AquaSage
Species lists

Fish for a first aquarium

Hardy, peaceful, and forgiving of the mistakes everyone makes in the first six months. Nothing here hunts its tankmates or needs water you would have to build from scratch. They still need a cycled tank, though — no fish is beginner-proof in week one.

Why these

Difficulty 1–2 of 5, peaceful or shy, not a predator, and our data on it is better than preliminary.

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80 species

Blackline Rasbora — Rasbora borapetensis

Blackline Rasbora

Rasbora borapetensis

5 cm · 22–26 °C · ≥ 70 l

Bladder Snail — Physella acuta

Bladder Snail

Physella acuta

1.5 cm · 15–30 °C · ≥ 10 l

Bronze Corydoras — Corydoras aeneus

Bronze Corydoras

Corydoras aeneus

7 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Cherry Barb — Puntius titteya

Cherry Barb

Puntius titteya

5 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 60 l

Endler's Livebearer — Poecilia wingei

Endler's Livebearer

Poecilia wingei

4.5 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 30 l

Guppy — Poecilia reticulata

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

6 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Leopard Danio — Danio rerio var. frankei

Leopard Danio

Danio rerio var. frankei

5 cm · 16–26 °C · ≥ 75 l

Malaysian Trumpet Snail — Melanoides tuberculata

Malaysian Trumpet Snail

Melanoides tuberculata

2.5 cm · 18–30 °C · ≥ 10 l

Peppered Corydoras — Corydoras paleatus

Peppered Corydoras

Corydoras paleatus

7 cm · 16–26 °C · ≥ 75 l

Platy — Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy

Xiphophorus maculatus

6 cm · 18–26 °C · ≥ 55 l

Ramshorn Snail — Planorbella duryi

Ramshorn Snail

Planorbella duryi

2 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 10 l

Rosy Red Minnow — Pimephales promelas

Rosy Red Minnow

Pimephales promelas

8 cm · 4–26 °C · ≥ 54 l

White Cloud Mountain Minnow — Tanichthys albonubes

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

Tanichthys albonubes

4 cm · 5–24 °C · ≥ 40 l

Zebra Danio — Danio rerio

Zebra Danio

Danio rerio

5 cm · 16–26 °C · ≥ 75 l

Amano Shrimp — Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Black Neon Tetra — Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

4 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 60 l

Black Phantom Tetra — Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon megalopterus

4.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Black Ruby Barb — Pethia nigrofasciata

Black Ruby Barb

Pethia nigrofasciata

6 cm · 20–27 °C · ≥ 80 l

Bloodfin Tetra — Aphyocharax anisitsi

Bloodfin Tetra

Aphyocharax anisitsi

5.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Blue Velvet Shrimp — Neocaridina davidi

Blue Velvet Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

3.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 19 l

Bristlenose Pleco — Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus

Bristlenose Pleco

Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus

13 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

Celestial Pearl Danio — Danio margaritatus

Celestial Pearl Danio

Danio margaritatus

2.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Checkered Barb — Oliotius oligolepis

Checkered Barb

Oliotius oligolepis

5 cm · 18–25 °C · ≥ 70 l

Cherry Shrimp — Neocaridina davidi

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

3.5 cm · 15–30 °C · ≥ 19 l

Cochu's Blue Tetra — Boehlkea fredcochui

Cochu's Blue Tetra

Boehlkea fredcochui

5.5 cm · 21–26 °C · ≥ 60 l

Colombian Ramshorn Snail — Marisa cornuarietis

Colombian Ramshorn Snail

Marisa cornuarietis

5.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Denison Barb — Sahyadria denisonii

Denison Barb

Sahyadria denisonii

15 cm · 15–25 °C · ≥ 240 l

Diamond Tetra — Moenkhausia pittieri

Diamond Tetra

Moenkhausia pittieri

6 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Doctor Fish — Garra rufa

Doctor Fish

Garra rufa

14 cm · 15–28 °C · ≥ 240 l

Dojo (Weather) Loach — Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Dojo (Weather) Loach

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

25 cm · 5–25 °C · ≥ 200 l

Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish — Melanotaenia praecox

Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia praecox

8 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 90 l

Dwarf Orange Crayfish — Cambarellus patzcuarensis

Dwarf Orange Crayfish

Cambarellus patzcuarensis

5 cm · 16–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Dwarf Petricola Catfish — Synodontis lucipinnis

Dwarf Petricola Catfish

Synodontis lucipinnis

8 cm · 22–27 °C · ≥ 100 l

Ember Tetra — Hyphessobrycon amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

2 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Emerald Cory — Corydoras splendens

Emerald Cory

Corydoras splendens

9 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 120 l

Emperor Tetra — Nematobrycon palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon palmeri

5.5 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 75 l

Even-spotted Synodontis — Synodontis petricola

Even-spotted Synodontis

Synodontis petricola

13.5 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 120 l

Flame Tetra — Hyphessobrycon flammeus

Flame Tetra

Hyphessobrycon flammeus

4 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 60 l

Forktail Rainbowfish — Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Rainbowfish

Pseudomugil furcatus

5.5 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 60 l

Ghost Shrimp — Palaemonetes paludosus

Ghost Shrimp

Palaemonetes paludosus

5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Glowlight Danio — Danio choprae

Glowlight Danio

Danio choprae

3 cm · 16–26 °C · ≥ 70 l

Glowlight Tetra — Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

4 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 60 l

Gold Barb — Barbodes semifasciolatus

Gold Barb

Barbodes semifasciolatus

7 cm · 16–26 °C · ≥ 75 l

Golden Dwarf Cichlid — Nannacara anomala

Golden Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

8 cm · 22–27 °C · ≥ 80 l

Harlequin Rasbora — Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

4.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 60 l

Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra — Hemigrammus ocellifer

Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra

Hemigrammus ocellifer

4.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 70 l

Honey Gourami — Trichogaster chuna

Honey Gourami

Trichogaster chuna

5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Japanese Trapdoor Snail — Cipangopaludina japonica

Japanese Trapdoor Snail

Cipangopaludina japonica

5 cm · 2–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Julii Cory — Corydoras julii

Julii Cory

Corydoras julii

5.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 60 l

Kribensis — Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

10 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Kuhli Loach — Pangio kuhlii

Kuhli Loach

Pangio kuhlii

10 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Lambchop Rasbora — Trigonostigma espei

Lambchop Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

3 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 45 l

Least Killifish — Heterandria formosa

Least Killifish

Heterandria formosa

3.5 cm · 15–26 °C · ≥ 20 l

Lemon Tetra — Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

4.5 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Medaka Ricefish — Oryzias latipes

Medaka Ricefish

Oryzias latipes

4 cm · 8–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Molly — Poecilia sphenops

Molly

Poecilia sphenops

10 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 90 l

Moonlight Gourami — Trichopodus microlepis

Moonlight Gourami

Trichopodus microlepis

15 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 150 l

Mystery Snail — Pomacea bridgesii

Mystery Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

5.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 38 l

Neon Tetra — Paracheirodon innesi

Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

3.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 60 l

Nerite Snail — Neritina natalensis

Nerite Snail

Neritina natalensis

2.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 19 l

Odessa Barb — Pethia padamya

Odessa Barb

Pethia padamya

6 cm · 16–25 °C · ≥ 75 l

Panda Corydoras — Corydoras panda

Panda Corydoras

Corydoras panda

5 cm · 20–25 °C · ≥ 60 l

Pearl Danio — Danio albolineatus

Pearl Danio

Danio albolineatus

6 cm · 16–25 °C · ≥ 90 l

Pearl Gourami — Trichopodus leerii

Pearl Gourami

Trichopodus leerii

12 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 110 l

Penguin Tetra — Thayeria boehlkei

Penguin Tetra

Thayeria boehlkei

7.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 80 l

Purple Emperor Tetra — Inpaichthys kerri

Purple Emperor Tetra

Inpaichthys kerri

4 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 70 l

Pygmy Corydoras — Corydoras pygmaeus

Pygmy Corydoras

Corydoras pygmaeus

3 cm · 22–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Rainbow Cichlid — Herotilapia multispinosa

Rainbow Cichlid

Herotilapia multispinosa

12 cm · 22–30 °C · ≥ 110 l

Rosy Barb — Pethia conchonius

Rosy Barb

Pethia conchonius

14 cm · 16–24 °C · ≥ 110 l

Rosy Tetra — Hyphessobrycon rosaceus

Rosy Tetra

Hyphessobrycon rosaceus

4 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 70 l

Sailfin Molly — Poecilia latipinna

Sailfin Molly

Poecilia latipinna

12.5 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 120 l

Salt and Pepper Cory — Corydoras habrosus

Salt and Pepper Cory

Corydoras habrosus

3.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Scissortail Rasbora — Rasbora trilineata

Scissortail Rasbora

Rasbora trilineata

15 cm · 22–25 °C · ≥ 110 l

Silver Tip Tetra — Hasemania nana

Silver Tip Tetra

Hasemania nana

5 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Sterbai Corydoras — Corydoras sterbai

Sterbai Corydoras

Corydoras sterbai

6.5 cm · 23–30 °C · ≥ 75 l

Swordtail — Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii

14 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 90 l

Thick-lipped Gourami — Trichogaster labiosa

Thick-lipped Gourami

Trichogaster labiosa

9 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 70 l

Upside-down Catfish — Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

9.6 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

X-ray Tetra — Pristella maxillaris

X-ray Tetra

Pristella maxillaris

4.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 60 l

Venezuelan Cory

Corydoras venezuelanus

6.5 cm · 21–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Which of these go together?

A list tells you what is possible on its own. Whether three of them share a tank without one eating another — and whether your volume, temperature and hardness actually allow it — is what the planner works out.

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