I know this may seem a silly question for some, but bear with me. I am in the process of setting up a high-tech, 300 gal planted aquarium. When my girlfriend found out about this, she asked if she could put her goldfish in the aquarium. Now, I know that goldfish are cold water fish and that they eat plants. My question is this: considering that the fish are carnival prizes have been living in a 1 gallon bowl for 2 years, would a tropical environment be worse for them than their current situation? Secondly, how much damage can two 1.5-inch goldfish cause, considering the size of the aquarium and sheer volume of plants. I know that the best solution would be to increase the quality of the goldfish's habitat, but that isn't going to happen. They are either staying in the bowl or going in the big tank. Thanks.
Goldfish in the planted tank
- Thread starter orgetorix
- Start date
Your friend's GF should do just fine. Comets, which are what most carnival-prize GF are, should be able to take the warmer temps of your tank. Give them a lot of time to acclimate to the warmer temps.
GF are grazers, and I wouldn't think your fish would cause any problems with your plants, especially if you continue to feed them regularly...
Val
GF are grazers, and I wouldn't think your fish would cause any problems with your plants, especially if you continue to feed them regularly...
Val
Then again, most folk who have tried have found goldfish to be a disaster in a planted tank - they devour the stem plants and leave those not destryed floating around the tank from being uprooted. In fact, anything not hard-leaved (as in Crinum, Anubias, Java Fern, a few crypts like C. ciliata, etc.) will be messed with and bitten, torn or chewed.
It can be done, but it is not what most folks consider planted tanks - it is survival of the fittest or most resistant, it is not aquascaping.
Buy her a 40-long and give that to the goldfish, keep the planted tank tropical.
It can be done, but it is not what most folks consider planted tanks - it is survival of the fittest or most resistant, it is not aquascaping.
Buy her a 40-long and give that to the goldfish, keep the planted tank tropical.
ITA with RTR...
...These fish are NOT tropical - especially Comets of all goldfish! They prefer temperatures at 72 - BELOW. Anything higher would be considered unhealthy for these fish. Also, two goldfish can do a LOT of damage to your plants. You might as well not put any REAL plants into this tank if you plan to add Goldfish. Personally, I find it desturbing that you feel these fish dont deserve a chance to thrive. You yourself said that they are either going in this jumbo-planted-tropical tank or they will stay in a fishbowl. How sad.
I would give this fish to your LFS or a well-known aquarist you know, otherwise buy it a home of itself. With a 40 gallon, you might be able to sqeeze in another goldfish with him.
...These fish are NOT tropical - especially Comets of all goldfish! They prefer temperatures at 72 - BELOW. Anything higher would be considered unhealthy for these fish. Also, two goldfish can do a LOT of damage to your plants. You might as well not put any REAL plants into this tank if you plan to add Goldfish. Personally, I find it desturbing that you feel these fish dont deserve a chance to thrive. You yourself said that they are either going in this jumbo-planted-tropical tank or they will stay in a fishbowl. How sad.
I would give this fish to your LFS or a well-known aquarist you know, otherwise buy it a home of itself. With a 40 gallon, you might be able to sqeeze in another goldfish with him.
Cardamine lyrata is a coldwater plant that might do well with goldfish (I have never tried it). It usually grows pretty fast so it could be able to keep up.
Graeme
Graeme
I would suggest NOT putting the goldfish in there if you have hornwort or some similar plant... I had some in one of my tanks and would take the clippings over to my father who put them into a tank he had with one goldfish in it. No matter what amount of plant was put in, it was gone in a matter of days - we eventually started calling it fish salad! 
Y'know, for the vast majority of people, throwing around 40g tanks is just not an option. And secondly, what do you think a fish store is going to do with a couple more comets? They're going to get dumped in the feeder fish tank, and what kind of life is that? And, do know of any experienced fishkeepers who are going to want to set up a tank at their home just for a couple of carnival fish?
So, what we have is a person who asked a question about her options to save a couple of fish, truly the red-haired stepchildren of the fish world. These fish will do fine in the temps he's decsribing -- in a 1 gallon bowl they've had big temp swings already and I'm sure it's gotten hotter than that in the summer or from sun.
Now, as to the advice that GF and plants are not a good mix, I personally never had any troubles with my GF destroying my plants -- I do that just fine by myself. So give orgetorix a break and give the answer he's looking for.
Val
So, what we have is a person who asked a question about her options to save a couple of fish, truly the red-haired stepchildren of the fish world. These fish will do fine in the temps he's decsribing -- in a 1 gallon bowl they've had big temp swings already and I'm sure it's gotten hotter than that in the summer or from sun.
Now, as to the advice that GF and plants are not a good mix, I personally never had any troubles with my GF destroying my plants -- I do that just fine by myself. So give orgetorix a break and give the answer he's looking for.
Val
Forgive me if you take this the wrong way (I.E. Grumpy Tone) but Val, perhaps if buying these fish a decent home isn't an "option", these people shouldn't buy/win the "Carnival Fish" in the first place. 
For those of us who take great pride in our goldfish, hearing someone say "I'm either going to keep them in a fishbowl or place them with tropical fish" is rather disturbing. Getting away from personal feelings on the matter, I will list GOOD reasons these fish should NOT be placed in a (planted) tropical tank:
Facts
*They are not suited for tropical temps...just b/c Val thinks they can handle the extra warm water doesn't mean they will THRIVE in the condition of tropical waters.
*Goldfish have different nutritional needs and eat totally different foods that *MOST* other tropical fish. The other fish will constantly be competing with your Goldfish for the remainder of food left.
*Most (expirenced) Goldfish keepers will tell you these fish DO infact eat the majority of plants in planted aquariums. Even if they dont like the perticular plant, you will always be fixing a plant; either putting it back in place or pruning it as goldfish munch on plants regardless if they like the plant or not.
*Goldfish grow large (1-1.5 foot easily) and will soon be snacking on your smaller tropical fish. Infact, again...even if they dont eat every fish in your tank, they will certain poke at them or harrass them into a corner.
*Goldfish produce mass amounts of waste and to some are considered very messy fish. Some smaller or weaker tropical fish cannot handle the amounts of waste these fish put off. Frequent water changes will be a MUST if keeping goldfish in this tank with other fish.
Links
Why Goldfish Need The Room They Require:
http://www.animalnetwork.com/aquafish/reference/p9.asp
Why Fishbowls Are A No-No:
http://www.care4fish.com/fishbowls.html
For those of us who take great pride in our goldfish, hearing someone say "I'm either going to keep them in a fishbowl or place them with tropical fish" is rather disturbing. Getting away from personal feelings on the matter, I will list GOOD reasons these fish should NOT be placed in a (planted) tropical tank:
Facts
*They are not suited for tropical temps...just b/c Val thinks they can handle the extra warm water doesn't mean they will THRIVE in the condition of tropical waters.
*Goldfish have different nutritional needs and eat totally different foods that *MOST* other tropical fish. The other fish will constantly be competing with your Goldfish for the remainder of food left.
*Most (expirenced) Goldfish keepers will tell you these fish DO infact eat the majority of plants in planted aquariums. Even if they dont like the perticular plant, you will always be fixing a plant; either putting it back in place or pruning it as goldfish munch on plants regardless if they like the plant or not.
*Goldfish grow large (1-1.5 foot easily) and will soon be snacking on your smaller tropical fish. Infact, again...even if they dont eat every fish in your tank, they will certain poke at them or harrass them into a corner.
*Goldfish produce mass amounts of waste and to some are considered very messy fish. Some smaller or weaker tropical fish cannot handle the amounts of waste these fish put off. Frequent water changes will be a MUST if keeping goldfish in this tank with other fish.
Links
Why Goldfish Need The Room They Require:
http://www.animalnetwork.com/aquafish/reference/p9.asp
Why Fishbowls Are A No-No:
http://www.care4fish.com/fishbowls.html
Point taken, Cory, but orgetorix did not win these two fish. They're already in the fishbowl and have been so for the past 2 years. He wants to see if he can free them and if his planned tank will be able to serve them.
No, these two fish will not "thrive" in a heated tank, but they're not thriving now. Which is better? I'm thinking a 300g tank, even if is heated, is better.
I know GF are messy, but you don't think a 300g tank can handle two GF?
Interesting point about the habits of larger GF and maybe smaller tropicals. I've never mixed them, but that is food for thought. And I've never been successful with plants, so my GF have never been tempted by plants. So, that, I think, is the basis for you critique of orgetorix's plans. He can decide if the GF are worth the risk to his planted tank. But to be disturbed because someone is unwilling or doesn't have the wherewithal to establish an elaborate setup for two fish he sort-of inherited, is to place an unrealistic burden on a newcomer.
Val
No, these two fish will not "thrive" in a heated tank, but they're not thriving now. Which is better? I'm thinking a 300g tank, even if is heated, is better.
I know GF are messy, but you don't think a 300g tank can handle two GF?
Interesting point about the habits of larger GF and maybe smaller tropicals. I've never mixed them, but that is food for thought. And I've never been successful with plants, so my GF have never been tempted by plants. So, that, I think, is the basis for you critique of orgetorix's plans. He can decide if the GF are worth the risk to his planted tank. But to be disturbed because someone is unwilling or doesn't have the wherewithal to establish an elaborate setup for two fish he sort-of inherited, is to place an unrealistic burden on a newcomer.
Val
Since colder water has a higher saturation point for gases than warmer water, I think the oxygen level might be too low for the goldfish to breathe easy, since they're not used to it.
If they were stressed like this constantly, they would be more susceptible to disease.
Just thought I should point that out, unless someone else already did.
Graeme
If they were stressed like this constantly, they would be more susceptible to disease.
Just thought I should point that out, unless someone else already did.
Graeme