Goldfish are one of the most popular aquarium pets on this planet. Their vibrant appearance, low maintenance, and social nature have made them so appealing.
African dwarf frogs are also growing in popularity as pets because of similar reasons. In today’s world, where people like to combine a unique variety of things, a lot of hobbyists consider building an aquarium with both of them in it.
I, too, have been infatuated by this idea. But I was not quite sure whether these two creatures could peacefully coexist with each other. So, I did some extensive research on this.
In this short blog article, I will share the findings from my research on whether African dwarf frogs and goldfish can live together.
Are Goldfish and African Dwarf Frogs Compatible?
Initially, when you look at the tank conditions required for both of these aquatic creatures, you can see that they both require a pretty similar tank setup. Both of them are freshwater aquatic creatures that need similar water temperatures. The African dwarf frogs excel in temperatures between 68° F and 78° F (20° C and 26° C), whereas goldfish live happily in temperatures between 60° F and 75° F (15° C and 24° C).
So, if you keep the water temperatures between 68°F and 75°F (20°C and 24°C), you can be sure that both of these aquatic creatures will live happily.
The pH level is another factor you need to keep in mind when setting up a tank. Goldfish are a species of very sturdy aquatic animals that can survive fluctuations. A pH level of 7.2 – 7.6 is optimal for them.
Contrary to goldfish, African dwarf frogs are pretty fragile. They are highly susceptible to sudden changes in water parameters. The recommended pH levels for these frogs lie between 6.5 and 7.5, which aligns well with the requirements of goldfish. You can easily house both of them together if you manage to keep the pH levels of the water in the range of 7.2 and 7.5.
Another factor while judging their compatibility is the tank size. Goldfish usually require a tank that is quite large in size. Most people usually put their goldfish in 30 gallon tanks. This is due to the fact that they are very active fish that like to constantly swim around.
You can house a pair of African dwarf frogs in a 20 gallon tank. They can’t swim well and aren’t very active or mobile, so it will be enough for them to move around. But housing them in a larger tank is only beneficial to them, as they will have adequate space for hiding as well. Therefore, both goldfish and African dwarf frogs can be housed together in a 30 gallon tank.
Judging all the factors mentioned above, you’ll think that these two creatures are quite compatible with each other. However, will they get along just as well?
Do Goldfish and African Dwarf Frogs Get Along?
Well, it is a well known fact that both of these creatures are friendly and social animals. The worrying factor here is the way they both behave with the commodities in the tanks.
African dwarf frogs are small and peaceful. They also do not swim around much. Because of this, they do not cause much motion in the water.
On the contrary, goldfish are much more active and swim pretty fast. They are infamous for creating a mess in the aquarium. They also grow pretty big and are quite clumsy by nature. They will often tackle decorations unintentionally and knock them over.
Also, goldfish grow much faster and bigger than African dwarf frogs. So, if the fish outgrow the frogs, there is a risk of the frogs getting into the fish’s mouth. Even if not, the fish might chip away at the frogs, which can cause serious injuries to the frogs.
Feeding your African dwarf frogs can be a tricky job if there are goldfish present in the tank. The frogs love to stay at the bottom part of the tank, dwelling on the substrate. Goldfish swim around above the frogs. So, any food you bring in for the frogs will first get eaten by the fish.
How do I feed African Dwarf Frogs and Goldfish in the Same Tank?
As mentioned above, there is definitely a problem feeding both of them in the same tank. So, how do you solve this?
The fish will get food no matter what. The real challenge here is allowing the food to reach the frogs that reside at the bottom of the tank.
It is possible for you to think that a diet of brine shrimp and bloodworms is enough to keep your frogs alive and healthy.
However, goldfish also love a snack of brine shrimp and bloodworms. They can be trained to eat mostly fish flakes and goldfish pellets by following training programs, though. They will also eat some other boiled vegetables, such as peas.
So, in order to ensure your frogs get food, you should first feed the fish until they are full. Put goldfish flakes and fish food pellets first so that the fish eat first. Once you see they have eaten enough, bring in the food for the frogs.
If this doesn’t work out, you need to separate the fish from the frogs. You can divide them by putting a plastic divider in, but this can be a pain as the fish will constantly swim around.
Conclusion
So, to conclude, it is quite clear that they can potentially live together, but they are not the best to combine.
Do keep in mind that if you put goldfish in a tank of African dwarf frogs, there will be a competition for food, and you cannot bring in any sort of decorative plants in the tank. The plants will get in the way of the fish’s swimming.
These issues can be resolved by giving them both enough food as well as by bringing in numerous decorations that are not particularly tall and offer lots of hiding places for your frogs.
If you would like to know about other creatures that would be compatible with African dwarf frogs in the same tanks, check out my article on African dwarf frog tank mates.
