You’ve got a goldfish tank, but what will you put in it?
Goldfishes are fish species that need suitable tank mates to keep them company while swimming.
So I’ll recommend some great tank mates for your goldfish, starting with ones that can live with them in their fish tank!
25 Goldfish Tank Mates
1. Zebra Danio
Zebra Danio is small fish that grow to about 2 inches long. They are active and will swim in the middle of the aquarium. Zebra Danios like to school, so you should have at least 6 in a tank.
Zebra Danios can live in a tank with other bottom-dwelling fish such as bettas or gouramis (but never keep them together), but they also live well with other smaller species of tropical fish (some catfish make good companions).
2. Black Molly Fish
Black Mollies are active fish that like to swim around a lot. This means they will need lots of space and should be kept with other Black Mollies or in a tank with at least 55 gallons (227 liters) of water.
Black Mollies are good beginner fish because they’re hardy and can live in a wide range of water temperatures, from 65°F to 85°F (18°C–29°C). They get along well with goldfish and other recommended goldfish tank mates.
3. Bristlenose Plecostomus
Bristlenose Plecostomus is one of the best goldfish tank mates you can keep with different fish species. They are peaceful and may nip at your goldfish if provoked.
They are also bottom feeders that will eat algae and leftover food from your tank, so it’s a fantastic all-around addition!
The only thing to watch out for if you get this kind of algae eater is that it does not like exposed light very much, so make sure you have a shady area in your tank or provide some artificial plant coverings to block out any light.
4. Ghost Shrimp
If you are looking for a small, peaceful, and non-aggressive fish to keep in your goldfish tank, then the Ghost Shrimp is an excellent choice.
Ghost Shrimp is hardy, easy to care for, and will keep your tank clean by eating algae. Ghost Shrimp also provide entertainment as they move around the tank, quickly scurrying over rocks or hiding under plants.
Ghost Shrimp can easily be purchased at most pet stores or online retailers such as Amazon at meager prices (usually under $5).
Make sure that when you buy this type of shrimp, its body is white; otherwise, it will not survive long in your tank because it hasn’t undergone metamorphosis yet!
5. Dojo Loaches
Dojo loaches are excellent for beginners because they’re peaceful and active. They also do a great job of removing algae from the tank, which can be helpful if you have an algae problem.
Dojo loaches are also known to eat leftover food that your goldfish don’t finish eating, so they’re pretty good at cleaning up after themselves!
Overall, I think dojo loaches would make a great addition to any aquarium owner’s tank because they’re easy to care for and generally don’t require much attention from their owners.
6. Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are the 6th goldfish tank mates in this list. These little fish are very active and hardy, making them perfect for any novice aquarist looking to try their hand at keeping fancy goldfish.
They can also be kept in community aquariums with other peaceful species such as Danio, Harlequin rasbora, Rasbora trilineata, and many others.
Neon tetras come in several color variations, including red/brown (most common), blue or black metallic, which is less common but stunning when seen in person!
7. Kuhli Loaches
The Kuhli Loaches are another wonderful goldfish tank mates.
These active, fun-to-watch fish won’t bother your goldfish and are easy to care for.
They’re also very peaceful and will not pick on other fish in the tank.
The Kuhli Loach is an excellent choice if you have a small aquarium or want to keep the water clean with minimal work on your part—they can tolerate poor water quality better than other bottom feeders like plecostomus catfish (which need lots of oxygen).
While their diet consists mainly of algae and decaying plant matter, they may also eat dead or dying invertebrates and debris from the surface of your tank’s substrate, such as sunken leaves or pine needles.
However, suppose you’re using plastic plants instead of real ones that produce carbon dioxide when decomposing (like anacharis).
In that case, this could lead to low levels of dissolved oxygen in your water column, which could cause problems later down the line when more demanding species like neon tetras start appearing.
8. Rosy Barb
The Rosy Barb is perfect if you want a peaceful fish that doesn’t bother other fish.
This small and peaceful fish is also great for beginners as they are easy to care for and can be kept in groups or alone.
The Rosy Barb has a 3-5 year lifespan but will not grow very large, so it’s not like you need to worry about overstocking your tank.
9. Platy Fish
The Platy fish is an easy fish to breed, and they are good beginner fish. They are about 3-4 inches long and need at least 10 gallons of water.
10. Siamese Algae Eater
The Siamese Algae Eater is a good choice for a goldfish tank because it eats algae and other plant matter.
11. Cherry Barb Fish
The cherry barb is a colorful fish that can be kept in groups, but it will also do fine.
It does not like to be kept with other species of barbs and will become aggressive towards them.
A cherry barb is best suited for a community tank and should be avoided if you have soft spikes or long fins on your other fish.
12. Zebra Nerite Snail
The Zebra Nerite Snail is an excellent choice for your goldfish tank. It can help keep the aquarium clean by eating dead plants and algae.
If you have a snail-eating predator in the tank, you may want to add more than one Zebra Nerite Snail to eliminate any leftover food.
This snails move slowly but usually do not bother your fish, as they’re too small to be considered prey.
They are also peaceful toward each other and won’t fight over territory or resources like some other species may do if their numbers get too high (such as tiger barbs).
13. White Cloud Mountain Minnow
White Cloud Mountain Minnow is a good fish for beginners, as it is easy to care for.
It’s small and peaceful, so it won’t grow large or cause trouble in your tank.
You can keep this fish with other friendly and non-aggressive species of fish.
14. Amano Shrimp (Yamato Shrimp)
The Amano shrimp is excellent if you want to add a little color and pizzazz to your goldfish tank. Its bright orange body and white spots contrast beautifully with other fish in the tank.
However, it doesn’t just look good—it also makes an excellent community tank addition!
The Amano shrimp (Caridina japonica) is native to Japan and is prevalent in the aquarium trade.
They are omnivorous and enjoy eating algae, detritus, and some plant matter, such as spinach or lettuce, that have been placed into their habitat. They can grow up to 3 inches long but generally reach only about 1 inch at maturity.
These dwarf shrimp are naturally peaceful, so they will get along well with any community fish species that are kept in similar-sized tanks or larger ones—such as goldfish!
15. Bristle Nose Pleco
The Bristlenose Plecostomus, also known as the Bristle Nose Pleco, makes an excellent goldfish tank mate.
They are peaceful and easy to care for, so if you’re starting with aquariums, this would be a good fish.
These bottom-dwellers will eat algae and tiny bits of food that fall on the floor of your tank.
The Plecostomus has an armor-like skin with spikes along its sides, making it look like it’s wearing armor!
This can sometimes make people mistake these fish for being aggressive or territorial.
However, they’re just trying to blend into their surroundings by having spikes like those found on plants or rocks in their environment so predators don’t see them quickly when they swim around near them looking for food which could include algae plants growing inside aquariums.
16. Blue Paradise Fish
Blue Paradise Fish is a popular and hardy species well-suited for goldfish tank mates.
They’re active swimmers but dislike sucking on plant leaves or scraping against rocks.
Blue Paradise Fish can be kept with other peaceful, small schooling fish without any problems.
Blue Paradise Fish is a good choice if you want an active fish that doesn’t swim too fast or jump out of your tank!
17. Tiger Barb
Tiger Barbs are an excellent choice for goldfish parents because they are very active, so you don’t have to worry about them getting lonely in the tank.
They turn out to be surprisingly fantastic goldfish tank mates.
However, they need room to swim and are known to be aggressive towards other fish.
These fish also jump out of the tank occasionally, so make sure your aquarium has a lid on it.
Finally, if you’re unsure how much oxygen your filter provides, you’ll need more than one powerful model to keep these guys happy!
18. Mystery Snail
Mystery snails are a good choice because they eat algae. Mystery Snails are not known to be aggressive; when inside the goldfish tank, they’ll not bother the goldfish.
Mystery snails are tiny, so they are easy to care for newbie fish keepers.
19. Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras Catfish are a good choice for a goldfish tank.
They are good at cleaning the tank and will eat algae, so it is crucial to have a high-quality filter if you decide to keep them in your goldfish tank.
They are small, easy to care for, and very popular with fish keepers!
20. Hillstream Loach
Hillstream Loach (Cobitis taenia) is a species of freshwater fish you can keep in your community tank. These loaches are peaceful and will get along with most other tank mates.
They are also bottom feeders, so they’re great for keeping algae under control in your tank!
21. Ricefish
Ricefish are small, peaceful fish that are great for a community tank.
They can grow up to 3 inches in length and come in various beautiful colors such as gold, red, orange, and blue.
Ricefish are omnivorous, meaning they eat plant matter and animal tissue.
When given a chance, they will eat flakes, algae wafers, and even brine shrimp.
22. Hoplo Catfish
The Hoplo catfish is a bottom-feeder that will eat leftover food and algae.
They’re peaceful, but can be territorial, so they’re not ideal for tanks with other fish.
They grow to about 6 inches long and are relatively easy to care for—they only require a little food and water each week.
If you have a small tank or want to keep your goldfish safe from other species (like those listed below), this could be the perfect tank mate for your goldfish.
23. Cherry Shrimp
Cherry shrimps are a good choice for any community aquarium because they’re hardy and easy to care for.
24. Giant Danio
If you’re looking for a small, peaceful fish that will thrive in most conditions, then the Giant Danio is an excellent choice.
This beautiful fish can live with goldfish, and some recommended goldfish tank mates in a community tank or planted tank.
The Giant Danios are called giant because they can grow up to five inches long—which is enormous compared to most other goldfish.
But don’t worry: they won’t get out of control and take over your tank!
25. Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) is a small, hardy fish that makes for a great community tank mate.
Even though it’s small, it can be kept in groups of five or more, and other fish of similar size can be controlled with them. In addition, they will tolerate water temperatures between 68°-82° F, which means they’ll do well in most aquariums.
If you’re looking for an unusual fish that will fit into your 10-gallon tank and isn’t too aggressive (but still has personality), look no further than Harlequin Rasboras!
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed reading our guide to the best goldfish tank mates.
Please comment below if you have questions about our picks or would like us to consider other fish for this list!