A fishy question..?

Question

Ok, i have an elite style 60 tank with filter, heater etc..at the moment i have a goldfish and a comet fish.
Can i add tropical fish such as tetras or guppys or will the water temp be to high for goldfish? what is the ideal water temp for goldfish, i know they are quite hardy fish but will they survive in a warmer tank? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi Mistincat, 70 to 75 degrees F is an ideal temperature range for Goldfish & is generally about 'room temperature' so you will not need to use the heater. This is several degrees lower than ideal tropical conditions so although, as another person said you can mix certain tropical fish with Goldfish they will cope but because they both require different ideal temperature there will always be some stress involved to one or both types of fish due to this compromise.

I would also add that your present tank which at approx 10 gallons is only barely big enough to support your 2 Goldfish & you will need to upgrade as they grow.

Answer 2

Other than the obvious that many others have stated that your tank is too small even for the two fish you have once they reach adulthood, I will only add the following.

Far too much is made over "tropical" vs "coldwater". Any species of fish can live well and live comfortably in a range of temperatures and goldfish are no exception. In fact, it's the tropical species that are usually more limited in their comfort range.

The term "coldwater" as applied to fish was originally intended to describe those fish that can live in cooler waters NOT used as many aquarium keepers use it, to try to say they MUST have cooler waters. Goldfish for example are described as a coldwater fish, even though the natural range for their species includes areas into the tropics, thus being tropical waters. Many sites warn against keeping goldfish with tropicals without even quoting a temperature range for goldfish. Others same room temperature, huh? This time of year many of my rooms are about 76F or so, in the winter 65F or so... which is correct? One site often referenced here gives a flat single temperature of 76F for goldfish. That's in the range of 90% or more of our "tropical" species. http://thegab.org/Articles/GoldfishBasics.html

To further complicate things are the temperatures presented in books and on websites. Often these temperatures are based on a very limited sampling of a limited part of the fishes natural range at the time they were collected. Not too bad considering others are based on the temperatures aquarium keepers observe that the fish "seems to do the best". In other words, there is often very little science or factual data behind these temperature ranges.

We as hobbyists will argue over 3-4 degrees in the range of temperatures for a particular fish. Can you think of any other species on earth that demanding? We will actually sit and say that 74F is ok while 72 F is too cool, or that 80F is ok, but 84F is too warm. Bull. Any aquatic species that demands that strict of a range would have been wiped off the earth eons ago. The freshwaters of the world change temperature too much for that to hold any truth what so ever.

So in short, yes, goldfish will be happy and healthy at "tropical" temperatures... whatever those are.

Also, the often quoted "fact" that goldfish are dirty fish and produce more waste is untrue as well. They produce no more waste material than most any other fish of similar size, fed a similar diet.

MM

Answer 3

Yes, you are able to add tropical fish to your goldfish
They can live in warmwater between 76 -82
Even in the summer your coldwatertank can get a temperature of up to 80 degrees, because the room temperature rises as well

Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Add*
Now I know that that is only a 10 gallon, I thought just from reading it that it's a 60 gallon :-)
Any way, it's right that your tank is to small for goldfish, you will need at least a 29 gallon tank for them

P.S.:
I also hope that MM answers this question

Answer 4

No, you should not mix coldwater fish with tropical fish. You can keep fewer coldwater fish in a tank than tropical fish. You will just have to make up your mind whether you want goldfish or tropicals. Goldfish will not survive well in warmer water.

Answer 5

there are two reasons why you should never keep gold fish and tropical fish together,the first is tropical fish require a warmer temperature than goldfish,and depending on the breeds of tropical fish,some of them like a warmer temperature than normal.
the second reason is gold fish produce high amounts of ammonia and are dirty fish,mixing the two if it was possible would result in the death of your tropical fish.
tropical fish cant tolerate high ammonia levels or nitrate levels and it makes them more prone to bacterial infections and fin and mouth rot,and death
keep them in seperate tanks
my tank is kept at 26 degrees and that is warm enough for them