are an extraordinary Goldfish keeper! I keep a lot of Goldfish in larger tanks and they don't grow that fast! I've got about 30. 20 in a 75 gallon tank and 10 in a 38 gallon tank. These will all get larger, but not until they're a few years old. I keep them in very clean tanks and feed a variety of foods too. I'm brainstorming a 300 G pond, but from what I've seen from my Goldfish, I've got a couple of years anyway before I need to move them. You must have some type of Koi.

Old

lol. No koi at all. Just some Petco and Petsmart goldies. I did order one. I swear by New Life Spectrum Goodfish food and fresh veggies though. I also only keep a few fish in each tank. I think that affects their growth too.

 

Smallest that I've heard for two fancy goldfish is 30, but really you should be looking more around the 50 gallon mark. The fish will be a lot happier and healthier with the extra water. 40 gallon shouldn't be bad for 2 though so if you can get a 30 or 40 go for a 40.

Goldfish are messy so you should have high filtration; always go bigger to have your water filtered more times an hour. An air pump will also be beneficial since goldfish do well with high oxygen levels.

Also shubunkins get huge so they should be kept in a large tank or pond.