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Are Tetras Good Tank Mates For Goldfish?

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Fish compatibility is a topic that always comes up in this hobby. Choosing what fish to keep together can be challenging, but part of being successful in keeping fish is learning which fish species will do well together. This article will cover whether tetras are good tank mates for goldfish.

I’ll start by answering the question and then going into more detail about why. goldfish and tetras are not good tank mates for one another. I do not recommend mixing these two types of fish. They are incompatible in many different ways which will be listed below.

1. Physical Incompatibility

Goldfish grow to be very large; on the other end, many tetra species remain fairly small. Fish are opportunistic animals, if there is a possibility of one fish eating another, the larger fish will likely attempt to eat the smaller one. With this logic in mind, most tetra species become physically incompatible with goldfish.

Although it’s not too common, tetras can and will nip the fins of other fish. Certain species of tetra are known to nip fins more than other species. Goldfish often have long-flowing fins and also move slowly. This makes their fins easy targets for fin-nipping by tetras.

Goldfish can be brutes and will likely bully other fish during feeding time. Their large bodies can easily push away or scare away tetras from being able to get food.

2. Different Water Parameter Requirements

Tetras and goldfish have two different types of water parameter requirements. Tetras do best in tropical water conditions. I recommend keeping them in water temperatures at or above 76°F in most cases. On the other hand, goldfish have a larger tolerance for water temperatures. They are considered cold-water fish because they often do better being kept in cooler water. Goldfish do better in water temperatures below 74°F.

3. Goldfish are Messy

Goldfish are carp and they’re not known for their tidiness and clean eating habits. Goldfish poop often and constantly want food. Because of their personalities and lifestyles, the water parameters in the aquarium may swing. Although it’s not great for them, goldfish are more tolerant of swinging water parameters compared to tetras. Goldfish require better filtration systems, larger water volume, and more water changes because of their size, digestive system, and messiness.

Final Notes

There are likely more but less common reasons why tetras are not good tank mates for goldfish, but I hope the reasons listed above steer you away from trying. Goldfish do best in aquariums with other goldfish or koi and ideally should be kept in a pond outdoors when they get larger. Most aquariums are not made to house goldfish throughout their whole lives.

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