15 Aquarium Fish that You Can Keep Together
Have you ever dreamed of keeping a beautiful, serene aquarium filled with colorful fish but worried about fish compatibility? Fear not! In this article, I’ll share my personal experience and introduce you to 15 aquarium fish that can live together harmoniously, turning your aquatic dream into reality.
So, let’s dive in and discover the perfect fishy companions to create a visually stunning and peaceful underwater haven in your home.
Guppy Fish
Guppy fish, also known as millionfish or rainbow fish, are one of the most popular and adaptable species for community aquariums. Their vibrant colors and patterns make them an attractive choice for adding a pop of color to your tank.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 5 gallons (19 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 1-2.4 inches (2.5-6 cm)
Guppies are highly adaptable and can tolerate a variety of water conditions, making them a great choice for beginners. Plus, they are livebearers and reproduce quickly, giving you a chance to witness the fascinating life cycle of fish in your aquarium.
Molly Fish
Molly fish are another popular choice for community aquariums due to their peaceful nature, stunning colors, and hardiness. They’re excellent for beginners and adaptable to various water conditions.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 20 gallons (76 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 3-4 inches (8-10 cm)
Mollies prefer a well-planted tank with plenty of swimming space and can tolerate both freshwater and brackish water environments. They are livebearers, like guppies, providing yet another opportunity to observe the fascinating process of fish reproduction. To ensure happy and healthy molly fish, provide a balanced diet with a mix of high-quality flakes or pellets and occasional live or frozen foods.
Swordtail Fish
Swordtail fish are named after the unique, elongated lower part of a male’s tail, resembling a sword. Their lively behavior and striking appearance make them an appealing addition to your community tank.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 15 gallons (57 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 4-5 inches (10-12 cm)
Swordtails thrive in a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding spots and swimming space. They are sociable and do best in groups, but keep a balanced male-to-female ratio to prevent territorial aggression. Providing swordtails with a varied diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods will keep them healthy and vibrant.
Platy Fish
Platies are fun, colorful, and active fish that add a dynamic touch to community aquariums. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, allowing you to customize the look of your tank.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 10 gallons (38 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm)
Like other livebearers, platies reproduce quickly, adding to the excitement of your aquarium. They thrive in a well-planted tank with hiding spots, and their adaptable nature makes them an ideal choice for beginners. A diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, and occasional live or frozen food will keep your platies happy, healthy, and full of energy.
Cory Catfish
Cory catfish, also known as corydoras, are a fascinating addition to community aquariums due to their unique appearance and bottom-dwelling lifestyle. They help maintain a clean tank environment by scavenging for leftover food and debris.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 20 gallons (76 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm), depending on species
Cory catfish are social creatures, preferring to live in groups of five or more. They appreciate a soft substrate like sand to protect their delicate barbels and well-planted aquariums with hiding spots. Provide a diet of sinking pellets, wafers, and occasional live or frozen food to keep your cory catfish healthy and content.
Dwarf Gourami
Dwarf gouramis are a striking, colorful addition to community aquariums, known for their relatively small size and captivating appearance. They are a perfect centerpiece fish for smaller tanks.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 10 gallons (38 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm)
These charming fish prefer a well-planted tank with lots of hiding spots, helping them feel secure in their environment. Floating plants are especially appreciated, as gouramis come to the surface to access their labyrinth organ for obtaining oxygen.
Feed your dwarf gouramis a mix of high-quality flakes, pellets, and live or frozen food to keep them healthy and display their most vibrant colors.
Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are a classic favorite among aquarists, adored for their mesmerizing iridescent colors and peaceful nature, creating a delightful display in community tanks.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 10 gallons (38 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 1.2 inches (3 cm)
These small schooling fish should be kept in groups of at least six, which will make them feel secure and exhibit their natural behaviors. Neon tetras enjoy aquariums with dim lighting, plants, and hiding spots to recreate their natural habitat.
To maintain their stunning colors, feed your neon tetras a diet of high-quality flakes or pellets, along with occasional live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia.
Rummy Nose Tetra
Rummy nose tetras are admired for their unique appearance, featuring a red “blushing” nose, black and white striped tail, and shimmering silver body. They make a captivating addition to any community aquarium.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 20 gallons (76 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Intermediate
- Adult Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
These schooling fish should be kept in groups of at least six individuals, and they enjoy well-planted tanks with hiding spots and a gentle water flow. Rummy nose tetras prefer clean, stable water conditions and may be sensitive to fluctuations.
Feed your rummy nose tetras a varied diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods to ensure their health and accentuate their beautiful colors.
Zebra Fish
Zebra fish, commonly known as zebrafish or danios, are an attractive, hardy, and active addition to community aquariums. Their striking horizontal stripes and playful behavior make them a delight to watch.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 10 gallons (38 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 2-2.5 inches (5-6.4 cm)
These schooling fish should be kept in groups of at least five or more, allowing them to feel safe and exhibit their natural tendencies. They enjoy tanks with plenty of swimming space, plants, and hiding spots.
To keep your zebrafish healthy and thriving, provide them with a diet of high-quality flake food, pellets, and live or frozen foods, such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Harlequin Rasboras
Harlequin rasboras are known for their vibrant colors and unique black triangular markings, adding visual interest to any community tank while being peaceful enough to coexist with a variety of tank mates.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 10 gallons (38 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 1.5-2 inches (4-4.8 cm)
These lively schooling fish thrive in groups of six or more, creating captivating displays when swimming together. They prefer a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding spaces and a gentle current.
Feeding harlequin rasboras a balanced diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, and occasional live or frozen foods will ensure their vivid colors remain stunning and their overall health in top shape.
Bristlenose Pleco
Bristlenose plecos are fantastic aquatic janitors, known for their algae-eating habits and intriguing appearance, featuring tentacle-like appendages on their noses.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Herbivore
- Tank Size: 20 gallons (76 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 3-5 inches (7.6-12.7 cm)
These bottom-dwellers appreciate a tank with hiding spots, such as caves and driftwood, where they can rest during the day. Keep in mind that they produce a substantial amount of waste, warranting a good filtration system.
Providing your bristlenose plecos with a diet of algae wafers, fresh vegetables, and occasional treats like bloodworms will contribute to their health and keep them content in your community aquarium.
Otocinclus Catfish
Otocinclus catfish, affectionately known as “otos” or “dwarf suckers,” are small algae-eating catfish perfect for community tanks due to their peaceful demeanor and efficient algae-removal skills.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Herbivore
- Tank Size: 20 gallons (76 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Intermediate
- Adult Size: 1.2-2 inches (3-5 cm)
Otos are social fish, preferring to be kept in groups of at least three. They thrive in a well-planted tank with hiding spots and appreciate strong water flow, mimicking their natural habitat.
Feed your otos a diet of algae wafers, fresh vegetables, and occasional treats like blanched spinach and zucchini to complement their algae-eating and ensure a healthy, well-nourished tank.
Endler’s Livebearer
Endler’s livebearers are petite, energetic fish with shimmering colors and patterns, making them a visually arresting addition to community aquariums while being close relatives to the guppy.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 5 gallons (19 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 0.8-1.4 inches (2-3.5 cm)
These schooling fish should be kept in groups with a male-to-female ratio of at least one male for every two females, reducing male aggression and ensuring a peaceful environment.
Endler’s livebearers prefer a well-planted tank with hiding spots. Feed them a diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods to enhance their vibrant colors and maintain overall health.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
White Cloud Mountain Minnows, known for their hardiness and beautiful coloration, are a perfect addition to a peaceful community tank, even in cooler water temperatures.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 10 gallons (38 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
These schooling fish should be kept in groups of six or more, ensuring they feel secure in their environment. They flourish in a well-planted tank with gentle water flow and plenty of swimming space.
Supply your White Cloud Mountain Minnows with a balanced diet of high-quality flake food, pellets, and live or frozen foods to maintain their radiant colors and keep them healthy.
Kuhli Loach
Kuhli loaches are unique, eel-like bottom dwellers that add character and intrigue to your community aquarium while remaining peaceful with their tank mates.
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Diet: Omnivore
- Tank Size: 20 gallons (76 liters) minimum
- Care Level: Easy
- Adult Size: 3-4 inches (7.6-10 cm)
These nocturnal fish are social creatures, enjoying the company of other Kuhli loaches. They require a tank with hiding spots, such as caves and plant cover, as well as a soft substrate like sand or smooth gravel to avoid damaging their delicate bodies.
Feeding Kuhli loaches a varied diet of sinking pellets, wafers, and live or frozen foods will contribute to their health and happiness in your aquarium.
Conclusion
In conclusion, creating a harmonious, vibrant, and diverse community aquarium is completely achievable with careful planning and selecting the right mix of species. By choosing from the list of these 15 charming and compatible fish, you can establish a visually stunning and peaceful aquatic environment that brings joy and relaxation to your home.
No matter your level of expertise, there’s a suitable combination of tank mates for every aquarist. So, embark on a new and exciting underwater adventure and start building your dream community aquarium today!
