Goldfish + plec

[Gix]

Hi

I happen to have an empty 20 US gallon that I feel like starting as a coldwater tank. Since it's a 20 gallon, I can only keep one goldfish in there if I decide on goldfish. Could I stick a pleco in there too (probably a rubbernose)? Or would that bio-load just be too much? They're both little waste factories.

If that plan doesn't work out, would 3 dojos and some minnows fit? Or is my only choice a solitary goldfish?

 

[stellablu]

As far as coldwater tanks go, I am not sure you can keep any of those with golds.

However, if you get fancy goldfish and throw a heater on that tank you can get a dojo or a pleco (I think the common pleco will end up "slime coat sucking" as they get older, at least thats what I've been told) so a rubbernose should be fine...but their size might become an issue down the road.

Plecos and dojos are tropical fish, they require warmer temperatures for long, healthy lifespans.

In my big goldfish tank I have four fancy goldfish, a "chocolate albino" pleco, a Trinidad pleco, and a dojo. I might get another dojo, I've really fallen in love with those guys.

With warmer temperatures in the tank I'd recommend an airstone strip to help oxygenate the water. Also with goldfish I would go with the next size filter up...so in your case a Penguin Biowheel 125 (which is for 30g) would be great.

BTW if you've never owned a dojo I highly recommend them! I have mine eating out of my hand which feels really weird because of his barbell mustache

I'd personally keep one dojo with your goldfish.

 

[bribones]

Or is my only choice a solitary goldfish

i might as well say it before anyone else does lol

yes 1 goldfish per 20 gallons although id say yes youl get away with 2

 

[WILDER]

The goldfish will get bored on it's own, are you sure you want to turn it to cold water, as it would make a nice tropical tank.

 

[squeeker]

Dojos do well with goldies. I have three in my coldwater tank, and I've had no problems.

IMO, you could put two fancies in that tank, but only one common / comet.

Rubbernoses SHOULD be OK with GF, but, as with any pleco, you will have to watch to make sure he doesn't suck on the goldfish.

HTH!

 

[Gix]

Rubbernoses aren't going to be attacking anything.

Can I go with the 3 dojos in there instead? I can keep them if I have enough room. The question is, is 20 US gallons enough?

 

[squeeker]

If you want to keep three dojos, maybe only one goldfish in the tank. Dojos get pretty big, I believe somewhere around 6"+.

 

[snowyangel]

I would reccomend borneos/hillstream loaches. They stay small and live in cold water too. You could get 3!

 

[sushi]

although everyone will disagree with me, you could put more goldies than that. So it has a friend. I think they get bored. I know they're fish, but hey, they have feelings too
I've got 3 large goldfish, algae eaters and livebearers and a couple of others in a 50 gallon (not my signature - got rid of alot of them).
anyway, although everyone tells me my tank is or was overloaded, they are all perfectly happy and very healthy. I fix the "bio load" and messy water by having a very good power filter.
that's my help/advice - get your fish a goldie friend