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Good community fish

This section contains fish that will live happily in a mixed community, are not usually aggressive, and do not require special attention to diet. Most will live happily in fairly soft to medium hard water and within a reasonable pH range, around neutral. Most of these fish are commonly available in aquatic stores. Click on the links for more info on some of the individual fish.

Suitable fish typesExamples

Barbs and Rasboras

These are an active and colourful addition to any community tank. Not all are peaceful, and some grow quite large, but the species listed opposite are ideal for the general community tank.

  • Cherry barb
    (Puntius titteya)
  • Golden barb
    (Puntius semifasciolatus)
  • Five-banded barb
    (Puntius pentazona)
  • Harlequin Rasbora
    (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)
  • Picture of Harlequin
    The Harlequin - a colourful little Rasbora

    Corydoras catfish

    Cory's are small, peaceful catfish which are ideal for the community aquarium. The commonly available species are generally hardy and easy to breed.

  • Albino/Bronze cory
    (Corydoras aeneus)
  • Peppered corydoras
    (Corydoras paleatus)
  • Picture of Corydoras paleatus
    Peppered corydoras - a hardy and long-lived catfish

    Danios

    Hardy, active shoaling fish with no special requirements.

  • Leopard danio
    (Danio rerio var. frankei)
  • Pearl danio
    (Danio albolineatus)
  • Zebra danio
    (Danio rerio)
  • Picture of Zebra danio
    Zebra Danios are hardy and active fish

    Livebearers

    The commonly available and very popular Livebearers are generally hardy and easy to breed.

  • Guppy
    (Poecilia reticulata)
  • Platy
    (Xiphophorus maculatus)
  • Swordtail
    (Xiphophorus helleri)
  • Picture of Platy
    Platy - a hardy community fish available in many colour varieties

    Loaches

    The peaceful loach species make an interesting addition to the community aquarium. The species listed opposite are sociable and best kept in groups. Note that some other species of loach can be aggressive.

  • Pakistan loach
    (B. almorhae / lohachata)
  • Zebra/Candy-stripe loach
    (B. striata)
  • Clown loach
    (C. macracanthus) - for larger tanks only.
  • Picture of Zebra loach
    Zebra loaches are one of the smaller and more peaceful loaches

    Rainbowfish

    Rainbowfish are colourful and active shoaling fish, which are often overlooked as community fish, probably partly because the juveniles seen in the fish store are not showing their impressive adult colouration. Dwarf species are suitable for smaller tanks.

  • Boeseman's Rainbow
    (Melanotaenia boesemani)
  • Dwarf Neon Rainbow
    (Melanotaenia praecox)
  • Lake Kutubu Rainbow
    (Melanotaenia lacustris)
  • Banded Rainbow
    (Melanotaenia trifasciata)
  • Picture of Banded Rainbow
    The colourful Banded Rainbow

    Suckermouth catfish


    (Small species)
  • Bristlenose catfish
    (Ancistrus sp.)
  • Otocinclus catfish
    (Otocinclus sp.)
  • Peckoltia species
  • Picture of Bristlenose catfish
    The bristlenose catfish is an excellent algae eater.

    Tetras

    A small shoal of tetras will contribute little to the waste load of the tank. There are many smaller, peaceful species which are suitable for the community tank where there are no fish large enough to eat them. There are also a few larger tetras suitable for the community tank.

  • Black Neon tetra
    (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
  • Glowlight tetra
    (Hemigrammus erythrozonus)
  • Neon tetra
    (Paracheirodon innesi)
  • Rummy nose tetra
    (Hemigrammus bleheri)

    Larger tetras:
    (adults will be safe where smaller tetras might be eaten)

  • Buenos Aires tetra
    (Hemigrammus caudovittatus)
  • Congo tetra
    (Phenacogrammus interruptus)
  • Picture of Neon tetras
    The popular Neon tetra

    Picture of Buenos aries tetra
    Buenas aries tetra - an active and hardy tetra

    Note that although all of the above fish should be suitable for a community tank, not all of them would be recommended as hardy fish to add to a new tank. My own recommendations for the first fish in the tank would include Danios, Golden barbs, Platy's and Black Neon or Buenos Aries tetras. The hardiness of different species can vary in different parts of the world, depending on the quality of the stock they were bred from, so it may also be useful to check local recommendations.

    Good community fish Community fish - with caution! Intermediate fish Fish to avoid!

     

     

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    The Tropical Tank Copyright © 2000-2022 Sean Evans This website was last updated on 20th November 2022