Need help stocking

[bmcbmk1]

I have a 30 gal. tank with 5 goldfish in it. Tank temp is 80 degrees and all levels are safe (nitrite, pH, etc.). The kids want something else in the tank too, but what would get along with the goldfish? Have an intrest in mollies or guppies as the kids want to witness the live young. Or should we get rid of the goldfish and start over?

[Hans]

there is no way i can respond to this post with out sounding mean, but i just dont think goldfish are really that great. id start all over and get some intersting fish like a panda cory, silver dollars, etc

[LMOUTHBASS]

this is a great place to start!!!
i think you said you have a 30g right??? well thats sort of small for goldfish the truth is they are the most accidentally abused fish, they really get huge n need a much bigger tank -plus 80 degrees is a little warm for them they are a cool water fish i woul at least bring the temp to the low 70's - in the meantime i woul see if you can find someone to take them off your hands - the other fish you are interested in guppies etc are tropical so you cannot mix them with goldies - as the trops like warmer water - but if you go tropical a 30 is a nice size tank n you'll have plenty of options - i'll give you some community ideas - well hmmm for fish with color you can go with guppies , platies,swordtails,mollies,neons,lots of fish from the tetra family just be sure they will mix with whatever you got in your tank - then theres others which woul be fish a little less colorfull but just as nice whitecloud minnows,zebras,danios,
also a great fish for the community- cory catfish,ottos(to help clean tank), maybe some rainbow fish , or silverdollars but you'll have to keep less of them because of their growing potential -or tiger barbs but make sure you keep them in a group dont keep them with fish with long fins as they will get picked on -
AVOID -the common plecostomus a common mistake for people looking for an algae eater they are nice but will grow way to big in time for your tank - also if you get any kind of bottom feeder be sure to supplement their diet with sinking shrimp pellets or sinking foods like sinking algae wafers way to many ppl think these poor fish just eat the scraps -true they will pick at what makes it to the bottom but its not enough to live on - especially if you get an algae eater give them some wafer
good luck

[often dignified]

I don't know much about fish, but I know goldfish should be kept only with other goldfish, and the temperature should be alot less than 80. You cannot mix tropical fish with goldfish.

[PumaWard]

Your tank is over stocked by probably 2-3 goldfish.

As already mentioned, 80 degrees is way too warm for goldfish as they are coldwater. This means that your water should actually be down below 70, more like the 68 range. Mollies need warmer water to be healthy, so they aren't a good option; guppies can handle temperatures that low but would be snacks for adult goldfish.

In general, tropical fish and goldfish shouldn't be mixed. There are a few tropicals out there that would do perfectly fine with goldfish like paradise fish (fin nippers), mosquito fish (smaller than guppies, snacks), and some killifish (also *mostly* small and would be snacks).

If you really want something else, I would take back 3 of the goldfish, if you still want goldies, and then do some research on other compatible fish. The paradise fish would be compatible with goldfish that have short finnage, like comets. Veils and similiar would most likely be nipped.

Also, you can only keep 1 paradise fish in a tank because they will constantly fight other wise. Females can be kepted together, but the problem is that if you don't have males and females side by side, you may not know the difference between them.

In any case, don't be afraid to research, it's a very very good idea to do so. With research, you most likely won't get in over your head in anything.

[mrbigisbudgood]

Get something that will eat the Goldfish.

[Lauren]

Originally posted by mrbigisbudgood
Get something that will eat the Goldfish.

lol, that’s one way to traumatize the kids.

worst comes to worst, you can give the goldfish back to the pet store you got them from, if you can't find a home and are too kind to flush live fish. But I would definitely get rid of them. There are plenty of books out there that give stocking suggestions. I'd suggest hardy fish like guppies and tetras, so your kids aren't exposed to the sorrow of loosing fish all that often. I just got my little sister an aquarium for Christmas, I'm planning on helping her stock it with a beta and a few tetras. This is will be a very colorful and lively display for a child, and at the same time, one that can withstand accidental feedings and other things kids do to try and help their fish.