Goldfish tank mates

Goldfish are coldwater fish that grow big and eat anything that fits in their mouth. Most tropical community fish want warmer water, so the list of good mates is short.

Each species is checked against goldfish both ways: mouth size, fin nipping, temperament, territory, water overlap and keeper reports.

Good tank mates

Peppered cory
Corydoras paleatus
Fits
One of the hardiest corys: a mottled catfish that sifts sand in a group of six and prefers slightly cooler water.
2.8 in · 22+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–7
Rosy barb
Pethia conchonius
Fits
A large, hardy barb whose males turn bright pink-red when breeding; suits cooler tanks that run without a heater.
3.9 in · 28+ gal · 64–72°F · pH 6–8
Bladder snail
Physella acuta
Fits
A small left-coiled snail that usually hitchhikes in on plants; a self-fertilising hermaphrodite, so a single one starts a colony.
0.6 in · 1+ gal · 63–84°F · pH 7–8
Ramshorn snail
Planorbarius corneus
Fits
The classic flat-coiled snail every fishkeeper knows; it cleans up film and leftovers, breeds easily, and the red form is especially popular.
1.4 in · 4+ gal · 70–81°F · pH 7–8
Denison barb
Sahyadria denisonii
Fits
A large, torpedo-shaped barb with a red line along its body; peaceful but very active, needing a long tank with flow and spotless water.
4.3 in · 76+ gal · 59–77°F · pH 6.8–7.8
Giant danio
Devario aequipinnatus
Fits
A big, fast danio with blue and gold stripes that needs a long tank, current, very clean water and a tight lid.
3 in · 76+ gal · 72–75°F · pH 6–8
Gold barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Fits
A golden aquarium form of the Chinese green barb; peaceful, hardy and happy in cooler tanks without a heater.
3 in · 26+ gal · 64–75°F · pH 6–8
Great pond snail
Lymnaea stagnalis
Fits
A large coldwater pond snail that breathes air at the surface and eats soft plants and other snails' eggs; for coldwater tanks, not tropical planted ones.
2 in · 7+ gal · 50–77°F · pH 7–8.5
Butterfly hillstream loach
Beaufortia kweichowensis
Fits
A flat 'butterfly' loach from southern Chinese rivers that clings to rocks and glass and wants cool, fast, oxygen-rich water.
3 in · 17+ gal · 61–75°F · pH 6.5–8

Risky

And 66 more in the species catalog.

Avoid

And 50 more in the species catalog.

Questions

Can goldfish live with tropical fish?

Rarely: goldfish like 18–22 °C, most tropical fish 24–28 °C, and goldfish eat small fish and shrimp.

Every tank is different. Set yours up once (size, water, who already lives there) and each species is checked against it.

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