Goldfish are freshwater fishes commonly found in rivers, lakes, and ponds. They do not require a water filter to thrive in their natural habitat. But when you place them in captivity, do they need a water filter? Do your goldfish fry need a water filter? Let us find out.
Goldfish fry requires a filter as they produce lots of waste in the tank. The absence of a filter can contaminate the tank’s water, making your fry prone to various parasites and diseases. Add a sponge filter to your goldfish fry tank as it is cheap and will help maintain the tank’s water quality.
This article will discuss the need for a water filter in your goldfish fry aquarium. In addition, we will also learn about the best filter options for your goldfish fry.

Contents
Why does baby goldfish need a filter in their tank?
Goldfish are messy fish that produces a lot of waste in the tank. Contaminated water further can lead to ammonia spikes, eventually affecting the gills of your goldfish fry.
Contaminated water can also lead to a drop in oxygen, making your goldfish fry gasp for air at the top of the tank’s water surface.
A water filter is essential to maintain the tank’s water quality by eliminating all the harmful toxins from the water.
The absence of a water filter in your goldfish fry tank can make your fish prone to several parasites and diseases.
You should add a water filter to your goldfish fry tank to prevent your goldfish from having several health issues and for the well-being of your fish.
How long can your goldfish fry live without filter?
Your goldfish fry will not be able to survive for an extended period without a water filter in their tank.
Goldfish are messy fish that require a water filter in their tank to maintain the tank’s water quality.
Without a water filter in their tank, your goldfish fry may pass away within 4-7 days.
Goldfish fry is highly sensitive to ammonia spikes in the tank.
The spike of harmful toxins can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish fry, making them suffer and eventually pass away.
So, it will be advisable to add a water filter in your goldfish fry tank for your fish’s proper growth and development.

What are the advantages of filter in your goldfish fry tank?
Here are the advantages of filter in your goldfish fry tank:
- Maintain the tank’s water quality
- Help eliminate harmful toxins.
- Keeps your tank well-oxygenated.
- A water filter removes the need for frequent water changes.
A water filter helps maintain the tank’s water quality by keeping your tank clean.
Water filter also helps eliminate the harmful toxins from the water, preventing your goldfish fry from suffering from severe health issues.
A water filter also helps keep your goldfish fry tank well oxygenated required for the well-being of your fish.
Lower oxygen levels in the tank can make your goldfish prone to several parasites and diseases.
A water filter in the tank also eliminates the need for frequent water changes and helps to provide a stress-free environment to your goldfish fry.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live In Dirty Water?
How to keep your goldfish fry without a filter?
You can keep your goldfish fry without a filter in the following ways:
- Perform frequent water changes
- Add aquatic plants in the tank.
- Avoid overfeeding your goldfish fry.
- Clean your goldfish fry tank.
Perform frequent water changes
Goldfish are messy fish that produces a lot of waste, leading to a drop in the tank’s water quality.
If you do not add a water filter to your goldfish fry tank, you should perform frequent water changes to maintain the tank’s water quality.
Performing frequent water changes will help keep your tank’s water clean for the well-being of your goldfish fry.
Add aquatic plants to your goldfish fry tank.
You should add aquatic plants in your goldfish fry tank if you are not adding a water filter in your goldfish fry tank.
Aquatic plants in the tank will help keep your fish tank well-oxygenated for the well-being of your fish.
A drop in the oxygen level can make your goldfish fry suffer from a lack of oxygen and gasp for air at the top of the tank’s water surface, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
Aquatic plants will also act as a hiding spot for your goldfish fry. The best aquatic plants you can add to your goldfish fry tank are as follows:
- Java Moss
- Java fern
- Anubias
- Cryptocoryne Plant
Also read: Do Goldfish Eat Plants?
Avoid overfeeding your goldfish fry.
You should avoid overfeeding your goldfish fry if you decide not to add a filter in the tank.
Goldfish do not have a stomach, and they digest their food through their intestines.
Overfeeding your goldfish fry will make your goldfish produce a lot of waste, contaminating the tank’s water in no time.
Contaminated water further can lead to a spike in the ammonia levels making your goldfish fry suffer from severe health issues, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
Also read: What Happens When You Overfeed Goldfish?
Clean your goldfish fry tank
It would be best to clean your goldfish fry tank regularly to prevent many health issues for your fish.
Leftovers in the tank can contaminate the tank’s water, making your goldfish suffer from significant health issues.
Therefore, it will be advisable to add a water filter in your goldfish fry tank for your fish’s proper growth and development.
The absence of a water filter in the tank can affect your goldfish fry’s growth and make your fish prone to several parasites and diseases.

Best filter options for your goldfish fry
Here are the best filter options for your goldfish fry:
- Sponge filter
- Box Filter
Sponge Filter
A sponge filter is an ideal water filtration system that you can add to your goldfish fry tank.
Sponge filters are cheap and easy to maintain, making them a favorite for beginners and veterinarian fish keepers.
You must connect the air pump to the sponge filter with the help of airline tubing.
The air pump forces the air via tubing into the empty cavity in the sponge filter, making a rise of the bubbles from inside the sponge, thus drawing water through the sponge walls.
Due to its continuous bubbling, it offers good surface agitation and water circulation.
It also avoids sucking up the fish fry, making it an ideal option for your goldfish fry.
Consider adding an air stone for your sponge filters as it helps to minimize the bubbling noise and make the filtration system more systematic.
We advise you to purchase Hygger Aquarium Double Sponge Filter for your goldfish fry tank as it offers multi-filtration functions that will help maintain your tank’s water quality.
You can purchase it from Amazon HYGGER AQUARIUM DOUBLE SPONGE FILTER
Box Filter
You can also add a box filter to your goldfish fry tank as it is cheap and easy to maintain, making it an ideal option for your goldfish fry.
It works similarly to a sponge filter using an air bubbler and can be filled with whatever filtration media you prefer.
We advise you to buy an Aquanique Universal Pump Filter Box.
You can purchase it from Amazon Aquanique Universal Pump Filter Box
Conclusion:
- You should add a filter to your goldfish fry tank to maintain the quality of your fish’s tank water.
- Your goldfish fry will not be able to survive for a long period without a water filter in their tank.
- The absence of a water filter in your goldfish tank can make your goldfish suffer from severe health issues, eventually leading to the passing away of your fish.
- You should perform frequent water changes and add live aquatic plants if you are not adding a water filter to the tank.
- A sponge filter and box filter are ideal options for your goldfish fry tank.
- We advise you to add a water filter to your goldfish fry tank for the well-being of your fish.
Reference: ScienceDirect NCBI