Can oscars live with fancy goldfish?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and fancy goldfish should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); oscars need 74–81°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.
What to watch
- Deal breakerFancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); oscars need 74–81°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar is twice the size of a fancy goldfish and will hunt or batter a slow, long-finned fish like this.
- Watch outOscars are much bigger and pushier than fancy goldfish, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
What works
- pH 7–8 suits both.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Fancy goldfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 65–74 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 7–8 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 6.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | All levels |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for fancy goldfish
Questions
Can oscars live with fancy goldfish?
No. Oscars and fancy goldfish should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); oscars need 74–81°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.
What temperature suits both oscars and fancy goldfish?
74–74 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, fancy goldfish need 65–74 °F.
What size tank do oscars and fancy goldfish need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.