TankmateChecker

Can goldfish live with discus?

Verdict

No

No. Goldfish and discus should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); discus need 82–88°F. No temperature suits both.

Goldfish

Goldfish60–74°F · pH 7–8

Discus

Discus82–88°F · pH 5.5–7

What to watch

Deal breakerGoldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); discus need 82–88°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	Discus
Temperature	60–74 °F	82–88 °F
pH	7–8	5.5–7
Adult size	10.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	40 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 5+
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for goldfish

All goldfish tank mates

Better tank mates for discus

All discus tank mates

Questions

Can goldfish live with discus?

No. Goldfish and discus should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); discus need 82–88°F. No temperature suits both.

What temperature suits both goldfish and discus?

None. Goldfish need 60–74 °F and discus need 82–88 °F, so the ranges do not meet.

What size tank do goldfish and discus need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the discus. Add space for each extra fish.