Goldfish and angelfish are the two most notable species that people prefer to keep at the beginning of their fish-keeping journey. Due to their attractive looks, these species can quickly grab the viewer’s attention. But can they be placed in the same tank? Can your goldfish live with angelfish? Let us discuss this below:
Goldfish and Angelfish require different water parameters to thrive, which doesn’t make them ideal tankmates. In addition, goldfish require a diet that is a mixture of all nutrients, whereas angelfish prefer a protein-rich diet. Guppy, rosy barbs and snails can be ideal tankmates for goldfish.
This article will discuss why you can’t place goldfish and angelfish in the same tank. In addition to this, we will also learn about some best tankmates for your goldfish.
Contents
Why can’t goldfish and angelfish live together?
There are several reasons behind angelfish not being a good tankmate option for your goldfish. Let us start with their ideal water parameters:
| Particulars | Water Temperature | Water Ph level |
|---|---|---|
| Goldfish | 68-74°F | 7.0-7.5 |
| Angelfish | 78-84°F | 6.8-7.8 |
From the above table, we can conclude that both the species require different water parameters to thrive.
The ideal water temperature of goldfish is between 68-74°F, whereas the water temperature required by angelfish is between 78-84°F.
Goldfish performs best at the ph range of 7.5, whereas the ideal ph range of an angelfish tank should range between 6.8-7.8.
Due to the different requirements of water parameters, it would be advisable not to place them in the same tank.
Inadequate water temperatures can lead to severe health issues like stress, lethargic behavior, and constipation in both species.
In addition to this, inadequate water parameters can also lead to the passing away of your fish.
Many other factors like temperament, dietary needs, and tank size requirements also favor not placing both species in the same aquarium.
Let us discuss all the critical factors in the below article.
Also read: What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Goldfish?
Nature of goldfish and angelfish
| Goldfish Nature | Angelfish Nature |
|---|---|
| Goldfish are peaceful species that love interacting with their tank mates. | Angelfish are semi-aggressive species. |
| Goldfish are not very territorial. | Angelfish are territorial |
| Goldfish can live alone in a planted tank with adequate water parameters. | Angelfish should be placed in small groups of about 4-5 individuals. |
| Goldfish require a diet mix of all nutrients to develop properly. | Angelfish are aggressive eaters that require more protein than goldfish to develop properly. |
| The ideal water temperature of a goldfish tank is 68-74°F. | The ideal water temperature of an angelfish tank is 78-84°F. |
| Goldfish performs best at a pH range of 7.5 | Angelfish requires a pH level of 6.8-7.8 to thrive. |
Goldfish and angelfish have different natures, not making them ideal tankmates.
Goldfish are non-aggressive fishes, whereas many factors can turn your angelfish aggressive. Some of them are as follows:
- An overcrowded tank can lead to aggression in an angelfish.
- Angelfish can turn aggressive while competing for food, spawning, and protecting their eggs from the other tankmates.
- Angelfish are territorial, which makes them aggressive.
So as goldfish are peaceful species, they can come under stress if there is a lot of aggression in the tank.
Aggression in the tank can cause damage to your goldfish, leading to severe health issues.
Therefore, it will be best not to place both the species together to avoid aggression in the tank.
The dietary requirement of goldfish and angelfish?
Goldfish Diet:
Goldfish are omnivores species that require a diet that is a mixture of all the essential nutrients for their proper growth and development.
Let us know about the staple diet of your goldfish in the below table:
| Goldfish Diet | Serving Quantity | No. of Times |
|---|---|---|
| Veggie Pellets | A pinch | 2 times a day |
| Zucchini (Blanched) | One small slice | 3-4 times a week |
| Bloodworms | A pinch | 1-2 times a week |
| Mosquito larvae | 12-15 | 2-3 times a week |
| Brine shrimp | A pinch | 1-2 times a week |
The above table shows the dietary requirements of your goldfish.
You should always provide a good staple diet to your goldfish for their proper growth and development.
Improper diet can lead to significant health issues in your fish, like constipation and loss of appetite.
Also read: What Do Goldfish Eat?
Angelfish Diet:
Angelfish are omnivore species that require the same diet as goldfish to thrive.
However, angelfish require more protein in their diet than goldfish to develop appropriately.
Likewise, in goldfish, improper diet can also lead to severe health issues in angelfish. Some of them are as follows:
- Loss of appetite
- Stress
- Restrict your fish’s growth
- Constipation in your angelfish.
So, from the above explanation, we can say that angelfish require a high protein diet, whereas goldfish require a diet that is a mixture of all the essential nutrients.
Therefore, due to a differentiation in their dietary requirements, it will be advisable not to place them in the same tank.
Also read: Are My Goldfish Stressed?
Tank size requirement for goldfish and angelfish?
A common goldfish can grow up to 12 inches long, whereas an angelfish can grow up to 10 inches.
So, both the species require a good size tank of at least 30 gallons to grow appropriately. Inadequate tank size can affect the growth of your fish.
Placing goldfish and angelfish in a small tank can lead to extreme aggression in the tank, as angelfish can get aggressive in an overcrowded tank.
Let us understand how much goldfish you can place in a 10-gallon tank.
| Types Of Goldfish | Minimum Size | Maximum Size | In A 10-Gallon Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Goldfish | 4 inches(10.16 cm) | 14 inches(35.56 cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
| Fantail Goldfish | 6 inches(15.24 cm) | 12 inches(20.32 cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
| Shubunkin Goldfish | 9 inches(22.86 cm) | 18 inches(45.72cm) | 1 small goldfish |
| Comet Goldfish | 2 inches(5.08cm) | 12 inches(20.32cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
| Sarasa Goldfish | 4 inches(10.16cm) | 14 inches(35.56cm) | 1-2 small goldfish |
From the above table, we can say that one small goldfish requires at least 10-gallon to grow, whereas angelfish need 4 gallons of water per fish.
We will suggest a 30-gallon capacity tank if you plan to place your goldfish and angelfish together.
Keeping the fish in a small tank can lead to extreme aggression in the tank.
However, it would be advisable not to place them in the same tank due to different water and dietary requirements.
Can angelfish attack goldfish?
Angelfish are semi-aggressive species that can turn aggressive in an overcrowded tank and protect their eggs from the other tankmates.
Angelfish can eat whatever fits in their mouth.
So, it will be advisable not to keep a small goldfish with angelfish as the angelfish will attack your goldfish further, leading to the passing away of your fish.
Angelfish are also very territorial, leading to extreme aggression in the tank.
However, adding many aquatic plants to the tank will be advisable if you decide to keep your angelfish and goldfish together.
Aquatic plants help develop hiding spots for your goldfish that are most necessary when paired with aggressive fishes.
Therefore, for the well-being of your goldfish, it will be advisable not to place both species in the same tank.
Best tankmates for goldfish?
Goldfish are non-aggressive species that need to be paired with peaceful species to maintain a healthy environment in the tank. Here are the best tankmates for your goldfish aquarium:
- Guppy Fish
- Zebra Danios
- Snails
- Giant Danios
- Rosy Barbs
Guppy fish:
Guppy fish are peaceful fish that require the same water parameters and conditions as goldfish, making them ideal tank mates for your goldfish aquarium.
Likewise, goldfish guppies are omnivore species with your fish’s same dietary needs.
Also, read: Can Goldfish Live With Guppy?
Zebra Danios:
Zebra danios and goldfish require the same water parameters to thrive. So, you can plan to keep them together in the same aquarium.
Despite their small size, zebra danios are extremely fast, making it a task for your goldfish to attack.
Goldfish and zebra danios have the same dietary needs, making them ideal tankmates for your goldfish aquarium.
Snails:
Snails can also be a good tankmate for your goldfish.
However, it would be best to choose the right snail type so that a too-small snail can be a snack for your goldfish.
In addition, you should ensure the growth rate of snails before adding them to your goldfish aquarium, as adding one or two snails in the tank can make your aquarium swarm with them in no time.
Giant Danios:
Giant danios are a good tankmate option for your goldfish.
Always keep your giant danios in the group of five with your goldfish.
However, lack of food can make your giant danios compete for food in the tank.
Rosy Barbs:
Rosy barbs and goldfish require the same water parameters to thrive. So, you can consider rosy barbs as an ideal tankmate for your goldfish.
Rosy barbs can grow up to six inches, eliminating the risk of being attacked by your goldfish.
However, we advise you to keep watching your rosy barbs as they turn into fin nippers when they are stressed.
Also, read: Can Goldfish Live Alone?
Conclusion:
- Goldfish and angelfish can’t live together due to different water requirements.
- Goldfish are cold water species, whereas angelfish prefer to live in warm water.
- Goldfish requires a diet mix of all nutrients, whereas angelfish need a high protein diet.
- An overcrowded tank can make angelfish turn aggressive.
- Likewise, goldfish angelfish can eat anything that fits in their mouth, which can threaten the smaller goldfish in the tank.
- Guppy fish, snails, giant danios, rosy barbs, and zebra danios are some ideal tankmates for your goldfish.
Reference: ScienceDirect, NCBI, NCBI, ResearchGate, ResearchGate