Decor/plants For 20 Gal Goldfish Tank?

[mandi]

I have 1 goldfish in a 20-gallon long (30" long x 12" wide x 12" tall) tank. The fish is pretty small still (as far as goldies go anyway!). I forget the exact model/type of filter, but it's a HOB and I think it was rated for 40-60 gallons (can't recall the GPH at the moment either...)

The goldfish I have was sold to me as a ryukin, but looking at pictures online, he doesn't have the exaggerated rounded body that the ryukin pictures I see have. But his body isn't as long and skinny as a shubunkin either. And he has a very, very long flowing tail. So I'm not sure exactly what he is (other than adorable!), but he's definitely a slower-moving, rounder variety of goldfish.
(EDIT: He's pictured in my new avatar to the left.)

Anyway, right now, the tank just has natrual-colored gravel and some floating hornwort, but that's all. What type of decor would make my goldfish happier? (Plants? Piles of rocks? Driftwood?)

Also, I've read the rule saying "20-gallon for the 1st goldfish, 10 additional gallons per fish after that". So is my ryukin ok by himself/herself? Does the fact that it's a 20 LONG (bigger surface area / better gas exchange) have any impact on the stocking level? I'm completely ok with only keeping 1 fish in the tank, but I didn't know if he'd be "happier" with tankmates (another ryukin or other type of coldwater fish that would be appropriate?)

 

[black angel]

In my time helping with goldfish problems etc, two ryukin would be ok in your tank but you would need to upgrade at some point.
If you did get another then you would need to quarantine for at least a month to make sure it didnt bring anything into the tank, and one fish wont feel lonely.
If you want to add plants then what temperature is the water at? Broad leaved plants do well with goldfish such as java fern.
Do you know your ph level? Bogwood would bring the ph down but driftwood would be fine.
Your fish may well be a ryukin as they dont develop the hump until they get a bit bigger. He certainly has the colouring of a ryukin.

 

[mandi]

Thanks for the information! So he could be a ryukin after all? That's neat. All I know is he's really pretty and enjoyable to watch (his tank is in my home-office and I find him distracting me from my work LOL.)

I believe the temperature of the tank is around 70*F (hovers around room-temp). I do have a lot of java fern in other tanks (tied to rocks) so I could certainly move some around.

I will check the PH tonight after work, I'm not sure what it is off the top of my head.

 

[mandi]

Let me add one other question, if that's ok...

You said that I should be ok to add another ryukin as long as I plan to upgrade in the relatively near future. My mother has an empty 55 gallon sitting around that she's looking to get rid of (just have to go pick it up) -- so I don't think that will be a problem. (Yay!)

My question is -- I know you shouldn't mix round-bodied goldfish with long-bodied goldfish (ie. comets).
But could I mix 1 ryukin with 1 black moor? (Both seem to be slow-moving/rounder-bodied??) Or should I *ONLY* look for a 2nd ryukin?

Thanks again for the help!

 

[black angel]

As long as you quarantine then it can be any round bodied type fish.
Thats really lucky you can get a 55 gallon

 

[mandi]

As long as you quarantine then it can be any round bodied type fish.
Thats really lucky you can get a 55 gallon

Thanks for the advice!

For me the challenge is going to be figuring out where to PUT the 55 once I get it. (I don't really need a sofa, do I? haha)

 

[black angel]

I got rid of our dining table to get my 55 in.