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06-30-2001, 09:16 PM
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#1
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Mayor
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 700
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Goldfish with what?
Hi:
What other fish can I get for my Dad's tank which now has 3 goldfish?
It's a 20 gal. tank. I wanted to get him something different than goldfish, but I want to make sure they would get along and it would be ok.
TIA
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Susan
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06-30-2001, 09:47 PM
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#2
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Council
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Owensboro Kentucky
Posts: 461
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Really 3 goldfish ( Medium Size) is Maxium for a 20 gallon aquarium. In my opinion goldfish need at least 10 gallons each. Also goldfish are coldwater fish so you can't add tropica fish such as mollies, angels, etc with them. Really there isint much that can go with goldfish......Sorry!
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06-30-2001, 10:44 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,004
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Hi Susan ~
Eric has pretty much hit the nail on the head. Goldfish should be kept at about 68 degrees Fahrenheit and most tropical fish are kept at 78F or above. Three goldfish in a 20-gal is definitely maxed out. Most people suggest 20-gallons per fish considering their mature size. A good absolute minimum size tank for goldfish is a standard 55-gal tank. That gives them room to swim around a little and even that size would only accomodate three of them.
In an outdoor pond you could keep them with their cousins, Koi.
Ninong 
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Ninong
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07-01-2001, 12:05 PM
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#4
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Mayor
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 700
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Thx guys. I had a really nice 55 gal. FW, which I gave complete and set up for other relatives of mine, when I upgraded my 20 gal. mini reef. Just could not keep up with all these tanks, with my busy schedule. I upgraded my Dad's little 10 gal, with the 20 gal, and he loves it, but he wants more than the 3 fish. I tell you this hobby is an addiction. 
Ninong, I do have a small pond outdoors, that I did a few years ago, and kept a few Koi's, but they got so big, I gave them to a friend, which has a huge beautiful outdoor pond in his house. I guess I cannot setup my pond again, and put the goldfish in there, cause it would be too cold for them in the winter.
So Dad is going to have to accept the 3 small goldfish. 
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Susan
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07-01-2001, 12:14 PM
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,004
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Susan ~
He'll probably get bored with a 3-goldfish tank in a hurry. What about giving the goldfish back to the LFS and switching his 20-gal tank to a more satisfying planted freshwater tank with a nice mixed community of smaller sized fish?
Ninong 
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Ninong
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07-01-2001, 12:35 PM
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#6
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Mayor
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 700
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Hey, that is a great idea...... Thx. He wants colorful fish. (I just took him on Thursday, to get laser surgery in his eye, so he is thrilled at how much vision he now has) he is so cute.
Anyway which ones would you recommend?
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Susan
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07-01-2001, 12:53 PM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,004
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Susan ~
The easiest fish for a beginner would be livebearers like guppies, platties, mollies, swords, etc., with a couple of cory cats. You could throw in several neon tetras for color. Just don't throw in any of the meaner tetras or angels or anything that gets too large, like gouramis.
What kind of lighting do you have? If it's only a single normal output fluorescent, you will have to select low light plants, like crypts.
Ninong
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Ninong
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07-01-2001, 01:16 PM
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#8
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Mayor
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 700
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It just has a NO 15w bulb. I guess I can upgrade that for him. I love the coloring in the neon tetras, but have stayed away from them, b/c I had read a while back, that they are prone to a specific disease that only affects Neons, it is commonly refferred to "Neon Disease", it's actual name is Plistophora, and that once in the tank, until you boil everything, including the tank, you will always have it.
But I guess I can get some for him, and hopefully they will be fine.
Thx for all the input.
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Susan
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07-01-2001, 01:32 PM
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#9
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Mayor
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA
Posts: 992
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Hi Susie! Always upgrading, you need a rest girl!  Anyway, you are correct about the neon tetras. I've been in freshwater SO much longer than salt. I have a fully live planted tank with all sorts of community fish. And all I can say is I will not get the neon tetras again. I had the "neon tetra disease" occur and it is very frustrating to say the least. They are not the hardiest fish by far. But everything that Ninong suggested is great for fw. And cory cats are SO cool! There are so many varieties. Also, I have some thin finned rainbows that are gorgeous and very docile. I haven't located that scientific name, but they would be great for you. They are small. Very colorful though.
Joanne
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"Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."
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07-01-2001, 01:36 PM
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#10
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,004
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Ninong
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07-01-2001, 05:50 PM
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#11
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Governor
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Watertown,SD,USA
Posts: 1,502
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I would get guppies, and swordtails for livebearers, I (thankfully) have never gone though neon tetra deasease, really neons are really hardy, except if you get one with that desease, I also like glowlight tetra(they look like neons except they have a goldish pinkisk stripe) Also bettas beleave it or not are really docile, they only fight if you get 2. Like every body else said, get corey cats, as many as you can.
good luck with your new tank
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