Tank Mates for Common Goldfish

Goldfish are a common and inexpensive children̵7;s pet. You can win them at a local fair or carnival or buy them at the pet store. They are relatively simple to care for and prefer their tank water at about 70 degrees. Goldfish require a high-fiber diet, prefer still water, are susceptible to diseases from algae and move more slowly than other fish. Goldfish also eat smaller fish. All of these factors mean that there are only a handful of fish that make good tank mates for common goldfish.

  1. Hillstream Loach

    • Goldfish need tanks that are free of algae. Because of this, algae-eating fish make excellent tank mates. Unfortunately, many algae eaters will also suck on the goldfish. This can remove the slimy coating around the goldfish and expose it to an assortment of diseases. The hillstream loach is large enough to avoid being eaten by a goldfish and can coexist with them. Feed your goldfish on one side of the tank, and use sinking food for the loaches at the opposite end of the tank.

    Dojo

    • The dojo, or weather loach, is a fast-moving bottom feeder. Dojo can reach sizes of up to 6 inches long, which helps them to avoid being goldfish bait. The dojo keep the tank clean by eating algae and other scraps from the gravel at the bottom of your tank. Dojo are fast and jump well, so your tank needs a lid if you plan to keep dojo as tank mates for the goldfish.

    Corys

    • Corys are a small variety of carp. They grow up to 3 inches long and, like their larger counterparts, corys are bottom-feeding fish. Feed corys regularly so they do not start sucking the protective coating off of your goldfish. Corys prefer a diet of small, sinking food that they can eat off of the gravel and bottom of the tank.

    White Cloud Minnows

    • Minnows make great tank mates for your goldfish. They eat a similar diet, they are not algae eaters that will suck the slimy coating from goldfish and they are fast enough to get enough food even when fed at the same time as the larger goldfish. White cloud minnows enjoy having structures on the bottom of your tanks to hide in. If you want minnows to share a tank with goldfish, stick with smaller varieties of goldfish. Larger ones can and will eat your 1-inch-long white cloud minnows.