Can a Pleco live with goldfish ?

Plecos are peaceful fish which live in the bottom of the tank.  Plecos can live with goldfish, provided proper precautions are taken.  Both the fishes are peaceful in general.

Goldfish tend to dirty the water quite fast as they have a higher bioload.  Any tank with goldfish should have partial water changes more frequently  The Pleco is a tropical fish which may require higher temperatures while the goldfish is a cold water fish. 

Some aquarium keepers have mentioned incidents where plecos have clasped the goldfish and have sucked at the slime coat.  This, however, is very rare.  Feed your Plecos and gold fish properly.  Plecos can be given vegetables such as cucumber, zucchini,etc. 

Also provide plenty of hiding places for the pleco to rest during the day.  They are nocturnal fish.  This reduces stress and minimizes conflict.  Another important factor you should look at is space.  Both Plecos and Goldfish can grow very big.  Housing both in a small tank creates the ground for conflict.

Ensure that both the fish have their own individual space and are well fed if you decide to keep them together. 

Can Angelfish be kept with Goldfish ?

Angelfish and Goldfish have different Temperature requirements.  Angelfish are tropical fish which require warmer water.  Goldfish are coldwater fish.  Many hobbyists successfully have both species in the same aquarium.

Goldfish generate large amounts of waste.  The water can get dirty quickly.  Angelfish, being very sensitive about water quality, can be affected. 

If the angelfish and the goldfish are to be kept together, ensure that the water is clean by performing frequent water changes. 

Provide adequate space in the aquarium.  Angelfish can get aggressive if they do not get adequate space. 

Are Goldfish Social ?

Goldfish love the company of other fish.  It is, therefore, not advisable to keep them alone.  Goldfish, however, do not move in schools.

In the wild, they move in groups when feeding. There should be a minimum of two goldfish in a tank.  This encourages the fish to interact and provides company.  Happy fish are healthy fish.

Goldfish can be kept with other peaceful fish such as zebra danios and rosy barbs.

Food for the Goldfish

Goldfish are omnivorous fish.  They are descended from the Carp.  These fish live in ponds and streams.  They are bottom feeders and live on small insects and crustaceans which live beneath the stones on the bottom of the pond and the river bed.  They also eat plants in the wild.

In the aquarium, goldfish need a varied diet.  You can feed them fibre rich plant based food.  Blood worms and frozen shrimp can be provided for protein.

Many pet foods are available specially for Goldfish.  These food contain a balanced mix of all ingredients required for the Gold Fish.

Feed your fish small amounts of food 3 or 4 times a day.  Do not overfeed your fish as this can contaminate the water. 

Memory of the Goldfish

Goldfish have good memory lasting many months.  Many people wrongly believe that they have a memory lasting only a few seconds.

Experiments conducted by researchers have shown that Goldfish can be trained to press a lever to get food.  In other experiments, goldfish had been trained to respond to a sound.  The fish were fed food whenever the sound was played.

The goldfish were able to remember the relation between the sound and food many months later.
Goldfish are very intelligent among aquarium fish.  They can also be trained to perform tricks such as passing through a hoop by rewarding them with food.

Tumors in Goldfish

Tumors are not uncommon in Goldfish.  Tumours usually occur in the head region and in the body. 
Most tumors are benign (non-cancerous) while, in rare cases, they can be cancerous.  Some tumors are external.  They occur on the surface.  These can be surgically removed by a veterinarian.

Unfortunately, internal tumours cannot be operated.  These tumors can grow and press against internal organs.  The fish mostly die if they are affected by these tumors.

Tumors in the Gills can be caused by a thyroid malfunction.  These can be cured by treating the goldfish with iodine.

Is it true that Goldfish do not have a Stomach ?

Goldfish do not have a stomach.  The function of the stomach such as digestion and absorption of nutrients is carried out by different parts of the digestive tract.

Goldfish can thus keep eating continually.  This can generate a lot of waste which can overload the filtration system.

Goldfish need to be fed small amounts 3 or 4 times a day. Since Goldfish do not have powerful digestive capability in the absence of the stomach, Goldfish should be fed only soft foods rich in fibre.  Goldfish are very susceptible to constipation.

Can Angelfish and Gold Fish be kept together ?

Angelfish are tropical fish while Gold fish are cold water fish.  Goldfish require much lower temperatures.  While many aquarists keep angelfish along with goldfish without any problem.  While some  aquarists successfully keep goldfish and angelfish together, sometimes angelfish can attack the goldfish resulting in death or damaged fins.  

Compatibility depends on the temperament of the individual fish. 

Goldfish also generate huge waste which can contaminate the water quickly.  This, however, can be addressed by changing the water more frequently.

Hence, it depends on the individual fish.  It is not advisable to keep the two species together.  If you must, you can try keeping them if you have a big tank where each fish can keep to its own area with lots of plants.

Gold Fish – Factsheet

Common Name: Gold Fish

Scientific Name: Carassius auratus

Native Range: Eastern Asia (China and adjoining regions)

Size: 4 to 6 cms (average).  Some individuals may grow up 1 foot.  Gold fish raised in ponds will tend to be larger than those raised in tanks

Food: Gold fish are omnivores, eating both plant and vegetable matter. Hence are easy to feed.  Overfeeding may result in constipation.  Adequate fibre content in the food is essential. 
Blanched vegetables, bloodworms and shelled peas and brine shrimps are common foods

Life Expectance: 20 years

Temperament: Peaceful

pH: 7.2 to 7.6

Temperature : Goldfish are cold water.  They thrive at temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.  They are however hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures as long as the temperature change is gradual.

Reproduction : Oviparous (Egg laying)

Why do some Goldfish Change Color ?

Gold fish sometimes change color.  Color change in goldfish can be caused b a host of factors.

Genetics may influence color change.  Some goldfish change color over the course of their lifetimes.  This has to simple do with their genes.

Lighting: The amount of lighting also has to do with color.  Goldfish which are kept in brightly lit aquariums will have brighter colors than those who live in poorly lit aquariums.

Food:  Color enhancers are natural substances which are present in nature.  Aquarium foods which contains color enhancers can help your goldfish have a bright color.    Carotenoid is an example of a natural color enhancer.

Disease: Sometimes, color change can also be due to disease or an infection.  Curing this will help your fish regain the original color.

Lifespan of the Goldfish

Goldfish have relatively long lifespans amongst fish. Goldfish have been known to live for 30 to 40 years in captivity.

It is sad that many do not make it to more than a few months in aquarium.

The aquarium should be kept clean with periodic water changes.

Goldfish are social fish. They should be kept in groups of at least three. The tank should be of sufficient size to accommodate their growth.

A tank with a minimum size of 50 litres is recommended.