| Latin Name | Friendly Name | size | Low Temp | High Temp | PH | Hard Low | Hard High | Level | Min. Num | Fin nipper? | Cherry Shrimp? | Long finned? | Food | Flow | Notes |
Cichlids | Amatitlania nigrofasciata | Convict Cichlids | 15.0 | 24 | 28 | 6-8.0 | 90 | 447 | | 1 | | | | | | Not a good community fish |
Catfish | Ancistrus sp. | Bristlenose Catfish | 12.0 | 21 | 26 | 5.5 - 7.5 | 18 | 268 | bottom | 1 | | Y | | should consist of around 85% plant matter and 15% protein. Sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus some fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc.
soft algae, cucumber, mushrooms, shelled garden peas, spinach, zucchini(courgettes), catfish pellets and flake, small amounts of bloodworm or chopped earthworm occasionally. Juvenile fish will lean towards a more meaty diet to include small live foods like brine shrimp and daphnia. | | Relatively peaceful but territorial with conspecifics and similarly-shaped species. Good Algae Eater. Should be ok with Cory if tank is reasonable size; can cause havoc with plants if you're not careful |
| Aphyocharax anisitsi | Bloodfin Tetra | 5.5 | 18 | 28 | 06-Aug | 54 | 447 | top half | 6 | y | | | | | Peaceful enough but may nip a little at long-finned or slow-moving tankmates. Can do a mixed shoal with other characids |
Killifish | Aphyosemion splendopleure | Splendid Killifish | 6 | 22 | 26 | 6.0 - 7.2 | 54 | 268 | | | | | | | | Jumper, v peaceful |
Killifish | Aphyosemion gabunese | Gabon Killifish | 5 | 22 | 25 | 6.5 - 7.2 | 89.5 | 268.5 | | | | | | | | Jumper, v peaceful |
| Barbodes semifasciolatus | Golden Barbs | 7.5 | 16 | 24 | 6.0 - 8.0 | 36 | 357 | bottom-mid | 10 | | n | | | | Slow flowing and standing, dense vegetation; schooling; semi-aggressive |
Betta | Betta Splendens | 0 | 7.0 | 22 | 30 | 6-8.0 | 18 | 268 | Mid | 1 | n | | y | | Low | Siamese Fighting Fish - house with peaceful non-nippy, well planted shady aquarium; excellent jumper |
| Brachydanio albolineata | Pearl Danio | 5.5 | 16 | 25 | 6.0 - 8.0 | 18 | 357 | Upper | 8 | | n | | | | |
Danios | Brachydanio rerio | Leopard Danio | 3.0 | 22.0 | 27 | 6.9-7.1 | 18 | 357 | Upper | 6 | | | | | | |
Danios | Brachydanio rerio | Zebra Danio | 5.0 | 18 | 25 | 6-8.0 | 90 | 357 | Upper | 6 | | | | | | Not Giant; schooling |
| Celestichthys erythromicron | Emerald Dwarf Rasbora | 2 | 20.0 | 24 | 7.0-8.0 | 215 | 357 | Mid | 20 | | | | will accept dried foods of a suitable size but not be fed exclusively
Daphnia, Artemia and suchlike.
Small live foods as an initial diet, dry and frozen products introduced as the fish become settled. | Low | Heavily planted; low flow |
| Celestichthys margaritatus | Celestial Pearl Danio (Galaxy Rasbora) | 2.0 | 20.0 | 26 | 6.5-7.5 | 90 | 268 | | 6 | | Y | | | | |
| Chaetostoma sp. | Bulldog Plec | 12.0 | 20.0 | 23 | 6.8-7.8 | 144 | 447 | Bottom | 1-2 | | Y | | omnivorous, plenty of greenstuffs, blanched spinach, courgette and cucumber slices, etc. live and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. will also take algae wafers and other dried foods. | Fast | Needs fast flowing water |
corydoras | Corydoras aeneus | Bronze Cory | 7.5 | 21.0 | 27 | 6-8.0 | 36 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | y | | | | fine sand or rounded gravel |
corydoras | Corydoras julii | Julii Cory | 5.0 | 23.0 | 26 | 6-7.8 | 36 | 447 | bottom | 4 | | | | | | Check - SF has 215 |
corydoras | Corydoras melanotaenia | Gold Cory | 6.0 | 20.0 | 23 | 6-7.2 | 36 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | | | | | Also green-gold |
corydoras | Corydoras panda | panda cory | 4.0 | 20.0 | 25 | 6-8.0 | 36 | 358 | Bottom | 6 | | | | Omnivorous and easy to feed. Use a good quality sinking pellet or tablet as the staple diet. Supplement this with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworm and similar. | | |
corydoras | Corydoras pygmaeus | Pygmy Cory | 3.0 | 22.0 | 26 | 6.4-7.4 | 36 | 268 | middle | 8 | | Y | | | | small,might get eaten, not as healthy as regular corys |
corydoras | Corydoras Schultzei | Venezuelan Black Cory | 7.5 | 22.0 | 28 | 6-8.0 | 36 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | | | | | |
corydoras | Corydoras schwartzi | Schwartz's Cory | 7.0 | 22.0 | 24 | 6-7.5 | 18 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | | | Omnivorous and easy to feed. Use a good quality sinking pellet or tablet as the staple diet. Supplement this with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworm and similar. | | |
corydoras | Corydoras splendens | Emerald Green Cory | 9.0 | 20.0 | 27 | 5.8-8 | 36 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | Y | | | | need 30-50 gallon tank |
corydoras | Corydoras sterbai | Sterba's Cory | 6.5 | 24.0 | 28 | 6-7.6 | 36 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | | | | | |
| Crossocheilus atrilimes | Siamese Flying Fox | 7.0 | 20.0 | 26 | 6-7.5 | 18 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | | | | | compatible with botia |
| Dermogenys pusilla | Wrestling Halfbeak | 7.0 | 24.0 | 28 | 6.5-8 | 179 | 358 | Top | 5 | | Y | | | | Doesen't like big wcs; 1 male or lots ; can easily damage its long lower jaw by bumping into the aquarium glass when startled. This can be prevented by positioning plant vegetation along the sides and back of the aquarium walls. Is a proficient jumper, so a secure lid or at least plenty of surface vegetation is necessary in the aquarium. |
| Gambusia affinis | Western mosquitofish | 4.0 | 18.0 | 27 | 6-8.0 | 90 | 560 | | 2 | Y | | | | | Sluggish flow, heavily planted, don't keep more than one male |
| Hemigrammus Bleheri | Firehead Tetra | 5 | 23 | 26 | 5.5-7 | 36 | 268 | mid | 10 | | Y | | | | See Rummynose - no separate detail. needs well planted tank; tightly shoaling so worth getting a few; may not do well in high PH; need lots of shrimp hiding places |
| Hemigrammus Erythrozonus | Glowlight | 4 | 24.0 | 28 | 5.5-7.5 | 36 | 268 | mid | 6 | | Y | | | | Peaceful; good community fish; shoaling; less colourful in alkaline water Borderline for Shrimp - should be ok in well planted tank but no guarantee. |
| Hemigrammus rhodostomus | Rummynose Tetra | 5 | 24.0 | 27 | 5.5-7 | 34 | 268 | | 10 | | y | | Omnivorous and will accept just about anything offered. Feed a mixture of dried flakes and granules and small live and frozen foods. A varied diet is essential | | needs well planted tank; tightly shoaling so worth getting a few; may not do well in high PH; need lots of shrimp hiding places |
| Herotilapia multispinosa | Rainbow Cichlid | 10.0 | 22.0 | 28 | 7-8.0 | 0 | 358 | | | | n | | | | Can go higher |
| Heterandria formosa | Least Killifish | 2 | 20 | 26 | 7.0 - 8.0 | 90 | 358 | | 6 | | | | | Gentle | |
Tetra | Hyphessobrycon eques | Serpae Tetra | 4 | 20.0 | 28 | 5-7.5 | 18 | 358 | mid | 6 | y | N | | | | can nip slow moving fins |
Gudgeon | Hypseleotris compressa | Empire gudgeon | 12.0 | 20.0 | 35 | 5-9.5 | 36 | 447 | | 1 | | n | | | | Low flow; |
| Inlecypris auropurpurea | Inlecypris auropurpurea | 8.0 | 20.0 | 24 | 6-8.0 | 54 | 268 | All | 8 | | n | | | | Likes floating plants |
| Jordanella floridae | Florida Flagfish | 5.5 | 18.0 | 30 | 6.5 - 8.5 | 36 | 357 | | | | n | | | | plenty of cover, mild filtration, shallow, weedy freshwater habitats including backwaters, marshes, canals and ditches ; likes algae. Individual males require space to form territories but in most cases two or more can be kept in the same aquarium. |
Paradise Fish | Macropodus opercularis | Paradise Fish | 8.0 | 16.0 | 26 | 5.8 - 8 | 90 | 537 | all | 1 | | n | | | | 1 male or 1:2 female. Likes it cold, esp during winter. |
| Marosatherina ladigesi | Celebes Rainbowfish | 8.0 | 22.0 | 28 | 7-8.0 | 179 | 386 | | 6 | | | | | | 2-3 females per male; heavily planted; high water quality well areated, slow moving |
| Melanotaenia affinis | New Guinea Rainbowfish | 12.0 | 20.0 | 30 | 6.5- 8 | 144 | 537 | | 6 | | | | | | heavily planted, seasonal changes |
| Melanotaenia fluviatilis | Australian Rainbowfish | 10.0 | 20.0 | 25 | 6.5- 8 | 144 | 357 | | 6 | | n | | | | slow moving water; heavily planted, seasonal changes |
| Melanotaenia lacustris | Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish | 12.0 | 20.0 | 25 | 7-9.0 | 278 | 357 | | 6 | | | | | | Heavy planting |
| Melanotaenia maccullochi | McCullough's (Dwarf) Rainbowfish | 7.0 | 20.0 | 30 | 5.5-8 | 142 | 268 | | 6 | | | | | | Heavy planting |
| Melanotaenia praecox | Neon Rainbowfish | 7.0 | 23 | 28 | 6.8-7.5 | 90 | 289 | | 6 | | | | | | don't handle stress well |
| Microrasbora rubescens | Red Dwarf Rasbora | 3 | 20.0 | 24 | 6.0-8 | 54 | 268 | Top | 8 | | | | | | |
| Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae | Redeye Tetra | 7 | 22.0 | 26 | 6-8.0 | 54 | 357 | | 8 | | n | | | | Heavily planted; might be a fin nipper if not shoaled |
Pencilfish | Nannostomus beckfordi | Golden Pencilfish | 3.5 | 21.0 | 27 | 5-8.0 | 18 | 268 | | 10 | | Y | | | | Sluggish flow (4-5x), heavily planted |
| Neolamprologus brevis | Neolamprologus brevis | 4.5 | 23 | 27 | 7.5-9 | 140 | 468 | | 1 or lots | | | | | Shell dweller | |
| Neolamprologus leleupi | Lemon Cichlid | 10.0 | 23 | 27 | 7.5-9 | 140 | 446 | | 1 pair | | | | | | rockdweller rocks caves and sand |
| Oryzias celebensis | Celebes Ricefish | 4.5 | 23 | 27 | 7.0 - 9.0; . | 90 | 447 | | | | | | | | |
| Oryzias woworae | Daisy's Ricefish | 3.0 | 23 | 27 | 6-7.5 | 90 | 268 | | 8 | | Y | | | | |
| Parambassis ranga | Indian Glassfish | 8.0 | 20.0 | 30 | 6.5 - 8.5 | 142 | 358 | | 6 | | y | | | | Slow water |
| Pethia conchonius | Rosy Barbs | 10 | 18 | 23 | 6.5-7 | 90 | 357 | all | 8 | y | | | | | jumpers; will nip the fins of slow-swimming and long-finned fish, so they need active companions |
| Pethia nigrofasciata | Black Ruby Barb | 5.5 | 20.0 | 27 | 5.5-7.5 | 36 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | n | | | | Heavy vegetation; bottom feeder |
Barbs | Pethia padamya | Odessa Barb | 8 | 16 | 25 | 6.5 - 8.5 | 90 | 357 | middle | 5 | y | n | | | | The Odessa Barb can be aggressive with other Odessas in the same tank and it is usually the males bickering over a dominance position within the school. They may nip at slower moving fish with larger fins, |
| Petruichthys brevis | Inle Loach | 6.0 | 18.0 | 24 | 6-8.0 | 54 | 268 | bottom - mid | 8 | | Y | | | | Good for aquascapes, pref keep with Cypranids; not too much flow |
| Phenacogrammus Interruptus | Congo Tetra | 8 | 23 | 28 | 6-7.5 | 54 | 322 | mid | 8 | | n | y | | | |
| Pimelodus pictus | Pictus Catfish | 12.0 | 22.0 | 25 | 5.6 - 6.8 | 18 | 268 | bottom | 6 | | n | | | | Needs a big tank (240L), will eat smaller fish |
| Poecilia latipinna | Sailfin Molly | 12.5 | 21.0 | 26 | 7-8.5 | 269 | 626 | | | | | Y | | | Variant of Sailfin Molly. that these are highly vegetarian fish so any soft-leaved plants may be destroyed. Allowing some common green algae will provide additional food for the fish. ay pick on smaller fish as it mature. Salt is not necessary, as it is the “hard” minerals (calcium, magnesium) that are crucial to the long-term health of this species |
Livebearers | Poecilia Sphenops | Black Molly | 10.0 | 21.0 | 28 | 7.5-8.5 | 179 | 447 | All | 6 | | | | Will accept most foods offered but a good proportion of the diet should be composed of vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or vegetable flake. | | splt 50/50 mail femaal |
| Poecilia Sphenops | Saffron Molly | 12.5 | 21.0 | 26 | 7-8.5 | 269 | 626 | | | | | | | | Variant of black Molly |
| Poecilia wingei | Endler's Livebearer | 4.5 | 24.0 | 30 | 7-8.5 | 267 | 534 | | | | | y | | | Interbreeds with Guppys |
| Pristella maxillaris | X-Ray Tetra | 4.5 | 22 | 28 | 6-7.5 | 35 | 358 | mid | 6 | | Y | | | | |
| Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis | Neon Blue-eye | 3.5 | 21.0 | 31 | 7-8.5 | 179 | 447 | | 8 | | | y | | | Can Jump, easily outcompeted, timid. Shoaling |
| Pseudomugil furcatus | Forktail blue-eye | 6.0 | 24.0 | 28 | 7-8.0 | 268 | 322 | | 8 | Y | | | | | |
| Puntius denisonii | Red Lined torpedo | 11 | 15 | 25 | 6.5-7.8 | 90 | 447 | mid | 6 | | | | | | care should be taken to keep them with species that are similar or larger in size. Live plants can be problematic, as they may be uprooted by darting denison barbs. |
Barbs | Puntius snyderi | Snyder's Barb | 7.5 | 18.0 | 24 | 6-8.0 | 36 | 357 | | 8 | | n | | | | Likes water movement |
Barbs | Puntius titteya | Cherry Barbs | 4 | 20.0 | 27 | 6-8.0 | 36 | 357 | mid-bottom | 6 | | Y | | Small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia, and Artemia, Brine Shrimp, Bloodworms, Blackworms, Copepods, quality dried flakes and granules, at least some of which should include additional plant or algal content.
spirulina,
Decap brine shrimp eggs
Golden Pearls (300 – 500 micron & 500 – 800-micron set)
Cobalt Fry Food (for adults – might be able to crumble for fry)
Freeze-dried tubifex
Frozen (or freeze-dried) mysis shrimp | Low | Can get less but their colours won't be so good - get mixed gender and they like lots of foliage, shallow and calm water |
Rasbora | Rasbora Vulcanus | Rasbora Vulcanus | 4 | 23 | 26 | 6.4-7.5 | 26 | 268 | Top | 8 | | | | | | |
Gobys | Rhinogobius nantaiensis | Taiwan Goby | 5.5 | 18.0 | 28 | 6-8.0 | 90 | 268 | | 4 | | n | | | | flowing stream conditions; need 2 male and 2 female |
Barbs | Sahyadria chalakkudiensis | Sahyadria chalakkudiensis | 12 | 15 | 25 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 90 | 357 | | 5 | | | | | medium | aggressive |
Barbs | Sahyadria denisonii | Red-line Torpedo Barb | 11 | 15 | 25 | 6.5 - 7.8 | 90 | 447 | | 6 | | | | | medium | |
| Sawbwa resplendens | Asian Rummynose | 3.5 | 18.0 | 22 | 6-8.0 | 54 | 268 | | 6 | | Y | | | | aggressive interactions between rival males. Males tend to be engaged in a continual battle for dominance, particularly when maintained in small numbers or in the presence of few females. to minimise this behaviour purchase more females than males; a ratio of 4:1 or more being ideal |
Loaches | Schistura pridii | Mini Dragon Loach | 4 | 18 | 24 | 7.0 - 8.5 | 90 | 268 | | 2 | | y | | | high | |
Loaches | Schistura savona | Half-banded loach | 5 | 15 | 24 | 6.5 - 8.5 | 36 | 268 | | 2 | | y | | | high | |
Loaches | Sinibotia pulchra | Golden Zebra Loach | 11 | 20 | 25.5 | 6.5 - 8.0 | 36 | 268 | | 3 | | | | | | |
Loaches | Sinibotia reevesae | Sinibotia reevesae | 10 | 20 | 25.5 | 6.5 - 8.0 | 36 | 268 | | 4 | | | | | | |
Loaches | Sinibotia robusta | Kansu Loach | 10 | 20 | 25.5 | 6.5 - 8.0 | 36 | 268 | | 3 | | | | | | |
Loaches | Sinibotia superciliaris | Sinibotia superciliaris | 10 | 20 | 25.5 | 6.5 - 8.0 | 36 | 268 | | 4 | | | | | | |
Catfish | Sinogastromyzon wui | Sinogastromyzon wui | 10 | 17 | | 6.5 - 8.0 | 90 | 268 | | | | | | | medium | |
Catfish | Synodontis nigriventris | Upside down catfish | 10.0 | 24.0 | 28 | 6-7.5 | 94 | 354 | | 4 | | | | | | will eat smaller fish |
Catfish | Synodontis Petricola | Dwarf Petricola Catfish | 11.0 | 24.0 | 28 | 7.5-8.5 | 179 | 600 | bottom | 4 | | n | | | | will eat smaller fish |
Minnow | Tanichthys albonubes | White Cloud Mountain Minnow | 4.0 | 14.0 | 22 | 6-8.5 | 90 | 357 | | 10 | | n | | | | |
Tetra | Thayeria boehlkei | False Penguin tetra | 6 | 22.0 | 28 | 5.5-8 | 0 | 357 | | 8 | | n | | | | Heavily planted; iffy on shromp |
Gourami | Trichogaster Chuna | Honey Gourami | 5.5 | 22.0 | 27 | 6-7.5 | 36 | 268 | | 4 | | | Y | Will accept dried products but should also be offered plenty of small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia, or bloodworm regularly to ensure development of optimal colour and condition. | Low | Likes lots of surface cover and tall stems. Slow-moving and will easily be intimidated or outcompeted for food by larger or more vigorous tankmates. Avoid keeping shrimps with them as they may get eaten. Natural habitats undergo seasonal fluctuations in water volume, chemistry, and turbidity due to the annual monsoons which occur between June and October. |
Gourami | Trichogaster labiosa | Thick Lipped Gourami | 10.0 | 22.0 | 27 | 6-7.5 | 90 | 268 | | 2 | | | | Undemanding. It will accept the vast majority of foods offered, but is particularly fond of small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm, daphnia etc | Low | Peaceful, slow flowing, 1:1 male:female |
Gourami | Trichogaster lalius | Dwarf Gourami | 7.5 | 22.0 | 28 | 6-8.0 | 90 | 318 | Middle-top | 2 | | | y | accepts most foods offered in the aquarium, good quality dried food is acceptable as the staple diet. Supplement this with regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm for the fish to develop the best health and colouration. | Low | don't house with fin nippers; good for temperature swings; Buy a male and female pair; heavily planted; slow flowing; good water quality; don't keep with barbs |
Gourami | Trichopodus Leeri | Pearl Gourami | 12.0 | 24.0 | 30 | 5.5-8 | 36 | 537 | | 1 | | Y | | Unfussy and will accept most foods offered. | | Do not keep the pearl gourami with aggressive or very vigorous fish or it will become withdrawn. Can get 1 male and 2-3 females |
Gourami | Trichopodus Trichopterus | Gold Gourami | 13.0 | 24.0 | 30 | 5.5-8.5 | 57 | 626 | | 1 | | | | | | shoal away from tender plants; quarrelsome; |
Gourami | Trichopsis vittata | Croaking Gourami | 7.0 | 22 | 28 | 5.0 - 7.5 | 18 | 268 | | | | | | | Low | |
Swordtails | Xiphophorus hellerii | Swordtail | 16.0 | 16.0 | 28 | 7-8.0 | 179 | 447 | Middle | 4 | | n | y | | | 1 male for several females; |
Platys | Xiphophorus maculatus | Platy | 7.5 | 20.0 | 25 | 7-8.2 | 179 | 537 | middle - top | 5 | | | | | | Male only to start with, livebearers; 2:1 mail to female |
Loaches | Yaoshania pachychilus | Panda Loach | 6 | 20 | 23.9 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 36 | 268 | | 4 | | y | n | | | |
corydoras | | Albino Cory | 7.0 | 22.0 | 26 | 6-8.0 | 35 | 447 | bottom | 4 | | | | | | fine sand or rounded gravel |
Catfish | | Banjo Catfish | 15.0 | 20.0 | 29 | 5.0-8.0 | 90 | 340 | bottom | 1 | | n | | | | Night feeder, burrower, may eat snails and inverts; can tear up plants |