Goldfish are beautiful creatures that live in freshwater and mostly suitable for beginners. They are hardy enough to withstand the basic mistakes of beginners.
No wonder, they are the most popular indoor aquarium fish across the globe.
Goldfish are known for their sociability and always seen living in communities. It is advisable to keep at least two Goldfish together in an aquarium to promote healthy activity.
If you are having the Goldfish in your indoor aquarium and wondering which fish can be the best Goldfish tank mate then we have few options sorted for you.
After talking with several fish enthusiasts and aquarium store owners we concluded that not all fish can go well with the goldfish. You need to be selective and thankfully we have a handful of options.
What types of fish can be kept with goldfish?The best Goldfish tank mates for your indoor aquarium can include the Hillstream Loach, Brochis multiradiatus, Dojo Loach, Bristlenose Pleco,White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Rubbernose Pleco, Hoplo Catfish, and Ricefish. These Goldfish tank mates should be larger than the mouth of Goldfish.
12 Best Goldfish Tank Mates
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Zebrafish
- Brochis multiradiatus
- Hillstream Loach
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Dojo Loach
- Ricefish
- Rubbernose Pleco
- Variatus Platy
- Hoplo Catfish
- Longfin Rosy Barb
- Another Goldfish
How to Choose the Best Tank Mate for Goldfish?
Here are a few things that you need to consider while keeping a companionship for your goldfish pet.
Keep Them Large – The fish that you want to keep with your goldfish should be larger in size than the mouth of goldfish. Goldfish have a unique tendency to put everything in the mouth and we don’t want them to try that on their fish companion.
So, keep the fish large enough that your goldfish can’t put it in their mouth.
Avoid Aggressive Fish– Certain fish species are born aggressive and tend to attack other fish. Avoid putting aggressive fish in the goldfish tank. Few fish species that don’t go well with goldfish are large cichlids, aggressive barbs and African cichlids.
Consider the Temperature Requirements – Goldfish love being in the cold temperature around 50 to 70°F and can live in room temperature too.
Choose another fish that can live at the same temperature. Both fish should be able to cope with the temperature and should live comfortably.
Should Thrive on Same Food – Goldfish and its companion should be comfortable with the same food so that you don’t have to feed them with separate fish food. [Check out best food for your fish]
Don’t Add Wild Fish in a Tank – No matter whether you want to add a goldfish tank mate or any other fish mate, never put wild fish directly in the tank cause they usually have microbes that can quickly jump to other fish.
Does Your Goldfish Need A Tank Mate?
Usually, goldfish are fine without having a tank mate. Since they are curious, active fish who prefer to live and swim in groups, having a tank mate can help promote activity.
Having another goldfish is recommended but several other fish can go well with goldfish.
White Cloud Mountain Minnows
If your aquarium just has goldfish then the white cloud mountain minnows can be a good companion to go with your goldfish pet.
These minnows are extremely forgiving when it comes to aquarium temperature and they can be the best choice for beginners.
They are an inexpensive option that grows around 2 inches and can school together with goldfish. But they are much smaller when you first buy them, so you need to grow them in another tank and once they grow large enough you can add them to the Goldfish tank.
Temperature Range – 64–72 °F | Length – Approx. 2 inches (4-5 cm)
Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Like a goldfish, zebrafish are tiny and non-aggressive fish that love to swim in groups. They are so tiny that they are around one to two inches in length which makes them smaller than the goldfish. Since their body size is small, they are often used as tank mates with goldfish and comet.
Zebrafish comes in several colors and has fin lengths. Whilce choosing zebrafish as tank mate for goldfish, make sure that it is bigger than the mouth of goldfish, otherwise goldfish may engulp the tiny zebrafish during the feeding time.
Also, you need to use the smaller pellets to feed zebrafish as they are unable to eat standard size pellet food.
Temperature Range – 64 to 76°F | Length – Approx. 2.2 inches (5.6 cm)
Brochis multiradiatus
Giant borich can be a good fit as goldfish tank mate as they has peaceful temperament.
The Borich multiradiatus loves to swim at aquarium bottom and can do well at the temperture range of 70 to 75°F. They like to dig around for food so can be great clean-up mates in aquarium. Also, their size is bigger than the mouth of goldfish they can be a good tank mate.
Temperature Range – 70 to 75°F | Length – Approx. 2.6 inches (6 cm)