Can goldfish live with apistogramma?

Verdict

No. Goldfish and apistogramma should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); apistogramma need 75–84°F. No temperature suits both.

Goldfish60–74°F · pH 7–8

Apistogramma75–84°F · pH 5–7

What to watch

Deal breakerGoldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); apistogramma need 75–84°F. No temperature suits both.
Watch outWater chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Water side by side

The ranges do not meet, so one of them would always be too warm or too cold.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Goldfish	Apistogramma
Temperature	60–74 °F	75–84 °F
pH	7–8	5–7
Adult size	10.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	40 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for goldfish

All goldfish tank mates

Better tank mates for apistogramma

All apistogramma tank mates

Questions

Can goldfish live with apistogramma?

No. Goldfish and apistogramma should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); apistogramma need 75–84°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both goldfish and apistogramma?

None. Goldfish need 60–74 °F and apistogramma need 75–84 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do goldfish and apistogramma need together?

At least 40 gal, set by the goldfish. Add space for each extra fish.