Is it okay to have just one Goldfish?

Goldfish are a social species, living in shoals in the wild. In captivity it's strongly recommended that they should be kept at least in pairs, to provide them companionship.

Goldfish have social needs, just like others goldfish are a social species, living in shoals in the wild. They should be kept at least in pairs too.

Goldfish can live alone, even when they are kept alone, they live a long and healthy life if they get good nutrition and a clean environment. Goldfish are not shoaling fish, so they don't need to live with other goldfish to feel safe or happy. Goldfish can live alone. In the wild, the fish tend to be quite solitary.

Can I keep my Goldfish with other fish?

Keeping at least two goldfish in an aquarium is recommended to provide companionship and promote activity. Goldfish are generally not aggressive so they can be kept with most community fish provided the other fish are larger than the size of the goldfish's mouth.

Goldfish with extended fins should not be kept with fish that tend to nip fins, eg- tiger barbs. The more unusual goldfish varieties such as the celestial should be kept with their variations as they may find locating and competing for food difficult when housed with other types of fish with superior swimming abilities.

Generally, it is best to keep goldfish with tank mates that have similar swimming abilities to ensure all fish can obtain enough food and swimming space.

Best Tankmates for Goldfish

Dojo Loach

While they're not exactly an easy fish to keep dojo loaches make great companions for goldfish, they need at least 75 gallons of water per individual in your tank and should be marked with other same-sized mounts if you want them healthy enough to last long, these bottom feeders can reach up to 1 foot(30 cm), providing plenty of space alongside these longer-bodied swimmers.

Platy

Platies are typically tropical fish, but they can easily thrive in the low 70s with goldfish. They are thick-bodied and come in many different patterns, and colorwork making them very attractive to look at. Plates are livebearers, which means that they give birth to young instead of laying eggs. They will readily breed in an aquarium, but adult fish usually eat the eggs unless moved somewhere separate.

Hog-Nosed bronchitis

They are tropical fish that can handle low temperatures, they live in water as cold as 70°F. So they're not going to hurt your goldfish. The unique thick-set body and large size of these corydoras make them safe for tank mates like common stories or other small types of tanks, but there are some essential things you should know before adding one into the aquarium. They've been known to eat smaller goldfish, so if you're going to add one to the tank, make sure your goldfish is not too small. They love to live in groups, so we recommend not keeping them as goldfish companions unless you have at least 3- to five other Hog-Nosed bronchitis.