Can Betta Fish Live With Goldfish? (Truth Revealed at Last)

can betta fish live with gold fish
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Last Updated: July 28, 2022 by Flora Gibbins

Can a betta fish and goldfish live together? Short answer, no!

Can betta fish live with goldfish

There are many reasons why these two fish cannot be tank mates. First of all, a betta fish is a tropical fish, originating in the waters of Thailand, the betta needs waters of 78 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Goldfish, however, prefer cooler waters of around 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

Goldfish produce a lot of fish waste, leading to high levels of ammonia in the water which is toxic to betta fish. It dirties the water in the tank quickly, meaning that larger more frequent water changes need to be made. Large and frequent water changes stress betta fish (although they are better than leaving your fish in dirty water!). These are things to avoid if you also want to keep your betta in a dorm.

Can Betta Fish Live With Goldfish - JapaneseFightingFish.org

The number one rule when you think about what fish can go with your betta fish is no fin nippers! Guess what… Goldfish can be bad fin nippers! That does not go well with the long delicate fins of a betta – that or the betta’s short temper!

Another difference is their diets. Betta fish are carnivores – living off small insect larvae in the wild. Goldfish, however, are omnivores meaning that they require both vegetation and protein. Betta fish-specific food is not recommended for goldfish.

So, I guess that is reason enough to suggest that you never partner a goldfish and a betta fish in the same tank.

Hope this has helped!


14 thoughts on “Can Betta Fish Live With Goldfish? (Truth Revealed at Last)”

  1. I was wondering cause i used to have a goldfish (she died 🙁 ) and i always heard that my betta would probably eat her was this information correct?

    1. Hi Bluebettalover, your betta would not eat your goldfish, he would most probably fight it though. However goldfish and betta’s require different tank set ups anyways so they should never be together.

  2. my male betta started fighting with my gold fish so i put my betta in seperate bowl n since then he is not eating and its been 3 days he hasn’t eat, i feed him dried worms.. do u have any idea why he is not eating n what should i do.?

  3. I have about 13-14 baby goldfish, along with 2 small neon fish (pink and orange), and one beta fish, and I used to have a small angelfish(but unfortunately died earlier today) but they all seem to get along well. My betta fish is always hiding in the rock with holes in it . I just have one question, How long does it take for goldfish to grow? ( if these kind do)

  4. I have a male betta in an ten gallon aquarium with a fancy goldfish and they have been in there for a few months. They get along great! When I got the betta it was at the bottom of his cup and I put him in a two and a half gallon tank. He just sat at the bottom of the tank and wouldn’t eat. I had the goldfish by itself in the ten gallon tank and it also seemed to just sit there. I moved the betta in the goldfish tank and they both seem a lot happier. He now eats and the goldfish has a tank mate! 🙂

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