Freshwater Fish Care Sheets — All 41 Species
Quick-reference care sheets for all 41 freshwater species in our database. Compare tank size, water parameters, temperament, and care level at a glance. Click any species for a full care guide.
| Species | Group | Min tank | Adult size | Temp (°F) | pH | Hardness (dGH) | Temperament | Diet | Care | Life (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi |
Tetra | 10 gal | 1.5" | 72-78 | 6-7 | 1-10 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi |
Tetra | 20 gal | 2" | 73-81 | 5.5-7 | 1-8 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~5 |
| Ember Tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae |
Tetra | 10 gal | 0.8" | 73-84 | 5.5-7 | 1-10 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~3 |
| Guppy Poecilia reticulata |
Livebearer | 10 gal | 2" | 72-82 | 7-8 | 8-20 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~2 |
| Endler's Livebearer Poecilia wingei |
Livebearer | 10 gal | 1.3" | 72-82 | 7-8.5 | 10-25 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~2 |
| Platy Xiphophorus maculatus |
Livebearer | 10 gal | 2.5" | 70-82 | 7-8.2 | 10-25 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~3 |
| Molly Poecilia sphenops |
Livebearer | 20 gal | 4" | 72-82 | 7.5-8.5 | 15-30 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~4 |
| Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii |
Livebearer | 20 gal | 5.5" | 72-82 | 7-8.4 | 12-30 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~4 |
| Betta (male) Betta splendens |
Anabantoid | 5 gal | 2.5" | 76-82 | 6.5-7.5 | 3-15 | Aggressive | Carnivore | Easy | ~3 |
| Dwarf Gourami Trichogaster lalius |
Anabantoid | 10 gal | 3.5" | 72-82 | 6-7.5 | 4-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~4 |
| Pearl Gourami Trichopodus leerii |
Anabantoid | 30 gal | 4.5" | 77-82 | 6-7.5 | 5-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Honey Gourami Trichogaster chuna |
Anabantoid | 10 gal | 2" | 72-82 | 6-7.5 | 4-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~4 |
| Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare |
Cichlid | 29 gal | 6" | 76-84 | 6-7.5 | 3-15 | Semi | Omnivore | Moderate | ~10 |
| Discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus |
Cichlid | 55 gal | 8" | 82-88 | 5.5-7 | 1-8 | Peaceful | Carnivore | Hard | ~10 |
| German Blue Ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi |
Cichlid | 20 gal | 2.5" | 78-85 | 5.5-7 | 1-10 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Hard | ~3 |
| Bolivian Ram Mikrogeophagus altispinosus |
Cichlid | 20 gal | 3" | 72-79 | 6-7.5 | 5-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~4 |
| Apistogramma Apistogramma cacatuoides |
Cichlid | 20 gal | 3" | 75-83 | 5.5-7 | 2-12 | Semi | Carnivore | Moderate | ~4 |
| Kribensis Pelvicachromis pulcher |
Cichlid | 20 gal | 4" | 75-82 | 6-7.5 | 5-18 | Semi | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus |
Catfish | 20 gal | 2.5" | 72-79 | 6-7.5 | 2-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~7 |
| Panda Corydoras Corydoras panda |
Catfish | 20 gal | 2" | 68-77 | 6-7.2 | 2-12 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~10 |
| Pygmy Corydoras Corydoras pygmaeus |
Catfish | 10 gal | 1" | 72-79 | 6.2-7.4 | 2-12 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~3 |
| Bristlenose Pleco Ancistrus cirrhosus |
Catfish | 29 gal | 5" | 73-81 | 6.5-7.5 | 5-20 | Peaceful | Herbivore | Easy | ~10 |
| Otocinclus Otocinclus vittatus |
Catfish | 10 gal | 1.5" | 72-79 | 6-7.5 | 2-15 | Peaceful | Herbivore | Moderate | ~4 |
| Zebra Danio Danio rerio |
Danio | 10 gal | 2" | 64-77 | 6.5-7.5 | 5-18 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~4 |
| Celestial Pearl Danio Danio margaritatus |
Danio | 10 gal | 1" | 72-79 | 6.5-7.5 | 5-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~3 |
| Harlequin Rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha |
Rasbora | 10 gal | 1.8" | 73-82 | 6-7.5 | 2-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae |
Rasbora | 5 gal | 0.7" | 75-82 | 5-7 | 1-8 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~3 |
| Cherry Barb Puntius titteya |
Barb | 20 gal | 2" | 73-81 | 6-7.5 | 5-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Tiger Barb Puntigrus tetrazona |
Barb | 20 gal | 3" | 74-82 | 6-7.5 | 5-18 | Semi | Omnivore | Easy | ~6 |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow Tanichthys albonubes |
Minnow | 10 gal | 1.5" | 60-72 | 6-8 | 5-20 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Kuhli Loach Pangio kuhlii |
Loach | 20 gal | 4" | 75-86 | 5.5-7 | 1-10 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~10 |
| Common Goldfish Carassius auratus |
Coldwater | 40 gal | 10" | 60-74 | 7-8.4 | 8-25 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~15 |
| Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi |
Invert | 5 gal | 1" | 65-78 | 6.5-8 | 6-20 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~1.5 |
| Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata |
Invert | 10 gal | 2" | 65-80 | 6.5-7.5 | 6-20 | Peaceful | Herbivore | Easy | ~3 |
| Nerite Snail Neritina natalensis |
Invert | 5 gal | 1" | 65-82 | 7-8.5 | 6-20 | Peaceful | Herbivore | Easy | ~2 |
| Mystery Snail Pomacea bridgesii |
Invert | 5 gal | 2" | 68-82 | 7-8.5 | 8-25 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~2 |
| Sterbai Corydoras Corydoras sterbai |
Catfish | 20 gal | 2.5" | 73-82 | 6-7.6 | 2-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~10 |
| Rosy Barb Pethia conchonius |
Barb | 29 gal | 4" | 64-75 | 6-8 | 5-19 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus |
Tetra | 10 gal | 1.5" | 74-82 | 5.5-7.5 | 2-15 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~4 |
| Gold Barb Barbodes semifasciolatus |
Barb | 20 gal | 3" | 64-75 | 6-8 | 5-19 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Easy | ~5 |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Melanotaenia praecox |
Rainbowfish | 20 gal | 3" | 73-82 | 6.5-7.5 | 8-12 | Peaceful | Omnivore | Moderate | ~4 |
How to read this table
- Min tank: Minimum aquarium volume in gallons. Schooling fish may need more space for proper group sizes.
- Adult size: Expected adult length in inches. Always plan for adult size, not juvenile size.
- Temp: Temperature range in Fahrenheit. All tankmates must share overlapping temperature ranges.
- pH: Preferred pH range. Match pH across all species in your tank.
- Hardness: General hardness (dGH). Important for species that need soft or hard water.
- Temperament: Peaceful, semi-aggressive, or aggressive. Match temperament to avoid bullying.
- Care: Easy, moderate, or hard. Beginners should start with easy-care species.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fish care sheet?
A fish care sheet is a quick-reference guide with essential information about a species: minimum tank size, adult size, water parameters (temperature, pH, hardness), temperament, diet, and care level. Use care sheets to compare species at a glance.
How do I use these care sheets?
Browse the table below to compare all 41 species. Click any species name for a full care guide with feeding tips, breeding info, compatible tankmates, and FAQs. Use the stocking calculator to plan your tank.