New to Goldfish. Have some question

Hello everyone,

As the title says I am very new to keeping goldfish. I have kept cichlids, livebearers, tetras, etc. For many years now but never goldfish and my sister is looking at getting her tank running again but with Goldfish.

I have done some research on them and for the most part I think I do have some sort of a grasp on things. I just wanted to confirm some of information I have seen with people more experienced.

Her tank is a 40 gallon bowfront. Sand substrate and a healthy amount of fake plants.

1. Size - I have read up to 5 inches. I thought they could get much bigger. How many could she keep? My guess is 2-3 at 5 inches if she had other fish with them.

2. Filter - She has a sponge filter right now. I have read that a hang on back or canister filter is better for goldfish

3. Tankmates - I have read varying things. One site said Rosy Barbs, I have known most barbs to be fin nippers. Others I have read are corydoras, danios, harlequin rasboras, smaller species of pleco.

I know danios don't mind cooler water but I thought the rest liked a warmer temp. From talking to her I know she would like at least 2 goldfish in her tank and if possible some sort of friends to go along with them.

 

1. what kind of goldfish? some get much larger than 5 inches.

2. I would use a hang-on-the-back filter to pull the detritus into it for easier removal, but I am not good at using sponge filters.

3. I have always assumed hat the best tank mates for a goldfish are more of the exact same species of gold fish. Goldfish are very social, and if you have room for other fish, it should be taken up by goldfish unless you have a much larger tank or pond. IMOP.

Rosey barbs get HUGE, 6-7 fat inches. I can see how they would mix with goldfish in a 1,000 gallon tank or pond but they don't belong in a 40-gallon, I am glad that you came to us before you bought them!

The key to keeping barbs is to have a large school of them in a large tank. I have kept overy many years, rosies, tigers, Odessa, and something im forgetting, but anyhow, they were never nippy. "Tiger barbs are crazy rambunctious" though I might have been lucky IDK?

Cories harleys, rasbora, and pleco are tropical fish that don't mix with goldfish. Plecos will suck on the sides of goldfish and eat their slime coating. "fishy immune system"

 

I figured some of the information I read didn't add up. Ty for the help!

As for what goldfish. I believe she was looking at lionheads, orandas and ranchus

sorry for the spam notifications my webpage is acting up

 

Orandas can easily reach 8 inches.
Would do 3 goldfish in a 40 gallon without any other tankmates (anything small enough to squeeze in will most likely get eaten as they grow)
Avoid smaller gravel as a substrate
If just looking to handle bioload sponge filters will work (won't clean up solids) but sponge on 1 side with hang on back on other works better imo.

 

I did some reading and noticed that Orandas and the like, as you said, can reach 8 inches. A pretty decent size for sure.

I was telling my sister I was not sure if she could do more than 1 or 2. She will be glad to hear that she could do up to 3.

Thank you for the feedback. Greatly appreciated

 

I did some reading and noticed that Orandas and the like, as you said, can reach 8 inches. A pretty decent size for sure.

I was telling my sister I was not sure if she could do more than 1 or 2. She will be glad to hear that she could do up to 3.

Thank you for the feedback. Greatly appreciated

Hope she’s also prepared to do big, frequent water changes. Goldfish are a bit more work than the average tropical fish and do best with at least 2 x 50% water changes weekly and several goldfish keepers I know do 3 changes.

Fancy goldfish should also never be given floating foods. They tend to gulp air with floating food and this often causes them to temporarily lose the ability to maintain their normal posture - they’ll be upside down or floating on one side ‘til the swallowed air passes on through. Sinking foods won’t cause this issue.

If it’s to be a gravel substrate, the pieces need to be big enough that a fish could not possibly swallow one or perhaps get it stuck in its jaws. They’re not overly clever about that sort thing of thing and they love to pick through gravel for tidbits they missed.

 

Oh wow. That is a lot of water changes. I will make sure to relay all this info to her and see if she still wants to go with goldfish

 

Oh wow. That is a lot of water changes. I will make sure to relay all this info to her and see if she still wants to go with goldfish

Yes, it is a lot of water changes but they do far better with them than without them. It’s one part of why goldfish often don’t live out a normal lifespan, which can be 20 years. Given great husbandry they can live a long, long life. Without it, they tend to die much sooner, which is a shame because they are such personable fish.

 

Starting out with small goldfish with 50% water changes a week will do, that's what I do, but as they get bigger, let's say Max size, they will definitely need more with just fake plants. You also want to avoid plastic plants as they can do damage to goldfish fins, but silk is ok. How much your nitrates build each week/day will play a huge role. In time though if you get Nitrate sucking plants that use up enough to keep it under 20ppm Nitrates a week you won't have to worry as much. As long as you're not purposely trying to grow them super fast with increased feedings, a high temp with a heater, and daily water changes, you should be fine. You can add up to three, but at least 2 will make the Nitrates lower and keep them happy and social. I keep one Ranchu and one Oranda in a 40 gallon, plan to get a third ranchu though, with two mouthful feedings a day, tank temp @ 75 degrees in the summer, 70 spring and fall, and about 65 - 70 in the winter. If lower than 65 their metabolism slows and feedings will need to decrease. I give a little less if it reaches 65 personally. Luckily mine have become buddy buddy, but it will do well not to mix up the varieties too much as I've recently learned and as stated above. With my two getting closer to about 2 1/2 - 3 + inches, the Nitrates barely reach 5ppm a week with java ferns, Hornwort, and pothos roots hanging in there. Up to your sister what she wants to do, but if you want cute and silly aqua puppies, I highly recommend, but I love 'em so I'm biased. Lol

Oh and they do need at least double filtration, I use extra, two HOBs and one sponge.

 

Oh and they do need at least double filtration, I use extra, two HOBs and one sponge.

Yes, you always need double the filtration for goldfish.

 

Thank you all for the replies/information. It has been very helpful. My sister has decided to look for something else to keep as far as fish go. She was really looking forward to some Goldfish but wasn't prepared for just how much attention they truly need to thrive.

 

Thank you all for the replies/information. It has been very helpful. My sister has decided to look for something else to keep as far as fish go. She was really looking forward to some Goldfish but wasn't prepared for just how much attention they truly need to thrive.

Sorry, we tend to scare away people! But regardless of fish species understocking and over filtration us always a good idea. Basically the rule. What if the filter goes bad in the holidays? And sometimes you just gotta HAVE this particular fish!

 

Hi I just got a oranda goldfish. It’s still a juvie.my question for you is are you looking to put live plants in the aquarium? They are notorious plant eaters and lol mine love to dig my plants up and it’s not even full grown goldfish. If you are considering plants it be limited ones that has a chance to survive your goldfish. The ones I learn that be good for a goldfish tank in my research are: anubias, Java fern and sword plant be best for a goldfish tank. Other than that they are very curious, active but clumsy fish. I only had mine for about two weeks and already bonding to it. Note if it’s not a mature goldfish it can change colours especially if it’s has black on its body. if the colour is important don’t get it from a retail store but a breeder. Mine was black and white when I 1st got it from petsmart and less than a week it change colours to this lol

 

I had a black telescope that turned into a red telescope. As for plants I only had luck with anubias, specifically anubias barteri var. barteri, and nana. Better avoid Anubias Hastifolia, the one with the triangle leafs, they don't last for years like the barteri.

 

Goldfish are low maintenance fish. Very easy to keep. They were breed to be low maintenance.

I have 6 fish in a 42 gallon tank and they are happy and healthy. If you get them small, then they tend to grow to the size of their tank and will not get too big in your tank.

I change their water about once a month. No big deal.

They are easier than most fish to keep.

They are very social and love to play with each other.

 

Sorry to go off topic here, but I can;t leave this just lying here

. If you get them small, then they tend to grow to the size of their tank and will not get too big in your tank.

This is called stunting. It's not healthy and fish will fail to thrive. Live? probably, thrive, no
Here's something I bookmarked a while ago,
Do fish grow to the size of their tank? - INJAF

Stunted growth means stunted lives — Seriously Fish

Sorry, for the interruption. If anyone wants to discuss stunting a new thread can be stared so we don't take away from the OP's concerns about their sister's particular tank

 

She has all fake plants in her tank. After discussing what I have read here (great info) she decided they may not be for her due to the maintenance required.

I usually help her clean her tanks once a week along with my 3 tanks. She felt that having to do it up to 3 times a week would be too much for her.

I really appreciate all the help

 

I usually help her clean her tanks once a week along with my 3 tanks. She felt that having to do it up to 3 times a week would be too much for her.

Why did she thought that? once per week water change is enough with 2 smaller goldfish like oranda or fantail would be OK for this tank, no other fish, couple snails yes. Just get a bigger HOB for a 75 gallon tank and wash the sponge every month. That it.

 

OP some of the longest living goldfish live in small tanks. When a goldfish is smaller in size, it has a much lower oxygen requirement and is happy and resilient and uses less energy for everything so it can thrive within the aquarium.

Water changes 3 times a week will just make you (and anybody) quit!

I change water once a month and my fish thrive.