Can goldfish live with pea puffers?

Verdict

No. Goldfish and pea puffers should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); pea puffers need 74–82°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Goldfish60–74°F · pH 7–8

Pea puffer74–82°F · pH 7–8

What to watch

Deal breakerGoldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); pea puffers need 74–82°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Watch outAt 10 inches a goldfish can swallow a small pea puffer. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Watch outPea puffers are aggressive, though goldfish are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What works

pH 7–8 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	Pea puffer
Temperature	60–74 °F	74–82 °F
pH	7–8	7–8
Adult size	10.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	40 gal	5 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Aggressive
Swims at	All levels	All levels
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 pea puffers

CrayfishYes

All pea puffer tank mates

Questions

Can goldfish live with pea puffers?

No. Goldfish and pea puffers should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); pea puffers need 74–82°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both goldfish and pea puffers?

74–74 °F. Goldfish need 60–74 °F, pea puffers need 74–82 °F.

What size tank do goldfish and pea puffers need together?

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