Should I go for the gold (fish that is)?
Hey all. I am usually a keeper of Betta (I do so ever love them). However, I have recently been pretty fascinated with gold fish. I would really like to get some, but I am worried about size constraints. I know common goldfish need about 30 gallons, but I think the best I will be able to keep in my small house is another 20 gallon. Is there any kind in particular that would be alright in a smaller tank with filtration and regular cleanings? I’ve seen fantails kept in relatively small tanks (on the other hand, I’ve also seen Betta kept in tiny plastic containers). If not, is there another sort of more manageable fish that I could accept as a substitute (orange or calico in color) which would do better in a smaller tank? I also have some ghost shrimp I was going to move into the next tank I got, but I am unsure of how well they function in cold water tanks (especially one that had messy gold fish in it), so could you fill me in on that? Thanks in advance :)
Yea… I figured the shrimp wouldn’t be well off. I was kind of thinking Platies too, but I am not only fascinated wth the color, but there movement (slow strides, one of the reasons I like bettas). I will see what else I can pull together. Until then I’ll research te rest of your suggestions.
Well, it isn’t a question if shrimp and Betta getting along, it is more that I wnt to make plenty of room for them all. My "Betta" tank (I’m using quotation marks because it was marketed for goldfish) is only 2 gallons. I don’t think it has enough filtration, and even if it did , Bettas are just so beautiful when kept by themselves (or atleast I find).
Tagged with: betta • calico • cleanings • cold water tanks • filtration • ghost shrimp • gold fish • goldfish • orange • plastic containers • platies • plenty of room • quot • size constraints • strides • tank • thanks in advance • using quotation marks
Filed under: House Water Systems
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As said before gold fish are cold water fish and really should not be paired with tropicals. It makes a difference if you want live plants in there, too. You have to research what works if you try for live plants in a mixed tank.
I have seen one black moor or one celestial or even an oranda in a regular tropical tank if it was not heated too much. The only problem with the slower fish is sometimes the tropicals will pick at them, literally. A damaged fish is a food target for the rest: fresh meat.
You already know GF are dirty fish when you have too many per tank size. Filtration or super filtration is a must. They will grow and you have to account for that too, an inch of fish per gallon. A crowded tank causes stress and health problems.
My suggestion is to showcase a few of your favorite type, but don’t mix goldfish with tropicals.
You can probably keep a couple of fancy goldfish in a 20gal if you have extra filtering and keep up the water changes.
If you are willng to go tropical there are plenty of orange fish that would work in a 20gal. Platies, swordtails, dwarf gourami or golden barbs spring to mind,
The ghost shrimp need warm water, and the goldfish are likely to eat them anyway.
Ian
you should get some white cloud mountain minnows they are coldwater and only need 2 gallons each
but they school so you need a minimum of 6
why not put the ghost shrimp with a betta?
2 goldies would be acceptable in a 20g tank (or one if you’re okay with only having one). just stick with fancies like oranda, moors, ranchus, pearsclaes or any of the round bodied goldfish. just make sure you get a good filter (one for a 30g or 40g tank would be good).
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ah, I undstand.
well, if you don’t want ot get the shrimp their own tank as well, I’d suggest skipping the goldfish then (although, a small planted tank with nothing but shrimp is a beautiful sight).
here are some tropical fish suitable for a 10g or 20g tank that kind of resemble goldfish color:
ballon molly (come in many colors, even calico if you’re lucky enough to find them and kind of have the fancy goldfish shape) – http://www.fishforums.net/uploads/post-22-1080362181.jpg
http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/balloon_molly_3933.jpg
platy (again, come in many color including calico if you’re lucky) – http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/balloon_molly_3933.jpg
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/777/111386.JPG
kuhli loach (looks nothing like goldfish, but is orange and black, pretty neat bottom feeder) – http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/loaches/images/Kuhli%20LoachWFLo_Ap4A.jpg
angelfish (there is actually a type called koi angelfish because their coloration looks exactly like a calico goldfish or koi, very neat fish. just remember you’ll need a 20g TALL for them) – http://www.angelsplus.com/images/1koi9m.jpg
http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/images/articles/Spawning_and_Raising_Angelfish/SpawningAndRaisingAngelfish.jpg
http://www.canadadiscus.com/images/photos/angels/6.jpg