Goldfish are natives of East Asia, while Guppies are from the Caribbean Islands even though both species are found in every corner of the world today. These two are also the most popular species in the fishkeeping scene. The addition of just guppies and goldfish can instantly give your tank a facelift. But in reality, can guppies live with goldfish in the same tank?
Can Guppies Live With Goldfish In The Same Tank?
Both guppies and goldfish are social beings that love to live in groups and interact. So, in some circumstances, they can live together peacefully. However, if the goldfish in question is big in size, they can very easily consume guppies. So, answering can guppies live with goldfish in the same tank is actually quite complicated.
Guppies and Small Goldfish
Smaller goldfish that are about 4-6 in size can peacefully coexist with guppies. These include black moor, twisty-tailed, and chalily, among others.
Guppies and Big Goldfish
Big Goldfish can easily fit petite guppies into their mouth. Hence, they won’t make great tank mates. Some examples are comets and shubunkins.
The chances of guppies being swallowed are even higher with fast-moving big goldfish like ranchus, orandas, and fantails.
I’m not necessarily implying that bigger goldfish always end up snacking on guppies—but better safe than sorry, right?
Guppies And Fancy Goldfish
Fancy, physically-impaired goldfish like black moors, jikins, and veiltails are often slow and way too less active than slim-bodied guppies. Thus, they can’t catch guppies and don’t bother most of the time.
Here’s a video showing the peaceful cohabitation of goldfish and guppies!
Do Goldfish Eat Guppy Fry?
A female guppy can give birth to about 20-120 fry at a time every month. And when born, guppy fry is about ¼ inches (0.6mm) long. Thus, guppy fry makes excellent snacks for goldfish.
Most of the time, people choosing to keep guppies and goldfish together only opt for male guppies.
However, that comes with a different set of complications. Here’s what you can do to protect the fry instead:
Use A Breeding Box
You can keep the expecting females in a breeding box and once she gives birth, just keep the fry in the box until they reach maturity.
Use A Separate Tank
As this option is quite cumbersome, only opt for it if you have free time. Although it’s more reliable, it can be difficult to maintain two different tanks simultaneously.
However, social behavior and appetite are not the only things to keep in mind. There are several other underpinning factors. Let’s have a quick look.
You Might Also Want To Read:
How to Control Guppy Population in Your Aquarium? 7 Proven and Effective Tips
Why Are Guppies So Colorful – And Why Do Guppies Lose Color?
Can Guppies Live in a Pond? Tips on Keeping Guppies in a Pond
Do Guppies And Goldfish Need the Same Water Temperature?
Goldfish prefer colder water. If your tank only has goldfish, you can go without a heater for most parts. However, if you’re keeping them with guppies, you need a stable temperature, thus a heater.
Guppies need warmer water that clocks in at around 72-82°F (22-28 °C). On the other hand, goldfish can easily thrive in temperatures between 68° to 74° F (18-23 °C).
You can see there’s a slight overlap. Thus, if you aim for a temperature around 72°F, it can still be warm enough for your guppies and cold enough for your goldfish.
My choice is Fluval M Submersible for a heater as I think it provides good value for money.
There are several power options to choose from depending on your tank’s size: 50W, 100W, and 200W.
Other notable features are:
- A three-year warranty
- Customizable control dial
- Sleek, compact design
- Computer-calibrated thermostat
Suppose the water is too cold for guppies and too warm for goldfish. In that case, they can develop stress and diseases that directly impact their lifespan. Thus, you need to tread lightly in this matter.
Do Guppies Need the Same Water pH level As Goldfish?
The temperature isn’t the only water parameter to check when considering can guppies live with goldfish in the same tank. The water’s pH level is equally important.
As tropical species, guppies prefer alkaline water with pH levels between 6.8-7.6. Likewise, as freshwater species, goldfish thrive the best in acidic water, with pH clocking in at 6.0-8.0. Thus, it’s best to keep the water’s property neutral at around 7pH level.
If you don’t change the water timely or if a high amount of waste buildup, it can turn the water acidic. Now that may be ok for goldfish but not guppies. So, always make a point to check the pH levels and clean the tank regularly.
To ensure the water is always clean and free of buildup, I would recommend the Aqueon Aquarium Filter Kit w/Media.
This one, too, offers incredible value for the amount it costs. It comes with a 4-month worth supply of tap water conditioner and specialty filter pads.
However, the feature that stood out the most to me is that it offers 5 stages of filtration.
Do Guppies Need The Same Amount Of Light As Goldfish?
Both guppies and goldfish need light—natural or artificial—for proper development. About 10-12 hours of light every day is enough for guppies, while a goldfish’s needs are slightly higher. They need around 12-13 hours of light.
So, you can mimic the natural light cycle and provide around 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness every day. Make sure to add a few accessories and live plants so that your fish have the right hiding/resting spot away from the light when they need it.
Both guppies and goldfish are highly hardy in nature and can survive a wide range of water conditions. However, by no means does it mean that you can compromise one’s needs in favor of the other.
4 Factors To Consider When Keeping Guppies And Goldfish Together
Here are some crucial factors to consider if you’re planning to keep guppies and goldfish in the same tank.
Goldfish Can Grow Way Too Big
Guppies are just about 1.5-2 inches long, with some growing up to 3-3.5 inches. On the other hand, even the smallest goldfish species can grow anywhere between 4-7 inches long. Some goldfish can even grow up to afoot!
So, once a goldfish outgrows your guppy, the chances of it eating poor guppies rise significantly. That’s just how nature functions—big fish eat smaller fish.
So, if you absolutely want to house guppies and goldfish together, only go for small species.
Guppies Love Nipping On Fins
Guppies are quite territorial in nature, and so are goldfish if the tank’s too small for their liking. Thus, even though guppies have a smaller stature, they can attempt to bully or harass a singled-out goldfish.
And given the guppies’ knack for nipping fins and goldfish’ long fins, there can be many torn fins and injuries within the tank.
Guppies And Goldfish Have Different Diets
Guppies and goldfish can survive on each other’s diet, but that’s not ideal for either of them. For example, goldfish flakes do not contain enough protein to meet a guppy’s needs.
On top of that, goldfish are incredibly greedy when it comes to food and won’t mind gobbling up the lion’s share every single time.
You can try and mitigate this problem by adding live plants (eaten by goldfish) and algae (eaten by both guppies and goldfish) in the tank to provide a substitute diet as well. However, keeping up with diet alone can be quite burdensome soon.
You’ll Need To Invest In A Bigger Aquarium
This pointer goes without saying—you’ll need to buy a spacious aquarium if you already don’t have one. It has two main benefits:
Chances of territorial aggression from both parties will reduce
The water parameters will remain stable for more extended periods
Conclusion On Can Guppies Live With Goldfish In The Same Tank
I have tried to tell you everything you need to know about whether or not can you keep guppies and goldfish in the same tank. To conclude, there’s no definitive answer. It depends on several factors like the goldfish’s size, the water conditions, and light settings. While it can be complicated to strike a balance that compliments both fish, it’s not rocket science either. Some fish keepers have successfully raised them together, while some have faced tragic results.
Further Readings:
Do Male Guppies Fight? Guide on Aggression and Guppies
Do Guppies Eat Algae? Positive Effects of Algae on Your Betta