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Can Goldfish and Guppies Live Together?

Aaron Boyd May 2, 2023

Goldfish and Guppies are two of the most popular fish for aquarium keepers all over the world. They are gaining in popularity as more and more people discover the peace and joy that these beautiful little creatures can bring to your life.

They are a pleasant and colorful addition to most tanks, adding a splash of color and a sense of fun to any aquarium.

However, many people think that these two types of fish are mutually exclusive, and that you cannot enjoy the benefits of both in one single tank.

Well, we are here to answer all your goldfish and guppy related queries, and delve into whether they can be kept together in the same tank.!

Goldfish and Guppies

For two fish species to be kept together in a community tank there are a number of conditions that must be met. This is true whether you are trying to keep goldfish and guppies, or fighting fish and tetra fish together.

Firstly, it is important that both species are not too aggressive and that they can coexist in relative peace. Also, they must thrive in the same water conditions and degrees of filtration, and finally they should not directly compete for resources.

If you can meet all these criteria for your beloved goldfish and guppies, then there is no reason why they can’t cohabit in your tank.

Goldfish

Video: “Goldfish Care: 10 Things You Should Know”

Goldfish are members of the carp family which have been domesticated for many centuries now, and have brought plenty of joy to generations of families.

They are originally native to freshwater parts of East Asia, especially around China, but they were brought to Europe centuries ago and have become a staple of aquariums worldwide.

Several distinct breeds of goldfish have been developed, so their individual personalities as well as their appearance can differ markedly from tank to tank.

It is important that you know precisely what type of goldfish you own before you decide on what tank mate would be suitable.

Goldfish come in an array of colors, from deep reds to sunset oranges and vibrant blues and greens. Their fin and eye structure, as well as other features of their appearance can also vary from breed to breed.

However, in general if kept in suitable sized aquarium, and fed a balanced and nutritious diet, then goldfish may grow to be over 10 inches in size.

Although they are generally peaceable fish, who are not territorial and will not readily strike out, if they become large enough then they could become a danger to smaller species.

Some breeds of goldfish do not grow to be this large. For example, some ‘fancy’ types of goldfish (which are less resilient to colder temperatures) may reach full size at 8 inches or less.

Guppies

Video: “Guppy Fish Care, 10 Things You Should Know About Guppies! Great Beginner Fish!”

Guppies are a wonderful fish to add to a community tank, because they are really playful, energetic, easily stimulated and can add a much-needed spark of color to even the most drab of tanks.

Guppies are also known as the million fish or the rainbow fish, and these names give away a lot about their character.

• They are a very sociable creature who like to keep to large shoals of fish, and when they are not in stress and are well looked after they will treat the observer to a lovely display of color.
• They are a freshwater tropical fish who are native to the streams and shallows of rivers and lakes in South America, but who are now one of the most widespread aquarium species in the world.
• They are a very small fish, (with the males being slightly smaller than the females), and at full adult maturity they are generally between one and two inches in length.
• They have been bred so much in a domestic context that many different strains have emerged. For example, while some breeds are mostly translucent with a patch of color others are brightly colored fish with large fin appendages.

Generally, guppies do not require as much care and diligence as some more demanding breeds, but you still need to take care that your guppies steer clear of larger fish and feel at ease in their environment.

In predator prey dynamics not only are you putting your fish in danger, but they will also not display their colors as vividly, to try and avoid detection.

Can Goldfish and Guppies live together?

It is well known that you need to be very careful in your selection when placing two different species together. This is especially true when one species, such as the goldfish, may be significantly bigger than the other, such as the guppies.

It is important that the species are happy to cohabit, and that they do not cause distress to the other.

Of course, this arrangement is not without risk. Goldfish are pretty non-picky about what they eat, so they will basically eat anything they can fit in their mouth, including fish food, plant and even smaller fish.

However, if you take the measures outlined in this article then you should be able to avoid your precious guppies becoming a tasty snack for your goldfish.

Keep your Goldfish well fed

Hungry or malnourished fish may act in desperation to look for food that is not part of their usual diet. This can include other inhabitants of the tank. This is just one of the reasons why it is super important that you provide a healthy, balanced diet for all your fish.

Make sure and choose a staple fish food for your goldfish that meets all their dietary requirements in terms of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

This will ensure they are happy and healthy, and most importantly, not hungry!

It is also important to feed your fish regularly, in smallish portions. For example, it is usually recommended to feed your goldfish two or three times a day, and you may choose to supplement their diet with other foods.

You cannot afford to neglect your guppies either. It is equally important to make sure they are well fed. Find a flake or pellet food designed for tropical fish, and find a means to feed them without the goldfish interfering. Consider using feeding rings for example.

If your guppies are not well fed, they too may become desperate, which may lead to a direct competition for resources with the larger goldfish, which is likely to end very badly for them.

Protect the Guppy Fry

Guppies are prodigious breeders. This means that even if you start with only a handful of guppies your tank is likely to soon be overrun if you do not keep firm control over their breeding.

What’s more, the small guppy fry (about 6 mm in size) are extremely vulnerable and very likely to be eaten by a prowling goldfish, unless you take adequate measures to protect them (assuming you want to keep them).

If you want to breed guppies, then you should invest in either a breeding box for your tank, or a separate tank altogether.

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With a breeding box you can separate the expectant mother just before she gives birth, and allow the fry to grow their until they reach an adequate size.

A separate tank allows you to the same job, but it does mean you have all the extra expense and maintenance involved with running two fish tanks in service.

Of course, you can avoid this hassle by being careful to only introduce male guppies to your tank.

Water Conditions

It is very fortunate that both goldfish and guppies can thrive and survive in the same water conditions. This is true with water chemistry parameters such as pH and hardness.

Both goldfish and guppies like a moderately hard water tank, (30 GH), with enough dissolved minerals to recreate their natural environment. In addition, both species like near neutral water conditions (pH=7), and will not do well in highly acidic or highly alkaline conditions.

There is even a nice range of overlap when it comes to temperature. Traditionally goldfish are considered cold water fish and guppies are thought of as warm water fish. But while it is true that goldfish are resilient to cooler water temperatures (as low as 5 C), they can also thrive in aquarium water as hot as 22/23 C.

Guppies are happiest in a range of temperature from 20 – 28 C. A tank temperature of 22 C is a nice balance for both species.

Conclusion

Goldfish and guppies are two of the most popular and well-liked aquarium species on the market. It will bring great pleasure too many to learn that you don’t have to choose between these two colorful species, you can have both!

It is important to know exactly what breed of goldfish you have and to gauge their temperament, to make sure they won’t bully or prey on the smaller guppies.

However, in most cases, so long as you have an adequately sized tank, the right water conditions, and feed all your creatures a balanced diet, then you can rest assured that harmony will reign in your tank!