AquaSage
Species lists

Bottom dwellers

The lower third of a tank is a floor plan, not a leftover. Stocking it well is about footprint and substrate rather than volume: a corydoras group needs sand and length far more than it needs litres, and a bare gravel floor wears their barbels away.

Why these

Species whose main swimming zone is the bottom.

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107 species

Bronze Corydoras — Corydoras aeneus

Bronze Corydoras

Corydoras aeneus

7 cm · 22–28 °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

Amano Shrimp — Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Assassin Snail — Anentome helena

Assassin Snail

Anentome helena

2.5 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 38 l

Blue Acara — Andinoacara pulcher

Blue Acara

Andinoacara pulcher

16 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 150 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

Cherry Shrimp — Neocaridina davidi

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

3.5 cm · 15–30 °C · ≥ 19 l

Chinese Algae Eater — Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

Chinese Algae Eater

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

28 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 300 l

Cuckoo Catfish — Synodontis multipunctatus

Cuckoo Catfish

Synodontis multipunctatus

15 cm · 22–27 °C · ≥ 200 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 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

Emerald Cory — Corydoras splendens

Emerald Cory

Corydoras splendens

9 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 120 l

Firemouth Cichlid — Thorichthys meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Thorichthys meeki

17 cm · 22–30 °C · ≥ 150 l

Ghost Shrimp — Palaemonetes paludosus

Ghost Shrimp

Palaemonetes paludosus

5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Golden Dwarf Cichlid — Nannacara anomala

Golden Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

8 cm · 22–27 °C · ≥ 80 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

Maingano Cichlid — Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos

Maingano Cichlid

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos

10 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 180 l

Panda Corydoras — Corydoras panda

Panda Corydoras

Corydoras panda

5 cm · 20–25 °C · ≥ 60 l

Port Cichlid — Cichlasoma portalegrense

Port Cichlid

Cichlasoma portalegrense

13 cm · 16–26 °C · ≥ 150 l

Rainbow Cichlid — Herotilapia multispinosa

Rainbow Cichlid

Herotilapia multispinosa

12 cm · 22–30 °C · ≥ 110 l

Salt and Pepper Cory — Corydoras habrosus

Salt and Pepper Cory

Corydoras habrosus

3.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Spotted Hoplo — Megalechis thoracata

Spotted Hoplo

Megalechis thoracata

15.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 200 l

Sterbai Corydoras — Corydoras sterbai

Sterbai Corydoras

Corydoras sterbai

6.5 cm · 23–30 °C · ≥ 75 l

Upside-down Catfish — Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

9.6 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

African Butterfly Cichlid — Anomalochromis thomasi

African Butterfly Cichlid

Anomalochromis thomasi

8 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 90 l

Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid — Apistogramma agassizii

Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma agassizii

8 cm · 23–29 °C · ≥ 90 l

Bamboo Shrimp — Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

8 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 75 l

Banjo Catfish — Bunocephalus coracoideus

Banjo Catfish

Bunocephalus coracoideus

12 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 70 l

Blue Tiger Shrimp — Caridina cantonensis

Blue Tiger Shrimp

Caridina cantonensis

3 cm · 18–25 °C · ≥ 38 l

Bolivian Ram — Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

Bolivian Ram

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

8 cm · 22–27 °C · ≥ 110 l

Brevis Shell Dweller — Neolamprologus brevis

Brevis Shell Dweller

Neolamprologus brevis

6 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 40 l

Buffalohead Cichlid — Steatocranus casuarius

Buffalohead Cichlid

Steatocranus casuarius

12 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

Calvus Cichlid — Altolamprologus calvus

Calvus Cichlid

Altolamprologus calvus

13 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 200 l

Clown Pleco — Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

9 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid — Apistogramma cacatuoides

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma cacatuoides

8 cm · 24–29 °C · ≥ 90 l

Compressiceps Cichlid — Altolamprologus compressiceps

Compressiceps Cichlid

Altolamprologus compressiceps

13 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 200 l

Congo Dwarf Cichlid — Nanochromis parilus

Congo Dwarf Cichlid

Nanochromis parilus

8 cm · 22–26 °C · ≥ 90 l

Cylindricus Cichlid — Neolamprologus cylindricus

Cylindricus Cichlid

Neolamprologus cylindricus

11 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

Demon Eartheater — Satanoperca jurupari

Demon Eartheater

Satanoperca jurupari

20 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 450 l

Dwarf Chain Loach — Ambastaia sidthimunki

Dwarf Chain Loach

Ambastaia sidthimunki

5.5 cm · 22–30 °C · ≥ 90 l

Dwarf Flag Cichlid — Laetacara curviceps

Dwarf Flag Cichlid

Laetacara curviceps

8 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 90 l

Ellioti Cichlid — Thorichthys ellioti

Ellioti Cichlid

Thorichthys ellioti

15 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 200 l

Featherfin Squeaker — Synodontis eupterus

Featherfin Squeaker

Synodontis eupterus

20 cm · 22–27 °C · ≥ 200 l

Five-bar Cichlid — Neolamprologus tretocephalus

Five-bar Cichlid

Neolamprologus tretocephalus

15 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 200 l

Golden Julie — Julidochromis ornatus

Golden Julie

Julidochromis ornatus

8 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 90 l

Lemon Cichlid — Neolamprologus leleupi

Lemon Cichlid

Neolamprologus leleupi

10 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 110 l

Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid — Apistogramma macmasteri

Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma macmasteri

7 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Marlieri Cichlid — Julidochromis marlieri

Marlieri Cichlid

Julidochromis marlieri

13 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 110 l

Masked Julie — Julidochromis transcriptus

Masked Julie

Julidochromis transcriptus

7 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 75 l

Multifasciatus Shell Dweller — Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Multifasciatus Shell Dweller

Neolamprologus multifasciatus

4.5 cm · 24–27 °C · ≥ 45 l

Ocellatus Shell Dweller — Neolamprologus ocellatus

Ocellatus Shell Dweller

Neolamprologus ocellatus

6 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 40 l

Ornate Bichir — Polypterus ornatipinnis

Ornate Bichir

Polypterus ornatipinnis

60 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 650 l

Paraguay Eartheater — Gymnogeophagus balzanii

Paraguay Eartheater

Gymnogeophagus balzanii

20 cm · 15–27 °C · ≥ 250 l

Pictus Catfish — Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

13 cm · 22–26 °C · ≥ 240 l

Polka Dot Loach — Botia kubotai

Polka Dot Loach

Botia kubotai

15 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 200 l

Rabbit Snail — Tylomelania gemmifera

Rabbit Snail

Tylomelania gemmifera

8 cm · 22–30 °C · ≥ 75 l

Rainbow Shark — Epalzeorhynchos frenatum

Rainbow Shark

Epalzeorhynchos frenatum

15 cm · 20–27 °C · ≥ 200 l

Red-Tail Shark — Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Red-Tail Shark

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

13 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 200 l

Regan's Julie — Julidochromis regani

Regan's Julie

Julidochromis regani

15 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 180 l

Reticulated Flying Fox — Crossocheilus reticulatus

Reticulated Flying Fox

Crossocheilus reticulatus

17 cm · 16–24 °C · ≥ 365 l

Rostratus — Fossorochromis rostratus

Rostratus

Fossorochromis rostratus

28 cm · 23–29 °C · ≥ 450 l

Royal Pleco — Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

43 cm · 22–30 °C · ≥ 500 l

Sailfin Pleco — Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

Sailfin Pleco

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

50 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 680 l

Scarlet Badis — Dario dario

Scarlet Badis

Dario dario

2.5 cm · 18–26 °C · ≥ 30 l

Similis Shell Dweller — Neolamprologus similis

Similis Shell Dweller

Neolamprologus similis

5 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 45 l

Star Sapphire — Placidochromis phenochilus

Star Sapphire

Placidochromis phenochilus

25 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 450 l

Striped Kribensis — Pelvicachromis taeniatus

Striped Kribensis

Pelvicachromis taeniatus

8.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Striped Raphael Catfish — Platydoras armatulus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras armatulus

24 cm · 23–30 °C · ≥ 200 l

Sveni Eartheater — Geophagus sveni

Sveni Eartheater

Geophagus sveni

20 cm · 23–30 °C · ≥ 300 l

Thai Micro Crab — Limnopilos naiyanetri

Thai Micro Crab

Limnopilos naiyanetri

2.5 cm · 21–28 °C · ≥ 20 l

Threadfin Acara — Acarichthys heckelii

Threadfin Acara

Acarichthys heckelii

20 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 300 l

Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid — Apistogramma borellii

Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

6.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Yoyo Loach — Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

15 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 200 l

Borneo Sucker — Gastromyzon ctenocephalus

Borneo Sucker

Gastromyzon ctenocephalus

4.5 cm · 20–24 °C · ≥ 60 l

Brichard's Teleogramma — Teleogramma brichardi

Brichard's Teleogramma

Teleogramma brichardi

11 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

Bumblebee Goby — Brachygobius doriae

Bumblebee Goby

Brachygobius doriae

4 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 40 l

Butterfly Hillstream Loach — Beaufortia leveretti

Butterfly Hillstream Loach

Beaufortia leveretti

12 cm · 18–24 °C · ≥ 120 l

Checkerboard Cichlid — Dicrossus filamentosus

Checkerboard Cichlid

Dicrossus filamentosus

9 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 75 l

Clown Loach — Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

30 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 530 l

Crystal Red Shrimp — Caridina cantonensis

Crystal Red Shrimp

Caridina cantonensis

3 cm · 18–26 °C · ≥ 38 l

Elephantnose Fish — Gnathonemus petersii

Elephantnose Fish

Gnathonemus petersii

25 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 250 l

Endlicheri Bichir — Polypterus endlicherii

Endlicheri Bichir

Polypterus endlicherii

75 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 1,000 l

Freshwater Clam — Corbicula fluminea

Freshwater Clam

Corbicula fluminea

4 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Frontosa — Cyphotilapia frontosa

Frontosa

Cyphotilapia frontosa

33 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 450 l

Goby Cichlid — Eretmodus cyanostictus

Goby Cichlid

Eretmodus cyanostictus

8.5 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 110 l

Pike Cichlid — Crenicichla lugubris

Pike Cichlid

Crenicichla lugubris

40 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 1,000 l

Reticulated Hillstream Loach — Sewellia lineolata

Reticulated Hillstream Loach

Sewellia lineolata

6 cm · 20–25 °C · ≥ 75 l

Sand-sifting Xenotilapia — Xenotilapia spilopterus

Sand-sifting Xenotilapia

Xenotilapia spilopterus

10 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 250 l

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp — Caridina dennerli

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp

Caridina dennerli

2.5 cm · 25–30 °C · ≥ 20 l

Threadfin Petrochromis — Petrochromis trewavasae

Threadfin Petrochromis

Petrochromis trewavasae

18 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 450 l

Vampire Shrimp — Atya gabonensis

Vampire Shrimp

Atya gabonensis

15 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 75 l

Zebra Pleco — Hypancistrus zebra

Zebra Pleco

Hypancistrus zebra

8 cm · 26–30 °C · ≥ 90 l

Venezuelan Cory

Corydoras venezuelanus

6.5 cm · 21–28 °C · ≥ 75 l

Agassiz's Cory

Corydoras agassizii

6 cm · 21–27 °C · ≥ 70 l

Common Pleco

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

55 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 680 l

Little Corydoras

Corydoras nanus

5 cm · 22–26 °C · ≥ 60 l

Red Whiptail Catfish

Rineloricaria sp. 'Red'

12 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 80 l

Rubber Lip Pleco

Chaetostoma formosae

10.5 cm · 18–26 °C · ≥ 110 l

Skunk Cory

Corydoras arcuatus

5.5 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 70 l

Adonis Pleco

Acanthicus adonis

100 cm · 23–30 °C · ≥ 2,000 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.

Open the planner