which plants should i get for my fish tank?

Question

i have two fantail goldfish (and so coldwater) and i'm planning on getting some plants to put into my tank. Could someone suggest three plants to put in my tank. I want some plants which will look nice together and quite easy to maintain

Answer 1

The problem with goldfish and plants is that goldfish like to EAT plants :) If you do want plants, you'll have to restrict yourself to a certain variety of tough, inedible plants that your goldfish will not destroy:
Java fern
Java moss
Amazon frogbit
Anubias
Hornwort
Crypts
Vallisneria
Hygrophilia


The following link should be able to give you even more guidance:
http://thegab.org/Articles/GoldfishPlantsLowTech.html

Answer 2

I have two fantail, a black moor, and a comet in a tank filled with live plants, and they haven't eaten them. I think goldfish like living in a tank with plants. They get obstacles to swim through, and I guess it would provide an occasional snack. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A BLACK MOOR SUCCESSFULLY. I attribute this to the plants. They are very delicate goldfish and I've almost gave up on trying to keep them, until I heard about a suggestion of including plants. Also, some goldfish are so fragile, they can't be in with hard plastic plants.
If you keep them well fed, they will not devour your plants, and if you have good lighting, the plants grow back.

One annoying thing I find is that they love to dig up plants. You'll really have to dig them deep in the gravel and put more gravel on top. I anchor my plants by putting parts of them under other ornaments. I still get floaters occasionally though (plants! not fish)

They will not try to eat broad leaf plants, but I have (please excuse my spelling) elodia, vallisnaria, cabomba, horn wort, and even java moss in my tank. And they are all growing and thriving (I mean both plants and fish). You will not have beautiful Amano style tanks with goldfish, but it can still be very nice.

By the way, put a heater in your tank. Yes, they are cold water fish, but temperature changes from cold to warm (over a day) could stress the fish, which could lead to things like ick and other diseases. I keep mine at around 76 . You just want it to stay constant.

Answer 3

I would go with some silk or life-like plastic plants. Check your local pet store to see what all is available. I'm not sure if there are any living plants that would do well in cold water, and artificial ones are the easiest to maintain by far.

You might want to look in to rock formations and other decorations for your fish to hide in.

Answer 4

If you don't want to keep replacing them I suggest that you get plastic ones. They come in all sizes and colors and the fish will not eat them like they do with real plants.

Answer 5

Just a warning, goldfish will eat and/or destroy any live plants you put in with them.

But if you wat easy plants to grow, java fern, java moss, wisteria, water sprite, anacharis/elodea, and hornwort are the easiest to care for.