Best Tankmates for Tropical Fish
Creating a harmonious tropical fish tank involves choosing compatible tankmates. Here’s a guide to the best companions for tropical fish, ensuring peace, health, and beauty in your aquarium.
1. Tetras (Neon, Cardinal, and Rummy Nose)
Tetras are small schooling fish known for their vibrant colors and peaceful demeanor. They thrive in groups and pair well with other non-aggressive fish like guppies and rasboras.
These bottom-dwellers are quite peaceful, tough, and very good at scavenging for food without fighting for space. They are suitable for community tanks.
3. Guppies
Guppies are lively fish that give life and color to the aquariums by their active swimming and bright colors. These guys are easy to mingle with mollies, platys, and other peaceful fish.
4. Mollies and Platys
Mollies and platys are livebearers that tend to be social and assimilating. With their various colors, they add vibrancy to your setup.
5. Gouramis
The dwarf gourami is not aggressive and quite ornamental. Suitable for tanks with tetras or rasboras. Avoid larger species of gouramis since they tend to become territorial.
6. Rasboras
Rasboras, especially the Harlequins, are schooling fish that do really well in a group. Calm, complement tetras, guppies, and shrimp.
7. Cherry Barbs
These calm barbs add a pop of red to your aquarium without making waves. They get along well with peaceful species and prefer to swim in schools.
8. Snails and Shrimp
Mystery snails and cherry shrimp provide both functionality and visual interest. They will clean up algae and dead food from the tank.
9. Kuhli Loaches
Bottom dwellers, these eel-like fish are nocturnal, making them compatible with mid-level swimmers like tetras and rasboras.
Small species such as ram cichlids and Apistogramma provide color and variety. They can thrive in community tanks with ample space and hiding places.
Basic Compatibility Considerations
- Match water conditions including temperature, pH, and hardness.
- Don’t keep aggressive species with peaceful fish.
- Provide hiding places and plants to minimize stress and aggression.
- Provide sufficient space to avoid overcrowding.
Conclusion
A tropical fish tank, if well planned, will be a very colorful and peaceful aquatic environment. Just pick the right mix of species like tetras, guppies, or Corydoras, and when all tank conditions are maintained ideally, you can keep your fish healthy and happy. With a little homework and care, your aquarium will thrive as a striking centerpiece in your home.
FAQs (frequently-asked questions)
No, goldfish need colder water, whereas tropical fish are happiest in warmer temperatures. Their needs don’t mix.
The minimum for a small community is 20-gallon tank. Obviously, the more fish you can provide space for, the better.
Observe the “1 inch of fish per gallon” guideline. Make sure you factor in the adult size of each type.
Angelfish can be semi-aggressive and are best kept with similar-sized fish and temperament, such as larger tetras or dwarf cichlids.
Yes, most tropical fish require a heater to maintain consistent water temperatures around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
