Water temp. for Goldfish

[Sunny]

Hi! I have a question about Goldfish. We just went to the pet store to look at fish and I had my eyes set on some pretty small size Goldfish. Since we haven't set our aqaurium completely up yet for any particular kind of fish I have been wondering about how we could make the conditions in our tank right for Goldfish because the info we got from the store was a bit confusing. One lady who seemed to know what she's talking about said that we don't need a heater for Goldfish. However the temp in our house constantly stays in the mid 70s F. Will this be okay for Goldfish? If not, how do other people keep their Goldfish tank cooler, because I can't picture people living in homes with temp lower than at least 76 degrees F.

And one more question: What kind of other fish can we put in the tank together with Goldfish? Will Angelfish be okay or do they need different temperature?

 

[kikuchiyo]

If your house temp is mid 70s it'll be a little lower in the water, which is okay for fancy goldfish. You still need a heater to keep a steady temperature.

No, you can't keep angelfish with goldfish, for comptaibility reasons as well as temperature issues.

 

[becky_e]

Goldfish really should be kept with only other goldfish and of the same type. Don't mix comets and fancy goldfish. You still can have a nice display with different looking fish because the goldfish come in so many different colors.

Also bubble eyes (too weird for me) should be kept with only other bubble eyes.

 

[phanmc]

Not an expert on cold water but here's what I've read.

goldfish prefer colder water but can live in temps up to 78(doesn't mean you should force them to), and will do fine living at room temps as long as the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much.

The hardcore cold water keepers have costly chilling units keeping their water below room temperature.

Some tetras and barbs like the bloodfin tetras, buenos aires tetras, rosy barbs, white cloud minnows, danios, and a few loaches are cool water fishes that can survive at lower temps. Not sure how compatible they would be with the goldfishes though. The buenos aires tetras are fin nippers.

Other tropical fishes (angelfishes) that prefer temps above 76 don't fair too well at lower temps and should not be kept with goldfishes.

 

[TKOS]

The major issue with cold water is that fish that like it need the higher oxygen content it brings. Keeping goldfish in warmer water means creating more surface agitation and more frequent water changes. But they have different dietary needs as well, than most tropicals, so mixing them is still not a good idea.

 

[Sunny]

I still don't understand something. If our room temperature always stays between 76 and 78, which most home have anyway, this is also the temperature suited for tropical fish. It won't go any lower than that unless we set the air conditioner unsuitable for humans. That would mean that technically both goldfish and tropical fish could be fine in a tank with 76-78 degrees. Then why can't goldfish mix with, say, Angelfish which can (my encyclopedia says) thrive in temperatures between 72 and 83 F.?
Some keep Bettas together with other tropical fish and Bettas also require a different diet, and that goes for other critters you put into the tank, like frogs, etc.
Thoughts?

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Goldfish are much more complex than most think. It's not just about the temperature they like to be kept at... goldfish have different dietary needs, and produce an enormous amount of waste - waste which would stress (some) tropical fish out.

Fancy Goldfish also tend to be more delicate and fragile then some tropical fish... let’s face it, a fat goldfish is no match for a swarm of danios pecking at him!

... And yes, it does happen, I've seen it happen too many times unfortunately.

Goldfish also have this weird tendency to eat whatever fish he/she can fit in his/hers mouth.

It is a combination of circumstances which adds to up "its not a good idea to keep tropical fish with Goldfish".

By the way... I am on the opposite side of the fence on the home temperature issue. I keep my home at 68-70 degrees year round and couldn't imagine it any other way.

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Originally posted by phanmc
Goldfish prefer colder water but can live in temps up to 78 (doesn't mean you should force them to).

Actually, Goldfish can live to temps up to 100 degrees F., for a short period of time anyway. Certainly this isn’t ideal, but it is possible in extreme cases/situations.

Many people (myself included) keep their Goldfish aquariums at or around 75* F. because we believe that it helps aid and assist with their digestive system; with what poor structure they have to use.

 

[kikuchiyo]

I still don't understand something. If our room temperature always stays between 76 and 78, which most home have anyway, this is also the temperature suited for tropical fish.

That's how warm the room is. It doesn't stay steady and water is a few degrees cooler than ambient temp.

It won't go any lower than that unless we set the air conditioner unsuitable for humans.

I think it will. Windows, sunlight, fans - there are a lot of variables in the average human house.

That would mean that technically both goldfish and tropical fish could be fine in a tank with 76-78 degrees.
Goldfish prefer cooler temps, low 70s for fancy ones, at most.

Then why can't goldfish mix with, say, Angelfish which can (my encyclopedia says) thrive in temperatures between 72 and 83 F.?

Because the Angels do better at higher temps. Newer books advocate higher temps than older ones (I think the Skeptical Aquarist mentions that generally, recommended temps have gone up over the years).

And there's a difference between "ideal" temperatures and temps fish will survive at. Bettas will survive into the low 60s, but it serioiusly impugns their health.

Some keep Bettas together with other tropical fish and Bettas also require a different diet, and that goes for other critters you put into the tank, like frogs, etc.

People keep bettas with other fish, because bettas are tropical fish. Bettas don't have different dietary needs. Don't let the specially marked food fool you, its exactly the same food, just in different sizes. Like angelfish they are predators, who like to eat bugs and smaller fish in the wild (bettas tend more towards insects, angelfish to fish but they're both fine with fish meal based food).

Frogs are fed seperately, they have to be fed shrimp pellets, I believe, with a tong.

Also, angelfish and goldfish don't look good together (their coloration and movement don't go well together) and angelfish can be aggressive.

 

[TKOS]

Agreed on the bettas. Generally their food is sold in a form that floats easily as they tend feed best off of the top.