Best Goldfish Tank: Review and Buying Guide 2023

Goldfish is one of the attractive and most popular aquarium fish among the pet fish keepers in the aquarium industry due to their various golden colors. It requires large planted tank with lots of space to thrive. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family under order Cypriniformes of Class Actinopterygii. It is a direct descendant from carp which is dull in color but goldfish have unique fin and tail shapes with various beautiful bright colors.

In nature, they are found in slow water bodies like rivers, lake and large ponds across Asia. They prefer to live in environment with lots of vegetation. In this case, the tank should be decorated with live plants for successful thrive with a temperature of 50-75°F. This goldfish needs a strong filter because they make lots of waste products in the tank water. 

Most of the goldfish require 20 gallons of tank to thrive but some goldfish varieties such as comet need up to 50 gallons while the shubunkin require 75 gallons to successfully thrive. In this case, a rectangular shaped tank is the best choice for your fish which makes the fish happy.

There are some more active goldfish. Among them, shubunkin, comet and common goldfish swim rapidly like athletic all day long. They grow up to 12 inches in length as a result they need a larger and longer tank which should be at least 40 gallons per fish. If you keep a pair of comet fish in a tank, at least 80 gallons tank is required.

In the pet market, various sizes and shapes of goldfish tanks are available. To keep your goldfish happy and healthy, you should purchase proper size tank for your goldfish. But it is difficult to choose appropriate tank. In this case, we made a list of best goldfish tank for you from which you can pick the best one for your fish that fulfill your requirements.

Table: Comparison Table of Best Goldfish Tank

IMAGE PRODUCT Details Price
Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit Aqua Culture 29 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit with LED
  • Tank size:29 gallons
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Marina LED Aquarium Tank Marina LED Aquarium Tank Marina LED 20 Gallon Aquarium Tank
  • Tank size:20 Gallons
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SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium kit SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium kit SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Junior Executive Kit
  • Tank size:15-40 gallons
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SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set
  • Tank size:10 – 50 gallons
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Fluval Premium Bow Front Aquarium Kit Fluval Premium Bow Front Aquarium Kit Fluval Premium Bow Front Aquarium Kit w/LED, 45 Gallon (170L)
  • Tank size:45 gallons
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Aqueon Aquarium Aqueon Aquarium Aqueon Aquarium 20 Gallon Long
  • Tank size:20 Gallons
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Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit
  • Tank size:55 Gallons
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Aqua Culture 29 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit with LED

The Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit is a beautiful aquarium set for your fish which provide a touch of nature with sufficient living space. It is a complete kit which makes an ideal aquarium set up for beginners.

It helps to give a calming appeal that enhances the suitable atmosphere where your aquarium inhabitants will live with more satisfaction. It is a LED boxed kit which offers a complete and comfortable habitat to your aquarium inhabitants. It features an energy saving low-profile LED hood that gives the tank a compact and stylish look but ensuring ease of handling. Low profile hood also makes a natural daylight shimmer that mimic’s natural sunlight. It is designed with a cavity for appropriate fish feeding.

The package also contains power cord, adaptor, on/off switch connected together with small LED strips. In this case, LED strips are placed under the hood that provides white light through the aquarium. You can easily turn on/off the lights using on/off switch very conveniently.

For proper and strong filtration of your tank water, you will also get a powerful filter and cartridge. They also provides a small heater and thermometer for controlling temperature.

This kit contains a convenient feeding door in the front and breakout sections in the back for popular accessories.  The kit is made using high quality components providing a healthy aquatic environment. All LED kits are complete with high-quality components which is needed for a healthy aquatic environment.

This 29 gallons fish tank also features a Tetra internal filter which makes the tank water crystal clear suitable for your fish health. It includes integrated cutouts which help to make easy changes of cartridge and feeding without removing the top. This kit also contains some fish food, fish net and water care sample to care for your fish making wonderful gift.

If you purchase this kit, the manufacture company gives you free advice with set up guide as a result you can set up and maintain the tank properly. 

If you purchase this kit, you will get the following items with your products:

  • 29 gallon Glass Aquarium
  • QuietFlow Power Filter
  • Filter Cartridge
  • Low Profile LED Hood
  • Submersible 100-Watt Preset Heater
  • Fish Net
  • Premium Fish Food Sample;
  • Strip Thermometer
  • Water Conditioner Sample and
  • Set Up Guide.
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Pros

  • It is a 29 gallons aquarium starter kit;
  • It has integrated cutouts for easy filter cartridge changes;
  • You feed the fish without removing the hood;
  • It includes a Tetra internal filter that provides crystal-clear water keeping fish healthy;
  • It provides natural daylight shimmer;
  • It makes a calm and beauty to your aquarium;
  • You will get TetraCare guide that helps in getting everything set up properly ;
  • Product Dimensions (L x W x H): 31.87 x 20.75 x 14.25 Inches;
  • It also contains energy-efficient LED lighting;
  • The manufacturer company also provides samples of Tetra food and water care;

Cons

  • The kit does not contain super high quality accessories;
  • It is quite heavy based on its small size;

Marina LED 20 Gallon Aquarium Tank

Marina LED 20 Gallon Aquarium Tank is perfect kit for beginner goldfish keepers because it comes equipped with everything you need to keep a goldfish. After purchasing this tank, you just add substrate, decorations and selected goldfish into your tank. It includes a clip-on filter with some filter cartridge, LED lighting system, water conditioner and biological supplement to start your cycle off.

If you purchase this gorgeous tank, you will also get some additional items with it such as fish food, a fish net, and a complete aquarium setup guide. In this case, fish food keeps the fish healthy while water conditioner makes the tap water safe for your fish. Besides, Biological supplement create a well-balanced and healthy environment for your aquarium inhabitants.

It is easy to maintain which requires less than a minute only. LED lighting system is long-lasting which is incorporated into the aquarium canopy that provides natural, daylight-effect enhancing the brilliance of your fish, plants and décor. 

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Pros

  • It includes awesome lighting system;
  • It is great for beginner goldfish enthusiasts;
  • It is made using sturdy and high quality materials;
  • The kit has adaptable filter with quick change filter cartridges which allows you to add different mediums;
  • Dimensions: 24 x 12.5 x 16.6 inches;
  • It is easy to maintain and it needs less than a minutes to clean;
  • It comes equipped with everything you need to keep a goldfish;
  • The kit includes some additional items with it such as fish food, a fish net, and a complete aquarium setup guide;

Cons

  • It does not contain hinged lid. In this case, you need to remove the whole lid for cleaning purposes;
  • There is no cover over the feeding cut out;
  • There is no room for doing adjustments to filter position;

SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Junior Executive Kit

SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Junior kit is a very smart tank which comes in a number of different sizes. Their size ranges from 15 gallons to 40 gallons. Among them, the 40 gallon is perfect for keeping a pair of regular goldfish.

It is an awesome and attractive starter aquarium. This aquarium is perfect for beginner goldfish keepers. You can use it for keeping both saltwater and freshwater organisms such as fish, turtle, reptiles, etc. It is more efficient and economical to run, of which, back side is cobalt blue or acrylic color which makes the room more appealing.

The tank is made using finest acrylic which makes the tank stronger, lighter and clearer than other types of glass aquariums. In this case, acrylic is 17 times stronger than glass which makes the leak and break proof the tank.

It also features a reflector with a lighting fixture. The kit includes Hood and Fluorescent Fixture, Aqua Clear Power Filter, Natural Lava Rock with Plastic Plants, Thermometer, Fish Net, etc.  The tank is less prone to cracking or chipping and contains three background options.

It is resistant to the corrosive effects as a result it is safe for both fresh and saltwater use. If you purchase this gorgeous tank, you will get years of dependable service with lifetime limited warranty. In the market, the following tank sizes are available:

Tank Size

Dimension (L x W x H)

29 Gallons

30 x 12 x 18 inches

40 Gallon

36 x 15 x 16 inches

15 Gallon

15 x 15 x 20 inches

20 Gallon

15 x 15 x 24 inches

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Pros

  • It is a great starter aquarium suitable for a beginner hobbyists;
  • It is safe for freshwater and saltwater fish, turtles and reptiles;
  • It is 17 times stronger than glass;
  • It is safe and easy to use;
  • It does contain rounded corners;
  • The tank provides you exceptionally clear views of your fish, plants and landscaping;
  • The tank is leak and break proof;
  • It is more efficient and economical to run;

Cons

  • It includes only lighting fixture;
  • The hood is relatively fragile;
  • Main opening is small in size;

SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set

This SeaClear Aquarium combo set is another very popular and beautiful tank among the pet fish enthusiasts. It is made using acrylic materials which is 17 times stronger than glass. It is very transparent and clear tank which offers  a variety of background color options.

This combo set features an aquarium with reflector and electrical 24″ light fixture. It is more impact resilient that makes the tank less prone to chipping or cracking. It also makes the tank safer around children and pets. This gorgeous tank is suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fish.

In the market, there are various shapes and sizes of SeaClear Aquarium combo set. The size ranges from 10 to 50 gallons.  The SeaClear combo set does best which can truthfully make the most extreme aquatic dreams. The aquarium contains three background options such as cobalt, black or clear.

Tank Shape & Size

Tank Dimension (L x W x H)

Flat Back Hexagon Minikit, 10 gallons

23 x 11 x 19.5 inches

Deluxe Hexagon, 20 gallons

15 x 15 x 24 inches

Rectangular, 20 gallons

24 x 13 x 16 inches

Flat Back Hexagon, 26 gallons

36 x 12 x 16 inches

Rectangular Show, 29 gallons

30 x 12 x 18 inches

Rectangular Show, 30 gallons

36 x 12 x 16 inches

Rectangular, 40 gallons

36 x 15 x 16 inches

Bowfront, 46 gallons

36 x 16.5 x 20 inches

Rectangular, 50 gallons

36 x 15 x 20 inches

Besides these, there are some drawbacks about this tank. The tank`s top is not entirely open and you can access inside the tank through cutouts. But it is difficult to do clean the tank using cutouts. The cutouts also make problem to add large décor pieces but the cutouts are used for adding gravel, fish and water, etc. The tank also includes fluorescent fixture without a bulb. In this case, you have to purchase a bulb separately.

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Pros

  • The tank is made using acrylic materials;
  • It is more clear and light weight than glass;
  • It gives you a seamless view of your fish;
  • It can truthfully make the most extreme aquatic dreams;
  • The tank is less prone to chipping or cracking;
  • It offers a variety of background color options;
  • It is suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fish;

Cons

  • The tank does not include fluorescent bulb;
  • It does scratch easily due to made of acrylic;
  • The top of the tank is not open entirely like other aquarium;

Fluval Premium Bow Front Aquarium Kit w/LED, 45 Gallon (170L)

It is the perfect choice for beginner aquarists. It is a super easy to use and it comes with nearly everything you need to start a goldfish tank. This includes everything to run the aquarium. If you purchase this kit, you will get the following items with it: 5-stage filtration system, fishnet, heater, hood, light, water conditioner, thermometer, sample fish food, care guide, etc. In this case, filter, the heater, thermometer, light system, and conditioner are used for keeping the aquarium healthy.

It is a bow front aquarium of which shape and design is incredible which makes aquarium appealing. It is made using high quality glass making the aquarium leak proof. The tank contains a sleek light fixture that is fitted for curved lid.

This tank also features a quality and reliability Fluval C4 hang-on-back power filter which is suitable for up to 70 gallon tank. In this case, the Fluval C4 power filter provides crystal clear water quickly and easily using industry leading 5-stage filtration. 

This aquarium kit also contains the low-profile canopy LED light which scatters 1470 lumens. This available lumens are suitable for planted aquarium and also makes your aquarium goldfish happy. Because, appropriate light is required for proper growth of plant.

The kit also includes top-notch heater which is European made that is fully submersible. It is made of shock-resistant glass using mirror technology. As a result, it confirms the appropriate temperature in your aquarium environment.  

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Pros

  • It is manufactured by high quality company;
  • It includes Fluval C4 Han on Back Power Filter;
  • It has low profile hood with LED fixture;
  • It is bow front shape aquarium which makes aquarium appealing;
  • It is made using high quality glass making the aquarium leak proof;
  • The tank contains a sleek light fixture;
  • The kit also includes top-notch heater which is European made that is fully submersible;
  • It also features a 5-stage filtration system which produces  crystal clear water;
  • The kit is easy to set up and perfect choice for beginner aquarists;
  • It has curved glass  which makes your fish look bigger than usual;

Cons

  • It may break easily if you do not take extra care;
  • It is larger in size and about 88 lbs in weight; hence it is hard to move and use;
  • The filtration system requires regular care for making it active;

Aqueon Aquarium 20 Gallon Long

It is a high quality glass aquarium with dimensions of 30.25 x 12.5 x 12.75 inches. It is perfect for both freshwater and saltwater applications. It is the most affordable 20 gallons lank which is perfect for beginner hobbyists. It makes perfect habitat for a single fancy goldfish. It provides more room to swim making the fish happy.

It is a standard size aquarium which is made using care to guarantee that it can stand up to almost any application.

The tank is longer with black and Oak trim style but more shallow which features one-piece center-braced frames.

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Pros

  • It is affordable and good quality tank;
  • It looks nice with simple shape;
  • It is easy to clean and maintain;
  • It is constructed using high quality glass;
  • It is perfect for both freshwater and marine applications;
  • It has clean silicone edges which ensure to move easy;
  • It is longer tank suitable for goldfish;
  • It is leak proof because it is well-constructed and sealed;

Cons

  • It does not contain hood and other equipment;
  • In the market, sometimes it comes with black silicone which is not clear and transparent;

Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit, 55 Gallon 

This 55 gallon Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit is suitable for beginners and you may keep up to three goldfish in it by making a great home. 

This classic fish tank is easy to maintain which is perfect for various freshwater fish. It contains low-profile hood that provides natural daylight shimmer to your aquarium with the help of energy-efficient LED light. 

The tank also includes Tetra internal filter that keep your fish happy and healthy by creating crystal clear water with optimal water parameters. It has integrated cutouts for easy changes of filter cartridge.  It is easy to set up and you can place it on a counter, aquarium stand, table or any larger space. The kit also include different types of high-quality components which are required for a healthy tank environment for your goldfish. If you purchase this kit, you will get with it the following items:

  1. Glass Aquarium;
  2. Submersible Preset Heater;
  3. Low Profile LED Hood;
  4. Premium Fish Food Sample;
  5. QuietFlow Power Filter;
  6. Filter Cartridge;
  7. Water Conditioner Sample;
  8. Fish Net;
  9. Thermometer and
  10. Set Up Guide;

Besides, it has one drawback because, it does not contains food and aquarium stands as a result, you have to purchase them separately.

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Pros

  • The kit includes sleek, low profile hood;
  • It features a LED energy efficient lighting system;
  • It provides natural daylight shimmer;
  • It is suitable for freshwater fish;
  • The kit includes a safety water cleaner for crystal clear water;
  • If you buy this kit, you will get advice with proper set up guide;
  • Product Dimensions (L x W x H): 50.62 x 23.12 x 14.87 Inches;
  • The tank ensures lots of room for your goldfish;

Cons

  • It does not contains food and aquarium stands as a result, you have to purchase them separately;

Quick Goldfish Fact Sheet

  • Common name: Goldfish
  • Scientific name:Carassius auratus
  • Adult size:  up to14 inches (36 cm)
  • Minimum tank size: 10-20 gallons
  • Tank level: All
  • Temperament: Peaceful
  • Diet: Omnivore
  • Breeding: Egg layer
  • pH range: 6.0 to 8.0
  • Water temperature range: 68° to 74° F
  • Hardness range: 0-25 dGH
  • Care level: Easy to difficult
  • Lifespan: Averaging about 10-20 years 

Goldfish Tank Size

If you keep Fancy goldfish in your tank, the tank should be 20 gallons for a single Fancy. After that, you should add roughly 10 gallons per every other Fancy goldfish. In this case, you need a 40 gallon tank to keep 3 adult sized Fancy goldfish. 

Actually, the aquarium should be enough big to provide sufficient space for swimming around. Big sized aquarium is easy to maintain and it provides suitable environment for keeping fish happy and healthy. 

For comet goldfish, you should consider an aquarium size of 30 gallons with at least 4 feet in length. If you keep 3 full size comets, in this case, the tank should be 55 gallons because the comets can grow up to 12 inches in length. 

Goldfish Tank Filtration

Goldfish is large and messy eater and they eat constantly throughout the day and create lots of waste into your tank water. In this case, you should use proper filter to keep aquarium water suitable. In the pet market, lots of filter with sensible cost and you select it and use it to make the water clean. 

Goldfish Tank Parameters

Aquarium water parameters should be maintained properly to keep your fish healthy. It is hard to maintain water quality in tank water because goldfish produce lots of wastes due to its messy eating characteristics. The tank water should have pH value of 7.0-8.0 all times. If you use tap water, then you make sure the pH value below 7.0. In this case, you always use a water conditioner to treat your aquarium water any times. Water conditioner helps to eliminate any harmful chemicals such as ammonia and chloride and makes aquarium water safe for fish. To maintain nitrate level suitable, you should check it on regular basis using a proper aquarium test kit. The nitrates level should be below 40 mg/l which makes the best water quality.

Goldfish Tank Temperature

Goldfish are cold water fish and temperature range should be maintained between 50 to 75 0F. This temperature is the best for your fish without having an aquarium water heater in your tank. If your tank water contains below 50 0F temperature, then you should use proper heater to keep the temperature accurate. 

Goldfish Tank Substrate

Goldfish tank should have suitable amount and sizes substrate because goldfish prefer to stir the substrate for searching food. 

The substrate should not be medium or larger in size because goldfish have big mouths as a result they can accidentally swallow pebbles which can pose problems and may cause death of fish. In this case, you should use sandy substrate that they can easily stir and scavenge around.

You should use no more than 0.5 inch thin layer of the substrate that barely covers the bottom of your tank. Goldfish stir the sandy substrate all day long and mimic their natural environment.

Goldfish Diet

Goldfish is a messy eater and they eat wide variety of food. Feed should be cheap, clean, and easy to feed, and last for a long time. The most basic food for goldfish are flakes. There are lots of flake food in the market with reasonable prices. If you use flake food for long-term that can cause unhealthy for your goldfish and makes a lot of waste. In this case, you can use quality pellet food. 

You can also offer frozen food which is available in your local pet or fish store with sensible cost. The most popular frozen food items are plankton like brine shrimp, blood worms, daphnia, etc. Besides these, you may also give live foods; in this case, duckweed is the cheapest plant based food which grow very fast in ponds for koi and goldfish. Goldfish love to eat this plant. This natural duckweed food is available in nature which also act as a natural filter and  Goldfish eat duckweed throughout the day.

Goldfish Tank Mates

There are several factors to select the best goldfish tank mates. Fancy goldfish are slow swimmer that have an attractive large fins. In this case, it should not be kept with more active fish. Besides, goldfish are comparatively large in size with large mouth which can cause problems to smaller fish. For this reason, the best recommendation is to keep a goldfish only tank.

The best 13 goldfish tank mates and their basic info are given below:

Rosy Barb

  • Scientific Name:Pethia conchonius
  • Size: 6 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Southern Platy Fish

  • Scientific Name: Xiphophorus maculatus
  • Size: 2.5 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Bristlenose Pleco

  • Scientific Name: Ancistrus Cirrhosus
  • Size: 3 to 5 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 25 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Hillstream Loach

  • Scientific Name: Sewellia lineolata
  • Size: 2 to 3 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
  • Care level: Easy-intermediate

Hoplo Catfish

  • Scientific Name: Megalechis thoracata
  • Size: 6 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
  • Care level: Easy-intermediate

Cherry Shrimp

  • Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi
  • Size: 1.5 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Banded Corydoras

  • Scientific Name: Scleromystax barbatus
  • Size: 3.5 to 4 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
  • Care level: Easy to medium

Mystery Snail

  • Scientific Name: Pomacea bridgesii
  • Size: 2 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Giant Danio

  • Scientific Name: Devario aequipinnatus
  • Size: 4 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

  • Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
  • Size: 1.5 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Rubber Lip Pleco

  • Scientific Name: Chaetostoma milesi
  • Size: 7 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 25 to 30 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Zebra Danio

  • Scientific Name: Danio rerio
  • Size: 2 to 2.5 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Dojo Loach

  • Scientific Name:Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
  • Size: 6 inches
  • Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
  • Care level: Easy

Types of Goldfish

In the aquarium industry, there are different types of goldfish to house in your tank. They live long-time and provide lots of enjoy to you year round.  On the basis of body size, generally goldfish are divided into the following two types:

  • Slim bodied goldfish and
  • Egg-shaped goldfish

Slim Bodied Goldfish

They have hardy body and you can keep them both in home aquariums or outdoor in ponds. They are often perfect choices for the beginner goldfish enthusiasts.

They are fast swimmer and can tolerate wide range of temperature.  They are very active and competitive eaters as a result they should not be kept with Fancy goldfish. Because Fancy goldfish are slow-moving fish and they can’t compete for food with slim-bodied goldfish around.Slim-bodied goldfish are very uproarious. Because they are faster and can grow large in size than fancy goldfish. If you keep this fish in your aquarium, you provide at least 30-gallons of water per fish.

Common Goldfish

Common goldfish is one of the hardiest goldfish which is suitable for outdoor ponds. They can tolerate slightly polluted water than most common goldfish varieties. They are the ancestors of carp and have smooth body with a forked caudal fins. These type of fish have many color morphs including red, black, white, orange, yellow, and bronze, etc. They can grow well over a foot long if you keep them in a pond. They are the best choice for beginner goldfish enthusiasts.

Common Goldfish

Comet Goldfish

They have a slim body with much longer fins with a deeply forked caudal or tail fin. They are very hardy fish that you keep in a pond without any problem. They have many color varieties which make an excellent beginner goldfish. They can grow up to 12 inches in length with lifespan of 14 years if you provide proper care. They are more active, fast swimmers and make very fun to watch. They become aggressive during feeding as a result you should place feed at both sides of the tank to reduce completion for food. The minimum tank size for Comet Goldfish should be between 40 and 50 gallons.

Comet Goldfish

Shubunkin Goldfish

Shubunkin Goldfish is the best choice for beginner goldfish enthusiasts. They have beautiful calico pattern including orange, yellow, red, brown, black, grey, white, purple, and blue colors which make the tank more appealing. They are very hardy and slim bodied fish which are fast swimmers and competitive eaters. They can grow up to 12 inches in length with a lifespan of up to 30 years if you take proper care.

They need lots of space and food to survive successfully.  Shubunkin goldfish tank should contains low to moderate water movement with sufficient amount of light. The tank should also contains temperature of 65-72°F with pH of 6.0-8.0 and hardness of 5–19 dGH.

Shubunkin Goldfish

Egg-shaped Goldfish

Egg-shaped Goldfish is also known as fancy goldfish. They are very sensitive to poor water quality parameters. Because most of the fancy goldfish contains distorted swim bladders that is sensitive to poor water conditions. For this reason, fancy goldfish is not suitable for beginner fish keepers due to their insufficient fish keeping knowledge. Fancy goldfish is not perfect for ponds because most of them are so much delicate and they cannot tolerate water temperature below 60°F.

Some fancy goldfish have sensitive body features such as bubble-eye goldfish which should not keep with slim-bodied goldfish. If you keep this both goldfish types, you may face with fin nipping problems causing death of fish. Fancy goldfish do well if you keep them in a tank with good condition water. In this case, you should use at least 20 gallons tank for each fish with 10 gallons for each additional goldfish. Some attractive fancy goldfish types are describe below:

Fantail Goldfish

It is one of the headiest fancy goldfish which can easily survive in pond conditions with other slim-bodied goldfish varieties. They are most popular among the goldfish enthusiast due to their recognizable split caudal fins creating a triangle shape. They have various colorations, among them, orange or calico colorations are available in the pet fish industry.  If you keep them in your aquarium, they create a ton of beauty to your tank.  Well-maintained environments are required to keep this gorgeous fish to truly thrive. They can grow up to eight inches in length with a life span between 5 and 10 years. 

Fantail Goldfish

Veiltail Goldfish

It is one of the most sensitive fancy goldfish due to their long flowing fins. It is a very graceful and beautiful goldfish which add attractive panorama to your aquarium. They have slightly round body with a more distorted swim bladder. Their long flowing fins are very sensitive and subject to injury and subsequent fungal and bacterial infections. For this reason, it is not recommended for beginner fish keepers. It is not ideal for outdoor ponds.  They have high sail-like prominent and well-developed dorsal fins with an extra-long, flowing double tail. 

They can raise up to 20 cm (12 inches) in length. You may keep them with other fancy goldfish but they do not accept water temperature below 13 °C (55 °F). There are varieties color of vailtail goldfish available in the pet fish market with sensible cost. Among the most gorgeous color morphs are solid red or orange, variegated colors, or calico. These vailtail goldfish should not kept with Comet Goldfish, Common Goldfish, the Shubunkin, etc. Because they make completion during feeding time.  Suitable tank mates for vailtail are Telescope Goldfish, Celestial Eye Goldfish, Lionhead Goldfish and Water-Bubble Eye Goldfish.

Veiltail Goldfish

Telescope Goldfish

Telescope goldfish is not very hardy fish. It looks like a very similar to a vailtail goldfish. They have limited vision due to their protruding eyes. You may keep them with slim-bodied goldfish because they do not make competition for feed. It is recommended for intermediate goldfish keepers. In the pet fish market, telescope goldfish come in all sorts of color with reasonable cost.

Telescope goldfish can raise up to 20.32 cm (8 inches) in length with a lifespan of up to 20 years if you take proper care. It is generally quite hardy fish and they do well in a 30 gallons or larger tank. In this case you should provide fine gravel bottom with cold water plants. You may also add roots and well-rounded river rocks to your aquariums which help to provide comfortable home of your fish.

There are many different colors of telescope goldfish in the market. Among the most popular colors are metallic and nacreous scale types, solids of red, blue, chocolate, or white; tri-colored and calico; and bi-colored versions in red/white and black/white. In this case, the bi-colored black/white version is affectionately known as the Panda Telescope Goldfish.

Telescope Eye Goldfish

Black Moor Goldfish

Black moor goldfish is the well-known and very popular goldfish among the goldfish enthusiasts. They are very hardy and can tolerate cold water temperature. They are the ideal goldfish for beginner fish keeper and they can survive well in outdoor ponds. They are typically black in color. They can grow up to 8 inches in length with a lifespan of 15 years if you provide proper care.

They require 30 gallons or larger tank to thrive with a fine gravel bottom. Besides, the tank should have cold water plants with roots and well-rounded river rocks. Black moor goldfish are peaceful and slow-swimmers. In this case, tank mates should have similar traits. Suitable tank mates for black moor goldfish includes mollies, neon tetras, cherry barbs, zebra danios, angelfish, dwarf gourami and glass catfish, etc. The tank water should have good water parameters with a pH of 6.5-7.5 and temperature of 50-75°F.

Black Moor Goldfish

Lionhead Goldfish

The Lionhead goldfish is a well-known and very popular fish among the goldfish enthusiasts. They have no dorsal fin but they contain a double caudal and a double anal fin. They have an egg-shaped or more rounded body. Lionhead goldfish can grow up to 5 inches in length with a lifespan of up to 20 years with proper care in well-maintained goldfish. The tank should be 20 -30 gallons for your first goldfish. If you keep more fish then you should increase the size of the tank by 10 gallons for each additional goldfish. The tank should also have plenty of space with a pH of 6.0-8.0, hardness of 5 – 19 dGH and temperature of 65 – 72° F (18°- 22° C).

To keep your tank environment healthy, 20-25 % water changes should be done weekly basis. You can also add snails in your tank which help to reduce algae from the tank water keeping the tank water clean.  Lionheads are slow swimmer fish and they are very sensitive to water quality. They should not be kept with other fast-moving goldfish. They contains metallic, nacreous or matte scales with various color morphs including orange, red, white, red-and-white, blue, black, black-and-white, black-and-red, natural, and chocolate coloration.

Lionhead Goldfish

Oranda Goldfish

Oranda Goldfish is slow-moving fish which resemble faintail in body shape. They are very sensitive to cold water and it is not recommended to keep in a tank by the beginner fish keepers. They are available in a variety of colors in the pet industry including orange, blue, red, black, red-and-white, bronze, red-and-black, chocolate, black-and-white (panda-colored), white or silver, red-black-and-white (tricolor), and calico colors. They can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length with  a lifespan of up to 20 years if proper care is taken.

Ornanda Goldfish

They can tolerate temperature which ranges from 17 to 28 °C (65 to 80 °F).  The tank should contains good water quality with a pH of 5.0 to 8.0 (a neutral pH around 7.0 is best) and hardness of 4 to 20 dGH. Ornanda goldfish is a peaceful and you may keep them with other peaceful species of a similar size. The following are some good tank mates to consider: Pepper Cory Catfish, Sailfin pleco,  Black Moors, Ryukin Goldfish, Pearlscale Goldfish, etc.

Celestial Goldfish

Celestial goldfish is a popular goldfish among the goldfish keepers. They are slow-moving fish with no dorsal fin. It is not ideal fish for beginner fish keepers. They have elongated egg-shaped body with half of the body size caudal fin. They come in with variety colors including orange, black, and a pretty calico. To keep this fish healthy, well-maintained tank is required. In this case, the tank should be at least 10 gallons with a temperature of 65.0 to 72.0° F (18.3 to 22.2° C), pH of 6.0-8.0 and hardness of  5 – 19 dGH. 20-25% water changes should be done to make the tank environment healthy for your celestial goldfish. You may add snail in your tank which help to reduce algae growth in the tank. They can grow up to 5 inches in length and can live up to 15 years or more with proper care.

Chelestial Eye Goldfish

Bubble Eye Goldfish

Bubble Eye Goldfish is one of the most popular goldfish among the goldfish keepers due to its unique-looking appearance. They have more rounded or egg-shaped body with no fins on the top of the back. It has a double-tail which is very similar to the celestial eye goldfish. There are varieties color of bubble eyes in the market which include solids of red, blue, chocolate, and black; bi-colors of red/white and red/black; and calicos. They should not be kept with Common Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, and the Shubunkin because they are fast swimmer and make more completion during feeding time. They should be kept with similar fish like Lionhead Goldfish, Telescope Goldfish, and Celestial Eye Goldfish, etc.

Bubble Eye Goldfish

They can grow up to 5 inches in length and live up to 15 years or more with proper care. In this case well-maintained tank is required.  The minimum tank is 10 gallons for each goldfish with a proper water parameter. The pH of the tank water should be between 6.0-8.0 with a temperature of 65.0 to 72.0° F (18.3 to 22.2° C) and harness of 5 – 19 dGH. 20-25% water changes should be done to make the tank environment healthy for your celestial goldfish. You may add snail in your tank which help to reduce algae growth in the tank.

Ryukin Goldfish

Ryukin goldfish is another popular goldfish variety which is ideal choice for beginner goldfish keepers. They have large hump behind the head. They come in varieties colors including white, red-and-white, deep-red, black, silver, lavender grey, blue, iron, orange, and calico coloration. They can grow up to 8 inches in length and can live up to 15 years or more. Minimum tank requirement is 10 gallons for each fish but larger is recommended. The tank should have good water condition with a pH of 6.0-8.0, hardness of 5 – 19 dGH and temperature of 65.0 to 72.0° F (18.3 to 22.2° C). To make the tank environment healthy for your celestial goldfish, 20-25% water changes should be done.  You may also add snail in your tank which help to reduce algae growth in the tank.

Ryukin Goldfish

Goldfish Tank Maintenance

Goldfish is a very sensitive aquarium fish. They need proper care to thrive. In this case, you have to take following necessary steps to make your goldfish healthy and happy:

Daily Basis

  • Feeding should be done daily 2-3 times;
  • Water temperature should be checked regularly;
  • Checking on the fish health regularly;
  • Removing uneaten food daily basis;

Weekly/Fortnightly basis

  • 20-25 % water changes should be done;
  • Removing algae by using algae magnet;
  • All types of equipment should be checked;
  • Cleaning Tank gravel with a siphon;
  • Wiping down outside surface of the tank;
  • Cleaning inner surface and other equipment;

Monthly basis

  • If you have planted tank, trimming the plant to check over growth;
  • Checking water parameters such as pH, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites, etc.
  • Changing filter cartridge if it is not work properly;

Final Thoughts

Goldfish is one of the attractive and most popular aquarium fish. It requires appropriate tank to thrive successfully. In this case, more attention is needed to select the perfect tank. If you are a goldfish enthusiast, you should read the above reviewed articles and make sure which tank is perfect for your goldfish and finally pick the best goldfish tank that makes fulfill your requirements.