MrsHennesy87
Fish Fanatic
How many goldfish could I fit in a U.S 10 gallon tank?
Goldfish Question
- Thread starter MrsHennesy87
- Start date
None, they get too big. Most goldfish (not koi) get 6-10 inches. A 10 gallon tank would be to small. I would recommend a couple of guppies of a betta for a ten gallon tank.
OP
OP
MrsHennesy87
Fish Fanatic
I had 2 goldfish living in a 1.5 gallon for like 2yrs and they did fine
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/43980-gold-fish-in-tanks/
Noahs ark6
Fish Herder
I Wouldn't want to see that
OP
OP
MrsHennesy87
Fish Fanatic
Well they were orginally given to my son as a gift. And they did good. Then I upgraded them to a 10g which has 3 in there as of now and they don't have any problems
Mybbygotsauz
Fish Fanatic
they may not appear to have any problems but they are really feeling cramped, no way they couldnt
OP
OP
MrsHennesy87
Fish Fanatic
Well I have 3 in a 10g now. I upgraded them. They seem happy. But I guess I won't add anymore in there
phishyphil
Fish Addict
None, Goldfish get too big, Don't do it
Miles_hot
Fish Addict
they'll be stunted - seems rather a shame really. Interestingly the reason that goldfish briefly disappeared from travelling fairs in the UK a while ago was that keeping them in small containers and giving them away to people who would keep them in small bowls etc through ignorance was deemed illegal under the cruelty to animals legislation. They're back now not because it is no longer deemed cruel but because someone found a loop hole around gifts....
Knowingly keeping them in cramped conditions though would probably fall under the cruelty legislation though I can't see anyone being prosecuted for it!
Miles
Knowingly keeping them in cramped conditions though would probably fall under the cruelty legislation though I can't see anyone being prosecuted for it!
Miles
After 2 years, with proper conditions I imagine they'd be about 6", maybe more for commons. They're this size in a 10 gallon? I guess my link went unread, upgrade to a 40 gallon.
55 gallon tanks are the second most popular size sold in the US, and can be found used for 50 cents per gallon, this is the route I'd go for the 3 goldfish, which are actually pond fish.
55 gallon tanks are the second most popular size sold in the US, and can be found used for 50 cents per gallon, this is the route I'd go for the 3 goldfish, which are actually pond fish.
three-fingers
Fish Connoisseur
The last goldfish I had grew from under 1" to 8" in about 7 months, and that growth rate seems common in decent sized tanks/warm ponds. If your goldfish have been in an indoors tank for 2 years and aren't around a foot yet, they are clearly quite stunted.
2 years is nothing for goldfish, goldfish are just a species of carp - they are big, messy fish, and can live to over 40.
On the tropical side, it's no different from trying to keep 3 silver sharks/plecs/oscars or whatever other foot-long species in a 10g. You can do it, and keep them alive, but not healthy or unfortunately even "fine".
They will be far more likely to succumb to water quality issues, disease and various possible deformations from the stunting. Added to this, most goldfish nowadays aren't as hardy as they used to be, often being kept and bred in very unhealthy conditions before purchase.
Where are they now, btw?
2 years is nothing for goldfish, goldfish are just a species of carp - they are big, messy fish, and can live to over 40.
On the tropical side, it's no different from trying to keep 3 silver sharks/plecs/oscars or whatever other foot-long species in a 10g. You can do it, and keep them alive, but not healthy or unfortunately even "fine".
They will be far more likely to succumb to water quality issues, disease and various possible deformations from the stunting. Added to this, most goldfish nowadays aren't as hardy as they used to be, often being kept and bred in very unhealthy conditions before purchase.
Where are they now, btw?
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
I'll toss in and agree with 3-fingers and the excellent link by Tolak. The pond hobbyists are giving us their experience - the experience we would all have if we had spent years observing and enjoying these fish. It is very difficult to discern the difference between the just living versus being really healthy and well adjusted.
I've stumbled across one or two instances out in the University research world in recent years of scientists turning their attention to the issue of fish being kept in captivity situations versus natural habitats and unfortunately the trend of their findings doesn't look very comforting for us hobbyists. I think more and more details that argue that fish do better in larger natural habitats will continue to be slowly described by science. It will always vary a lot on a species basis.
The shock for most newcomers to the discussion is that among people who have been holding the dicussion for goldfish for a long time, the 20 or 30 US gallon for the first fish and 10 US gallon for each additional goldfish is really the lower or more minimal boundary and the speculation ranges up from there to larger volumes (for example, the simple 30 US gallon per each goldfish discussed in the thread that Tolak links for us.)
I don't know where the goldfish recommended volumes will settle out over time but I do know that over the years I've been listening to the experienced hobbyists we've managed to attract here on TFF and to the snippets of discussion that happen from time to time in the science world, I end up learning a lot and becoming more sensitive to what the fish might need.
WD
I've stumbled across one or two instances out in the University research world in recent years of scientists turning their attention to the issue of fish being kept in captivity situations versus natural habitats and unfortunately the trend of their findings doesn't look very comforting for us hobbyists. I think more and more details that argue that fish do better in larger natural habitats will continue to be slowly described by science. It will always vary a lot on a species basis.
The shock for most newcomers to the discussion is that among people who have been holding the dicussion for goldfish for a long time, the 20 or 30 US gallon for the first fish and 10 US gallon for each additional goldfish is really the lower or more minimal boundary and the speculation ranges up from there to larger volumes (for example, the simple 30 US gallon per each goldfish discussed in the thread that Tolak links for us.)
I don't know where the goldfish recommended volumes will settle out over time but I do know that over the years I've been listening to the experienced hobbyists we've managed to attract here on TFF and to the snippets of discussion that happen from time to time in the science world, I end up learning a lot and becoming more sensitive to what the fish might need.
WD
We had 2 goldfish in a 40, and they got to 6 inches apiece and did great. You really should upgrade, you may think they are doing fine, but its really tragic and cruel to keep them in such tight condition. 
BigbruiserAl
I ain't gettin on no plane fool
I belive is the fish's organs that suffer in stunted tank, they may look fine but their having long term damage inflicted day by day 
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