60 Gallon Tank How fast do I need to get my goldfish a buddy

My 7yo goldy passed away today due to dropsy. Third time she had it, can't believe she survived the first two, but this time just hit her too fast.

She was a common, but had bonded very strongly to my fantail. My fantail, Artemis, always followed her everywhere, wanted to eat what she was eating, and was rarely more than a foot away. While she was sick, Artemis didn't go further than 6 inches away, even after she passed, right up until I removed her body from the tank.

I don't know the current opinions on shoaling fish or how important having multiples in, but Artemis clearly likes having another fish around.

I'm personally having a hard time dealing after having her for so long, and I don't want to rush into getting another fish, but I'm worried about how stressed Artemis will get without another fish in the tank. There's just plants and a handful of snails. I know most online retailers are either closed or struggling to fill orders, and I haven't actually been to a pet store for 4 months, so I'm unsure if they're even selling goldfish. I do have a quarantine tank, of course I'd quarantine, and that just adds to the length of time she'd be alone

 

She won't be stressed at all and might actually end up healthier overall.

 

She won't be stressed at all and might actually end up healthier overall.

Why healthier?

 

How is she acting right now?

 

How is she acting right now?

For the first 3/4 hours after my goldfish passed she literally just stayed in the spot where she died, which is the spot with most plants/hiding areas. Didn't come to greet me at first, like she normally does. She seems okay and is going about the tank normally but isn't as active, just swimming for a few seconds then drifting for a while. Interrupted swimming is normal for her, but she's started bottom sitting a bit as well, which isn't normal. No pineconing.

 

Aww this is so sad! Sorry for your loss, I'm sure the other fish will be okay in the end.

 

Why healthier?

Goldfish are very messy fish that need pretty large tanks, and are not considered a schooling fish. Removing one makes the water quality twice as good at all times basically. Also they don't have emotions or feelings like friendship and fun. That's called anthropomorphism.

 

Goldfish are very messy fish that need pretty large tanks, and are not considered a schooling fish. Removing one makes the water quality twice as good at all times basically. Also they don't have emotions or feelings like friendship and fun. That's called anthropomorphism.

They're not schooling, they're shoaling. Nitrates are under 20ppm. I've had goldfish for 7 years, they need the company of another. Removing one absolutely does not make the water quality magically better. If it was bad in the beginning, it was due to poor maintenance.

Shoaling fish need company, this isn't something new. They get stressed when they are alone. Artemis is bottom sitting basically for the first time ever, I'm not projecting emotions. It's weird that you think a 60 gallon is two small for 2 tiny fancies. It also seems a bit weird that you replied to a goldfish thread when you don't seem to know much about goldfish? A 30 gallon is normally considered fine for 2 fancies, heck, some people do fine with a 20 long.

I don't appreciate the assumptions you made, you skipped over Artemis' symptoms entirely, as well as the listed tank size and age of my goldfish. You didn't bother to ask how my parameters were, just made the assumption they were bad. I don't like the unfounded implication that it's better my fish died.

 

I'd wait till you find another twin tail you like, then add it to your tank.

 

2 fish isn't a shoal. Shoaling fish tend to be aggressive when in too small of a school at any rate. Get 5 more then.
I said your fish would be fine indefinitely without another one. "Might" means it's a possibility, or other identical things. Not to be confused with mite which is a little bug. If you're seriously worried about the mental health of your fish, but are afraid to get another one, get a fake one. Or even tape some orange construction paper to the side of the tank in the shape of fish.
I was trying to say the water in your tank will foul half as fast. Good luck.

 

2 fish isn't a shoal. Shoaling fish tend to be aggressive when in too small of a school at any rate. Get 5 more then.
I said your fish would be fine indefinitely without another one. "Might" means it's a possibility, or other identical things. Not to be confused with mite which is a little bug. If you're seriously worried about the mental health of your fish, but are afraid to get another one, get a fake one. Or even tape some orange construction paper to the side of the tank in the shape of fish.
I was trying to say the water in your tank will foul half as fast. Good luck.

Please stop replying to the thread with misinformation. You literally know nothing about the history of the tank or how many I had. You seem to be confused on what shoaling fish are; they are not schooling fish, they do not form schools, and Google is a free resource. I have nitrogen fixing bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrogen gas. The parameters are fine. It does not foul. It's full of plants. Oxygen levels are amazing. If it leave it for a week without water changes, the nitrates do not change, the gH and kH do not change, the pH is stable. I can leave it for a month with the nitrates only rising 10ppm, but I actually care about my animals so obviously I don't. Stop making random assumptions about my tank. If you need to know about any aspect, which you don't, since it doesn't apply to the question I'm asking, you can just ask instead of assume.

[Or even tape some orange construction paper to the side of the tank in the shape of fish]

This is just rude. I've clearly outlined new behavioral patterns that you either did not read or simply do not care about that clearly show why this is an ignorant suggestion. Where do you see me being "afraid" to get another one? This entire thread is about getting another one! And I have no idea why you felt you needed to talk about mites for half your response. You doubled down in your last comment about her being "healthier" so you can't backtrack now.

 

All i said was the fish would be fine by itself. Which is a true and factual statement. Don't get triggered over true and factual statements and you won't have to resort to construction paper fishes.

 

I think that Artemis will be okay without a friend for a bit and that you should wait to get another goldfish when you are ready. You don’t have to jump to get another.

PS - food plays a big role in dropsy I’ve noticed. I lost 5 guppies and 2 bettas because I was feeding them Omega One. Switched foods and it never happened again.

 

Eh, personally I think goldfish together has always been confusing. I would advise getting another one, but if her behavior is fine then theres no need to, in fear of "messing up" the "balance". I've heard multiple stories of problems with keeping goldfish together, which is why I say most or usually since when I had goldfish, even though I was inexperienced that always interacted with each other in a, as far as I could SEE, good way. But I've also heard(and experienced) when a single goldfish with just even one more does much better. I do not know your tank size, but if it were big enough for both then why would it not be big enough for another one? Unless you go ahead and adopt a 13 inch fish(although tank size has always been debated).

However, I would watch out for other things too. I think its a possibility that if her behavior changes negatively, it may not be out of loneliness, but maybe sickness? I mean the cause of dropsy, since I have read that some people, after experiencing dropsy, do have other issues later. I hope this made sense.

 

Eh, personally I think goldfish together has always been confusing. I would advise getting another one, but if her behavior is fine then theres no need to, in fear of "messing up" the "balance". I've heard multiple stories of problems with keeping goldfish together, which is why I say most or usually since when I had goldfish, even though I was inexperienced that always interacted with each other in a, as far as I could SEE, good way. But I've also heard(and experienced) when a single goldfish with just even one more does much better. I do not know your tank size, but if it were big enough for both then why would it not be big enough for another one? Unless you go ahead and adopt a 13 inch fish(although tank size has always been debated).

However, I would watch out for other things too. I think its a possibility that if her behavior changes negatively, it may not be out of loneliness, but maybe sickness? I mean the cause of dropsy, since I have read that some people, after experiencing dropsy, do have other issues later. I hope this made sense.

60 gallon, she isn't acting right at all and started bottom sitting, no signs of pineconing. I am continuing with the treatment for this week just in case, but the one that passed has had dropsy 2 other times and didn't pass it to the others (used to be 5). She only started showing stress symptoms after my fish passed, though of course it is possible she too is sick. Highest nitrates ever got were a bit over 40, normally sit around 20.

I've never had issues with fancies interacting and they always were much more active when around others of their own kind (all different breeds but close enough) so I do want to get her a friend at some point, but I just need to know if I need to do this quickly or not as I don't want to get another for some time until I've grieved more. But if it has to be done sooner, it will be.

As far as a balance goes, my common was never aggressive to the fancies, even though she was by herself for 3 and a half years before I introduced them, and seemed to be less stressed with other fish around. Though she didn't interact with the fancies in the same way the fancies interacted with each other or with her. Haven't had any problems with introductions with goldfish, but I could have just been lucky, who knows.

 

I would wait a little until you get a new fish, just until Artemis's symptoms clear up, and to give you some time to adjust.
I'd make sure the parameters are perfect, and I would put Artemis in QT and continue the treatment to be healthily cautious. Don't go overboard, but do be careful, and monitor closely. She is most likely very stressed from the changing parameters brought on by a sick fish, and the loss of her buddy who has been with her for so long. She will probably do well to have a new friend, but not until she is taken care of first.
Aside from Artemis's symptoms, after a fish's death, I think it's important to wait a little while before getting a new one, so you can have time to grieve, and to accept the loss, so you can love your new fish to the fullest. It sounds a little silly, but you want to be ready for your new fish, and avoid trying to replace the other one.

When you do get your next fish, I would order online, from somewhere good, like lewnews on ebay, or King Koi. You will have a larger selection to choose from, and you don't have to go anywhere. And I don't think I have to tell you this, but just to remind you-Don't forget to quarantine!

 

I would wait a little until you get a new fish, just until Artemis's symptoms clear up, and to give you some time to adjust.
I'd make sure the parameters are perfect, and I would put Artemis in QT and continue the treatment to be healthily cautious. Don't go overboard, but do be careful, and monitor closely. She is most likely very stressed from the changing parameters brought on by a sick fish, and the loss of her buddy who has been with her for so long. She will probably do well to have a new friend, but not until she is taken care of first.
Aside from Artemis's symptoms, after a fish's death, I think it's important to wait a little while before getting a new one, so you can have time to grieve, and to accept the loss, so you can love your new fish to the fullest. It sounds a little silly, but you want to be ready for your new fish, and avoid trying to replace the other one.

When you do get your next fish, I would order online, from somewhere good, like lewnews on ebay, or King Koi. You will have a larger selection to choose from, and you don't have to go anywhere. And I don't think I have to tell you this, but just to remind you-Don't forget to quarantine!

Thank you very much, I greatly appreciate it! I actually love king koi, got three wonderful fish from them before, maybe I should give em another go!

Personally it is hard to deal with getting another, I don't want to feel like I'm replacing my baby, but I feel like I'd be doing an injustice to Artemis if she needs a buddy soon.