Home
Articles
Types of Goldfish
Common Goldfish
Comet Goldfish
Shubunkin Goldfish
Fantail Goldfish
Veiltail Goldfish
Celestial Goldfish
Bubble-Eye Goldfish
Calico Goldfish
Butterfly Tail Goldfish
Jikin Goldfish
Telescope-Eye Goldfish
Ranchu Goldfish
Moor Goldfish
Oranda Goldfish
Lionhead Goldfish
Lionchu Goldfish
Pearlscale Goldfish
Ryukin Goldfish
Wakin Goldfish
Pom-Pon Goldfish
Aquarium Facts
Goldfish bowl
Selecting a location
Goldfish aquarium
Aquarium lighting
Heater
Filters
Goldfish water
Aeration
Gravel
Plants
Other items
Selecting a fish
Fish compatibility
Fish anatomy
Goldfish Care
Equipment operation
Water changes
Feeding your goldfish
Overcrowding
Goldfish Diseases
Anchor worm
Fin rot
White spot disease
Velvet disease
Fish Pox
Dropsy
China Disease
Fish Lice
Black Spots
Chilodonella
Hole in the Head
Constipation
Fin Congestion
Ulcers
Pop Eye
Furunculosis
Slime Disease
Flukes
Fungus
Mouth Rot
Fish Leech
Disease charts
Ponds
Design
Selecting a location
Size
Plants
Feeding the fish
Filtration
Construction
Maintenance
Suitable fish
Breeding fish
Koi Varieties
Kohaku
Sanke
Bekko
Koromo
Utsurimono
Tancho
Goshiki
Showa
Asagi
Hikarimuji
Hikari Utsuri
Hikarimoyo
Kawarimono
Koi Care
Growth and Development
Feeding your koi
Other Coldwater Fish
Orange Throated Darter
Three-Spined Stickleback
Weather Loach
Orange-Spotted Sunfish
Videos
Gallery Pictures
Calculators
Ammonia Calculator
Forum
General Discussion
Fish Health Forum
Fish Tank Forum
Fish Identification Forum
Pictures and Videos
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
May 21, 2013, 06:20:54 PM
Pet Goldfish - Aquarium Forum Community
Aquarium
Fish Species and Other Aquatic Life
Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
« previous
next »
Pages:
[
1
]
2
Author
Topic: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish?? (Read 1157 times)
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
on:
October 09, 2011, 05:08:11 PM »
Hey everyone!
I was thinking the other day, when I get the bigger tank, instead of 3 goldfish, it might be nice to have 2 goldfish and then a cold water friend with them? Or maybe I should just stick with goldfish?
I've seen you guys mention having plecos or other species, so thought I'd ask
Another issue I've recently come across (that made me consider this topic once more) is a snail problem with a new plant and was wondering maybe something that eats snails is a good idea? I love the snails, but I fear they will take over! Or perhaps a catfish? Or something I've heard about called Weather loaches? (but I hear they grow huge!) Or something that eats algae?
Maybe big snails (Nossie said their easier to keep track of than little snails
) ? Do the snails need to be considered with working out stocking? If so how much space?
I remember having apple snails once, but I've heard mixed things about goldfish and snail compatibility?
Perhaps 3 goldfish would be okay with one snail? Am I correct in thinking some snails are hermaphrodites and others are live bearing -so requiring a partner- ?
I'm just contemplating everything, while I wait for the tank really!
Currently the two snails I've caught (They are quite cute with spirally shells and I didn't have the heart to kill them!) are living in a tub with an air holed lid (small holes, so they can't climb out!).
My mum offered to take them home to put them in the pond in their back garden -not sure what the frogs and newts would make of that?- I don't want my parents to have an infestation of snails because of me >.< (I'm worried that's what would happen!)
Thanks you guys, I really appreciate how supportive you've all been of me in my fish keeping adventure so far! xx
[Edit]
Something interesting I found about goldfish and snails you guys might like to read
(
Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.
)
«
Last Edit: October 09, 2011, 06:08:35 PM by Skwishee
»
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #1 on:
October 10, 2011, 03:57:18 AM »
Most cold water fish won't grow as big as goldfish, and are still better off in a pond since many of them are shoaling fish so keeping just one of them alone with two goldfish probably wouldn't be the best idea.
Some people swear against plecos as well for the fear that they'd eat the goldfishes' slime coat, but so far I've had my pleco with them for a year and he's been a very kind-hearted one c: (Except when they come to his feeding spot, he gets mad, but the goldfish know exactly what distance to keep nowadays!) Personally, I think they are a really great help! Getting rod of any left-over foods that the goldfish wouldn't find or scraping the algae off of the driftwood and plants
(Mine got lazy though, he's only on the driftwood lately...) If you like plecos, you could get one! But make sure that you know what kind it is, how big it would grow, and that it enjoys similar water quality as goldfish do
(Temperatures between 22-26 degrees, and they'll thrive together!) Another species of suckermouth catfish I've had success with are the ancistrus, or Bristle noses as they're commonly called. They grow to be roughly 8cm long so you could keep 2-3 of them instead of one goldfish I imagine, since they're not messy at all
Apple snails are sexed and then breed (I think they lay eggs??) as opposed to most smaller snails that basically just clone themselves D: I have 5 of them in the main tank, and I first had one with the Platies but they seemed to be nipping on the snail's shell all the time so the poor thing was afraid to move. He's a lot happier living with Danny (the pleco) and the goldfish
They don't take notice of the snails anymore, but sometimes Danny is slapping them around with his tail not noticing... x'D
So if you'd want to go goldfish all the way and skip the plecos, you could add a few more snails, maybe 3 would be enough in that tank?
Apple snails also eat algae and help as much as they can keeping things clean
(In nature they can grow to be 20 cm across the shell).
There are people however, who haven't been as lucky with their snails and the goldfish were constantly trying to eat them resulting in the snails' deaths... D:
Why not put them in your parents' pond? I bet the snails would be happy there!
And I think they wouldn't overpopulate the pond because of the fish and whatnot that live there anyway, they might even eat the snails or their eggs, if they're that small.
Logged
fantailer
Sr. Member
Karma: 121
Posts: 1626
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #2 on:
October 10, 2011, 05:11:25 AM »
Also with your plant you could have ramshord snails which can breed off of one snail.
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #3 on:
October 10, 2011, 05:24:31 AM »
Yeah my dad mentioned his ancistrus cat fish may still be alive in his tank! (Theres alot of algae in there!).
But he was talking about finding it a new home down in Devon as it's been living in a tropical tank all these years, must be very old by now if it is still in there! (Not to mention I think the journey here and then leaving it in a cold water tank with a goldfish, would be very stressful!). But I do love the little guys!
But I also love snails too
So either 2 goldfish and a catfish, or 3 goldfish and a couple of snails =)
I might go for the snail option, add in one or two and see how they get on with the goldfish.
Yeah, I think I'll let my mum take the rescued snails home (I think their common pond snails so can grow up to an inch!) their ponds don't have any fish, but lots of frogs and newts! So I imagine they'll keep their population down.
As I suspect keeping them in the tub and eventually they'll just multiply and take over! Unless I remove the eggs? I read their easy to control, but maybe a nice big pond would be better for them!
Logged
fantailer
Sr. Member
Karma: 121
Posts: 1626
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #4 on:
October 11, 2011, 05:05:21 AM »
Try this link about Pond Snails
(
Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.
)
This link for Ramshorn Snails
(
Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.
)
And for this link Apple Snails the most common ones on the forum
(
Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.
)
Hoped I helped
.
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #5 on:
October 11, 2011, 07:02:46 AM »
Our ancistrus are pretty old by now too, I think they should be closing in on 5 years? They also breed regularly so my sister brings the babies to the pet shop every once in a while
I doubt he'd be stressed living with goldfish since a good temperature for goldfish is 25 degrees up to even 28. So even if they're called "coldwater" fish, they don't live in cold water
Unless you have them in a pond of course!
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #6 on:
October 12, 2011, 02:52:18 PM »
Haha yeah I guess your right!
I'd love to adopt Peppy (myself and a friend named him that because his brown colour reminded us of pepper and pepsi XD) but we're not sure how well he'd survive, with my dad needing to take him out of the tank for a few days to clean it and then transporting of the tank and then being shoved into the 21 litre with Lucky while the bigger one cycles. They said they will probably look for someone in Devon who can adopt him straight away.
I still have no idea if his alive in there, my parents have only mentioned their speculation that his alive because of the algae!
As for the snails, I am pretty sure I can spy some eggs on the plant I put in with them, so baby snails will be here soon! (Those guys sure didn't wait long
)
Thanks for the links Fantailer! I'm having a bit of trouble identifying them, because they are so tiny! They are around 6/7mm big! They are currently huddled side by side, I'm guessing that occasionally cleaning their water and adding in fresh plants for them to eat will be sufficient enough for them and their future babies? Until I can get them to Devon that is, to my parents pond!
*I am a little excited that they're going to be parents, how sad is that XD *
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #7 on:
October 12, 2011, 03:32:42 PM »
That's of course a possibility, he'd probably be safer and happier moving into a cycled tank right away
It's so sweet that you're taking such good care of the snails :'D If you feel like it, I bet they'd be happy to eat a crushed flake every once in a while too
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #8 on:
October 13, 2011, 01:36:19 PM »
Ahh crushed flakes! I will do that once I figure out a safe way to a water change
I'm thinking pick up the snails and stick them in a little dish of water, while I deal with the big tub.
I only wish I had a camera good enough to take photos of the snails and their eggs!
They are seriously cute and they move so fast! One of the little guys was crawling along the side of the tub at quite a pace!
I still have no idea what breed they are, maybe their too small to be pond snails?
I also can't believe people would consider these guys pests and no doubt kill them... Their missing out on some snail family fun
After all this, I'm definitely considering getting Lucky some proper snail friends
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #9 on:
October 14, 2011, 03:13:59 AM »
We had ones similar size but with strong red color... they were allover the place, inside the filter and outside the filter... D: In the end we really didn't bother looking out for them while vacuuming the gravel. We got rid of them that way, and also, I think mom was so sick of them that she simply crushed whichever she saw whenever she sat them D: Nice snack for the fish that way though.
They are a bit of pests in the end, but they do look beautiful when they live with guppies and some fine-leaved plants
I had them that way in my room, it was just the main tank they were a problem in
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #10 on:
October 14, 2011, 04:19:09 AM »
Yeah while I was looking around on the internet, I read that you can squash them and feed them to the goldfish XD
If the snails breed too much in the tub, I think thats what I'll have to do!
[Update]
Well I looked up just now and saw something on the tank, thinking 'whats that?', Lucky must have read my mind because she raced over and bit it, then swam off. Turns out it's a snail. The blighters must be in the gravel somewhere.... So now there are 3 snails in the tub!
[Photo update]
Here's a pic of one of the snails and their little eggs
I apologize the quality isn't that great, it's hard to get focused images when they're so small!
«
Last Edit: October 14, 2011, 06:58:43 AM by Skwishee
»
Logged
sparkly-puffball
Newbie
Karma: 14
Posts: 45
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #11 on:
October 14, 2011, 09:29:12 PM »
What about shrimps? Ghost shrimps can live in a variety of temperature ranges, eat leftover food, clean the tank, and if it's really hungry, it will go to the surface to eat! There are translucent white but there are over more colorful shrimp that basically do the same thing. Maybe because I'm more of a tropical fish person (I don't have space for goldfish), but I think shrimp would be a good idea.
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #12 on:
October 15, 2011, 03:33:34 AM »
Most shrimp are very small when bought, so they would end up a tasty snack for the goldfish, not to mention that they wouldn't be able to get any food since the goldfish would be taking it all from them!
I was very worried about my pleco for that reason, the goldfish kept taking his food, but now since he grew three times as big as he was when I bought him, that's no problem
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #13 on:
October 15, 2011, 04:42:22 AM »
Nossie: the snails loved the fish flake
I put one crumbled in yesterday and a lot of it's gone now
I think I'll stick to snails, they seem to be the simplest of all potential goldfish companions
I'll introduce one or two snails, once I have the bigger tank with the 2 goldfish in and see how they all get along.
I was considering weather loach, but for some of the breeds you need a licence and to keep them in 2's or 3's, not to mention they can grow pretty big, not sure 2 would really thrive in a 125 litre tank.
[image]
I did also come across a hillside loach, that sort of looks like a pleco that would be nice to have, but they like strong currents, so again, not sure my tank would be the best conditions for one.
[image]
«
Last Edit: October 15, 2011, 04:48:21 AM by Skwishee
»
Logged
fantailer
Sr. Member
Karma: 121
Posts: 1626
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #14 on:
October 15, 2011, 07:11:16 AM »
Holy Cow !!!!!! That loach is so pretty!!!
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #15 on:
October 15, 2011, 12:56:41 PM »
I know! But after researching, it says they prefer tanks with lots and lots of current, so won't thrive in a calm tank like goldfish do.
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #16 on:
October 16, 2011, 02:49:54 AM »
Then keep an eye on the goldies and make sure they're not harassing the snails, as I said, that's a very common reason why most people just can't have snails with their fish!
Those fish are so cute! But they do look like they grow pretty big, so i don't think a 125 liter would be sufficient, many bottom-feeding fish will get territorial if they're sharing too small a patch on the bottom of the tank
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #17 on:
October 16, 2011, 09:57:06 AM »
Yeah I thought as much, so after some research decided it would be best to leave it at snails!
I did see a pretty awesome looking hermit crab in the aquarium shop the other day! I imagine with crabs they ideally need some land as well as water, so again, probably a terrible mix with goldfish! Not to mention it'd probably try to eat Lucky XD
[image]
They are so cute though!
Logged
Nossie
Hero Member
Karma: 481
Posts: 5469
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #18 on:
October 16, 2011, 11:39:26 AM »
You never know!! xD
I honestly never studied too much about crustaceans, just their basic needs sort of, for my sister who's really interested in having some shrimp some day
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #19 on:
October 17, 2011, 03:00:48 AM »
I just think hermit crabs look awesome... Shrimp can be cool as well, but I don't know too much about shrimp... Well apart from the Mantis Shrimp I researched about for a while, those guys are just incredible creatures.
I'd love a mantis shrimp too one day! This little guy is the Peacock Mantis Shrimp ^_^ Beautiful things....
[image]
Logged
fantailer
Sr. Member
Karma: 121
Posts: 1626
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #20 on:
October 17, 2011, 04:57:13 AM »
Omg!!! Thats a crab!
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #21 on:
October 17, 2011, 05:18:55 AM »
Also an update with the snails, I've lost sight of their eggs and there are no baby snails.. I highly doubt the eggs would have hatched after a few days as well... Bit of a mystery that... It's like the eggs have disappeared and I'm pretty sure the snails wouldn't have eaten them?
I saw them yesterday resting on the bottom of the tub (they'd fallen off the plant at some point) and I was very careful to clean around the eggs and add in some extra water, only now they aren't there? Strange...
I also read that snails can carry diseases? So maybe not the best idea to un leash them on the pond at home?
«
Last Edit: October 17, 2011, 05:24:52 AM by Skwishee
»
Logged
fantailer
Sr. Member
Karma: 121
Posts: 1626
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #22 on:
October 17, 2011, 04:03:23 PM »
They can but you'll see some signs after a while. By the way your snail looks like a ramshorn snail.
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #23 on:
October 19, 2011, 09:43:38 AM »
Don't ramshorn snails have a curly shell? Like this:
[image]
Mine definitely don't have shells like that... I think there was one Ramshorn snail in the plant, but I thought the shell was empty and didn't put it in some water, so that snail didn't make it...
The bladder/pond snail looks more like my little guys:
[image]
Logged
Ron H
Full Member
Karma: 83
Posts: 443
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #24 on:
October 23, 2011, 05:26:38 AM »
I think from memory those little pond snails breed like crazy..
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #25 on:
October 23, 2011, 05:57:03 AM »
Well so far the 3 pond snails I have in a little bucket are fine, they did lay some eggs, but then the eggs disappeared after 5 days
No baby snails in sight, so no idea what happened there!
I'm considering keeping them for now and then perhaps in the future having them in the 21 litre tank with a betta or some guppies (if I add a heater)
Logged
Skwishee
Sr. Member
Karma: 135
Posts: 1742
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #26 on:
October 30, 2011, 08:06:44 AM »
Just an interesting update, you know how I mentioned the previous batch of eggs dissappeared?
I noticed some more in there yesterday and my goodness, they have laid eggs with a vengeance! There's little sacks of the stuff everywhere XD I think I'll keep some and destroy some, my little tub wouldn't cope with allllll of these little dears if they all hatched!
Logged
fantailer
Sr. Member
Karma: 121
Posts: 1626
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #27 on:
October 31, 2011, 04:51:24 AM »
Sorry I thought the curly shelled snail was yourse.
Logged
Ron H
Full Member
Karma: 83
Posts: 443
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #28 on:
October 31, 2011, 05:51:16 PM »
Aha, I did remember correctly, they do reproduce like crazy... cheers Skwishee
Logged
toffee44
Newbie
Karma: 2
Posts: 29
Re: Freshwater critters, to live with goldfish??
«
Reply #29 on:
November 01, 2011, 06:40:09 AM »
I have danios in with my goldies but one day I fear they may fit in goldfishes mouths
Logged
Pages:
[
1
]
2
« previous
next »
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
Community
-----------------------------
=> Pictures and Videos
-----------------------------
Aquarium
-----------------------------
=> General Goldfish Discussion
=> Health and Illness
=> Tank and Equipment
=> Aquarium Decoration
=> Fish Identification
=> Fish Species and Other Aquatic Life
-----------------------------
Ponds and Garden
-----------------------------
=> Koi and Goldfish
=> Ponds
=> Breeding goldfish and koi
Page created in 1.952 seconds with 16 queries.
Loading...