Can goldfish live with jack dempseys?

Verdict

No. Goldfish and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); jack dempseys need 72–86°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Goldfish60–74°F · pH 7–8

Jack Dempsey72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerGoldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); jack dempseys need 72–86°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Deal breakerJack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful goldfish.

What works

pH 7–7.5 suits both.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

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	Jack Dempsey
Temperature	60–74 °F	72–86 °F
pH	7–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	10.0 in
Minimum tank	40 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Aggressive
Swims at	All levels	Middle
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 jack dempseys

CrayfishYes

All jack dempsey tank mates

Questions

Can goldfish live with jack dempseys?

No. Goldfish and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); jack dempseys need 72–86°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both goldfish and jack dempseys?

72–74 °F. Goldfish need 60–74 °F, jack dempseys need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do goldfish and jack dempseys need together?

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