Overview
TemperamentPeaceful
Social modelGroup
Minimum group size3
Adult size15–35 cm
Primary swimming zoneBottom
DietOmnivore
Care
Minimum aquarium volume100–200 L (allowed 60–400 L)
Suitable aquarium proportionsLong
Water temperature18–24 °C (allowed 4–25 °C)
pH6.5–7.5 (allowed 6–8)
General hardness5–19 °dGH (allowed 4–25 °dGH)
FeedingGoldfish are omnivorous and require a varied diet with a significant plant component for proper digestion. The diet should mainly consist of high-quality specialized goldfish foods (flakes or pellets) with about 30% protein; short-bodied forms should be fed sinking pellets to avoid gulping air. The diet is supplemented with blanched vegetables (peas, zucchini, spinach) and occasionally frozen foods (artemia, daphnia). Feed small portions once or twice a day, giving as much as the fish eat in 1–2 minutes; overfeeding is a common cause of obesity and buoyancy problems. During temperatures below 8°C, feeding should be limited.
Compatibility
CompatibilityGoldfish are cold-water, generally peaceful fish, best kept in a species-specific aquarium with conspecifics of similar body shape and swimming speed. Long-bodied forms (comets, shubunkins) should not be kept with slow short-bodied ones, as they will compete for food. Neighbors should be peaceful, cold-water, and larger than the goldfish's mouth; fin-biting species (barbs) and small species that can be eaten are excluded. Suitable tank mates include white cloud mountain minnows, danios, cardinal tetras, and in large aquariums, hillstream loaches.
Plant safetyDestroys
Plant-eating behaviourGoldfish are omnivorous and actively eat soft aquatic plants: they nibble tender leaves, uproot plants from the substrate, and may damage even tough-leaved species; in a goldfish aquarium, only large, tough-leaved plants (anubias, large crypts, giant vallisneria) usually survive.
Incompatible groupsAggressive and fin-nipping species (e.g., barbs), tropical fish requiring stable warm water, and any small fish that can fit in a goldfish's mouth are unsuitable.
Reference illustration · may contain inaccuracies
