Which Type of Fish Live Well Together?

Community aquariums become more than just a collection of pet fish, they quickly become the focal point of the room they are in. Several types of fish work well together, but a few factors can lead to the success or demise of your community. Factors include species aggressiveness and preferred water requirements.

  1. Top, Middle, Bottom

    • When choosing the types of fish to put in your community tank, try to coordinate top-, middle- and bottom-dwellers. Many catfish, including the common cory cats, are schooling fish who often stay along the bottom of the tank. Several species of schooling fish tend to be middle-swimmers, such as tetras. Swordtails and platys are beginner-friendly top-swimmers. Having fish in every region of your aquarium adds interest and prevents low-activity areas; it also prevents different species from being forced too closely together.

    Behavior

    • One of the characteristics you should consider when choosing community fish is how aggressive they are. Semi-aggressive and aggressive species can torment other members of the community, stressing them out or, worse, eating them. Some aggressive fish are only aggressive with members of the same species, others may be fin-nippers or have the urge to eat anything smaller than they are. Tiger barbs, for example, tend to do well in groups of six or more. When kept in smaller groups inside a community, they will start chasing the other species and nipping at them. Some quick-swimming species may out-compete slower swimmers when it comes to food, so also consider their general behavior.

    Requirements

    • Aside from behavior, the preferred water quality can be detrimental to your community if you don't choose wisely. Guppies, swordtails and platys both prefer slightly alkaline water with a temperature in the low- to mid-70s Fahrenheit. Tetras, on the other hand, tend to prefer their water pH slightly acidic. Some fish prefer much warmer water temperatures and some are particularly adaptable. Choosing fish from the same geographic region can help you make your decision.

    Small Schooling Fish

    • Small schooling fish are often the highlight of the tank, adding a middle-swimming burst of color and movement. Tetras are widely thought of as beginner fish for the community aquarium, and can be when given the right tank mates. Tetras should be kept in a group of at least five, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Because they're prey for so many other fish, they tend to look out for predators at every turn. In a community tank, keep tetras with other peaceful, small fish such as schooling danios, a small school of top-swimming platys or a small harem of swordtails.

    Bottom Line

    • Many types of fish can and will thrive in a community tank as long as they share preferences and disposition. Another general rule of thumb is to go with the largest tank you can and keep in mind the "1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water" rule.