Swordtail And Goldfish

[Michelleuk]

Hi

My friend would like to have a male and female swordtail from my tank to put in her tank with her goldfish.

Is this safe? Her tank is always about 24 c without heater?

Please advise.

 

[Katchan]

That temp should be fine for swordtails, they are loose around the local creeks/streams in brisbane and those would get down to less than 24C during winter, with those temps I'd consider more risk for the gold fish. I'd also not see any risk agression wise between the two fish

Andrew

 

[kniesh]

Goldfish need around 18c unless I'm mistaken. The Swordtiails wont survive at that temp. They probably need around 24c minimum and the Goldfish wouldnt last too long at that temp. I wouldn't do it tbh.

Sorry just noticed that the tank is 24c without a heater. I doubt this is the case all year round and must drop in winter etc? Even so I wouldnt have thought that that temp is doing any good for the Goldfish's long term health.

 

[helterskelter]

It's a common error to think of swordtails are a tropical fish. The wild fish Xiphophorus helleri is from the high lands of mexico, and the average temp there is slightly warmer then UK average, day being 10-24C perhaps a little more in the high summer. Average water temp of 12-18C

And quite often frost on the ground most of the year round and I know many people keeping them in UK ponds apart from the extrem cold period of Nov to march.

This is similar for platies as well.

How ever Gold fish are bullies and will allow little food to get the swords, so No do not keep them together

 

[kniesh]

Apoligies for getting it wrong then, I was certain they were tropical

 

[goldencomet]

actually it's not such a good idea keeping goldfish with trops the higher temp causes the
goldfishes life metabolism to speed up causing it to not live as long

 

[starrynightxxi]

just to add some more conflicting information in the pot, it is recommended to keep fancy goldfish at higher temps than common/comet goldfish. The fancies are known for being delicate.

While I wouldn't do it myself, it's certainly do-able. But as has been mentioned, goldfish are bullies about their food and depending on the size relations, may try to eat the swordtails.

 

[helterskelter]

Apoligies for getting it wrong then, I was certain they were tropical blush.gif

That's not a problem, as they are sold as tropical fish, What I'm saying is that they have a diverse range of living and they would be happier as a sub-tropical at 16-20C, Iused to keep them in my fish room a 18C and over winter them at 14C and find thet when the started to breed again the fry was much better and stronger.

just to add some more conflicting information in the pot, it is recommended to keep fancy goldfish at higher temps than common/comet goldfish. The fancies are known for being delicate.

I've farmed goldfish in the past and know that their dopamine temp is 28C, as any higher or lower than that they grow at a slower rate.
However yes they fish will not live as long.
It's funny that people go may if some says they got gold fish in water over 20C but it's not a problem, but just dont keep them with other fish.

 

[corey01]

although the temprature is ok goldfish shouldnt be kept at that temprature because they are coldwater. swordtails do better in slightly brackish water and goldfish wont tollorate this. goldfish can also carry germs that may affect swordtails so id recomment him getting a tropical tank

 

[three-fingers]

although the temprature is ok goldfish shouldnt be kept at that temprature because they are coldwater. swordtails do better in slightly brackish water and goldfish wont tollorate this. goldfish can also carry germs that may affect swordtails so id recomment him getting a tropical tank

You sure your not thinking of mollies?
Even mollies don't at all need brackish water, but they tend to be more sensitive than swordtails in freshwater.
Swordtails thrive in brackish water, but there's not really too much point unless you want a brackish tank. They will do just as well in a freshwater tank.

 

[corey01]

no what i meant was that they do good in slightly brackish because they wont catch as much diseases, my main consern was that goldfish carry lots of germs that are harmful to tropical fish. why on earth has your friend got a goldifish in a tropical tank anyway!? goldfish are coldwater..