Just read the Basics on Goldfish. Have 40 gallon tank. Suggestions?

[in the pines]

I am brand new to goldfish. For a couple years I had a tank running with tropicals and really enjoyed it, but I want to try goldfish this time. I have a 40 gallon tanks, but the basics thread which is stickied here suggests minimum 55 gallons. I want my fish to be happy and have a couple tankmates and I also want the water quality to be good; is this possible with any of the breeds of goldfish? Which are the smallest goldfish and are they small enough to house three in a 40 gallon?

Thanks!
in the pines

 

[Devo]

Depends on how many GF you want to have. You can have more GF in a tank- but you HAVE to stay on top of your water, and doing frequent, large water changes. I currently have a 30gal with 2 GF in it. For many years, I had 4 GF in my tank without issue- but it's because I kept up on the water. And I had fancy tailed GF, for what it's worth.

AFAIK comets and orandas get rather large. So can ryukins and moores. The FT GF that I have don't seem to get too large, but I haven't had them overly long (3 years). But really, as I stated, it depends on how many fish you want ot have, and how clean you can keep the water

-Devo

 

[livebearerfreak]

40 breeder right ( 3 foot by 18 wide by 16 tall? ) or 40 long? if 40B then i wouldnt get any goldfish that can attain over 10 inches. try looking at black moores or the pop eye one ( sry dont know much on goldfish, cichlids are more my thing ) you could possiably have 2 black moores in there? or 2 pop eye ones?

 

[Ichthius]

You'll be just fine in a 40. Learn how to keep your pH up, your nitrates down, keep them on the cooler side and do very large regular water changes. Once you know your fish and water you can do 75% water changes.

I breed ranchu and in every batch there are fish that grow like weeds and those who are just runts. The runts never get really big and could be ideal for a smaller tank. They are to nice to cull but won't be useful for breeding.