Doctor Fish
Garra rufa
Cyprinidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: verified
About
A subtropical grazer from fast-flowing streams of Turkey and the Middle East, world-famous as the doctor fish of spa pedicures. It clings to smooth rocks with its sucker-like lower mouth and rasps biofilm for hours on end, darting between stones in the current. Sold small, it grows to 12-14 cm and is far more active than its spa reputation suggests, living in busy, squabbling groups with a clear pecking order.
Care
Needs a mature, river-style tank with strong flow, oxygen-saturated water on the cool side (16-22 C optimal), smooth stones for grazing, a group of 5 or more, and a tight-fitting lid - it can climb glass.
Diet
Omnivorous biofilm grazer; feed sinking Spirulina-rich foods, frozen bloodworm, Artemia and Tubifex, with occasional blanched vegetables. Only for mature tanks with established biofilm.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (46)
Amano ShrimpAssassin SnailBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBloodfin TetraBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBorneo SuckerButterfly Hillstream LoachCherry ShrimpCochu's Blue TetraDenison BarbDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Orange CrayfishFlame TetraFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidJapanese Trapdoor SnailJulii CoryLeast KillifishLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasMedaka RicefishMystery SnailOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasPearl DanioPeppered CorydorasPictus CatfishPygmy CorydorasReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRosy Red MinnowRubber Lip PlecoSalt and Pepper CoryScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterUmbrella Dwarf CichlidWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowZebra Danio
Possible with care (192)
Acei CichlidAfrican Butterfly CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Moor GoldfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbCherry BarbChili RasboraChinese Algae EaterChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishClown PlecoCobalt Blue ZebraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDiamond TetraDiscusDogtooth CichlidDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEmerald CoryEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidForktail RainbowfishGerman Blue RamGlowlight TetraGolden JulieGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraGreen TerrorGuppyHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHeckel DiscusHoney GouramiHongi CichlidJack DempseyJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKeyhole CichlidKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLemon CichlidLemon TetraLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidPurple Emperor TetraRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed Zebra CichlidRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieRosy TetraRummynose TetraRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidScarlet BadisSerpae TetraSeverumShubunkin GoldfishSilver Tip TetraSimilis Shell DwellerSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Upside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo LoachZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (33)
Adonis PlecoBala SharkClown LoachCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiMalawi HawkMasked JulieMollyOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRoyal PlecoSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyTropheusWolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Colour and patternA hint only · from about 6 months, and only on a settled fish
In rainbowfish, killifish and several barbs the male carries the colour — deeper and more saturated, intensifying further when he displays.
- Extended finsA hint only · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Doctor Fish need?
- A Doctor Fish needs an aquarium of at least 240 litres (63.4 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Doctor Fish need?
- Doctor Fish does best at 15–28 °C (59–82.4 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
- What group size does a Doctor Fish need?
- Doctor Fish is a social species — keep a group of at least 5 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Doctor Fish suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Doctor Fish is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature15–28°C
Optimal temp.18–24°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)2–15°d
Carbonate (KH)2–10°d
Adult size14 cm
Min. volume≥ 240 L
Min. tank length≥ 120 cm
Group size≥ 5
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowStrong
Lifespan~8 yrs
Try in the calculator