If you’re starting to stock your freshwater aquarium, one of the most common questions is: What fish live well together? The truth is that some fish species prefer to be kept singly or loved when they are put in the same-species groups.

Also, many tropical fish can tolerate and even benefit from having tank mates.

In this article, I’ll outline some good options to consider if you want a community aquarium with various fish.

Now, let’s get started

What Types Of Fish Can Live Together In A Tank

First, it is important to understand that not all fish are compatible. Certain species are territorial, nip at fins, or have different water parameter needs that make cohabitation stressful.

However, with some research into the temperament, habitat preferences, and environmental requirements of some fish cohabiting, you can keep multiple types of fish in one aquarium without conflicts.

A wonderful starting community consists of tranquil bottom dwellers and schooling midlevel swimmers. For example, Corydoras catfish and neon tetras seldom interact since they live in separate tanks.

Cories sift through pebbles and algae on the substrate, but tetras travel in groups in open regions halfway up the water column.

Both species value being in larger groups of their type.

Zebra Danios and Kuhli Loaches are also a good match. Zebras swim vigorously near the surface, but kuhlis are nocturnal bottom dwellers.

The loaches may occasionally dart up, but they spend most of their time burrowed in sand, providing plenty of space for the danios above them.

These fish enjoy being in groups of six or more.

Different Communities Fish

Many kinds of tropical fish that live in freshwater can get along well in the same tank.

However, it would be best to be careful when adding fish to your tank because they might fight and kill each other. Big fish will eat small ones, and the tiniest fish will hide instead of exploring.

Gathering different kinds of fish from different species is a great way to make your freshwater tank more attractive.

One thing you should do is make sure that those pairs can live together without any problems. It can be challenging for tank owners to find fish that get along with each other.

While we can almost certainly say for sure that some mixtures of fish will or will not work in most cases, many others could go either way based on the situation. There are, however, some fish types that can live together, so keep reading.

Communities With Centerpiece Fish

For a community with a centerpiece fish, consider gouramis or dwarf gourami as the solo inhabitant paired with schools of peaceful tankmates.

Sparkling gouramis, for instance, do well with ember tetras, harlequin rasboras, or pygmy cories.

Just be aware that some gourami species can be territorial or nippy, so research the temperament of your specific type. Generally, go with a trio of smaller gouramis rather than a larger one.

Livebearers in the Community

Since they’re not aggressive predators, platies, mollies, and swordtails also function well as community fish.

Livebearers do best in groups of five or more and can be kept with peaceful schooling or shoaling fish of similar size, such as neon tetras, white cloud mountain minnows, or pygmy cories.

Be aware that livebearers may interbreed if you include more than one species.

Peaceful Bottom Dwellers

For a community with bottom dwellers, consider peaceful catfish and loaches.

Corydoras, kuhli loaches, otocinclus, and panda garra are great algae-eating options that leave swimmers above them undisturbed. Just include smooth gravel or sand substrate since many catfish and loaches can get stressed or injured on rough surfaces.

Mixed-Species Schools

In this last group, this fish community prefers being in mixed-species groups rather than singly.

Ember tetras, harlequin rasboras, and celestial pearl danios, for instance, feel less stressed when schooling with their kind and other peaceful nanofish.

This allows for larger total numbers spread across multiple species.

Have you thought outside the box? You can also put living things that aren’t fish in your betta’s tank, like mystery snails and live water plants.

Generally, male and female livebearers should not be kept together in the same tank. Instead, choose fish breeds that get along well with each other.

It is very easy for these fish to have babies, and if they can mate repeatedly, the tank can quickly become crowded with only one kind of fish.

What kind Of Fish Can Live Together In An Aquarium

1. African Cichlids: Although these lively fish can be aggressive and territorial, they thrive in large groups. Keep a watchful eye on them and take out any fish that start acting too hostile.

Keep them in an aquarium at least 1.5 meters (4 feet) long. Look for cichlids that have comparable diets, as they differ substantially.

2. South and Central American Cichlids: Select comparable fish in size, nutrition, and disposition, as these species differ widely.

Bigger types shouldn’t be crowded since they might be somewhat aggressive. Select a tank size that is appropriate for the adult fish. Always watch the fish and remove them if they start acting aggressively.

3. Community Fish: These lively fish get along well with other peaceful species and fish of a comparable size. For schooling species, groups of five or more are ideal. These consist of cory cats, danios, and rasboras, among others.

4. Tetras: These peaceful little fish would be excellent betta companions. They come in various hues, from lemon and neon to glow lights.

To keep stress levels down, add a school of six or more torpedo-shaped (less diamond-shaped) tetras to your betta’s tank; if not, they could grow into tiny nippers.

5. Rasboras: Related to goldfish, barbs, and danios, peaceful rasboras are also bright fish. They love swimming in groups of seven or more and tend to stay tiny, measuring little more than two to four inches in length. Rasboras can

How many fish should live together?

The 1 inch of fish to a gallon of water rule still applies. This rule has been around for a while and is meant to assist fish keepers in determining the maximum number of fish an aquarium can hold.

Although this well-known rule is commonly used, it is a reasonably imprecise measurement technique that has been significantly reduced for ease of use.

Various variables, including the tank’s size, filtration, aeration capabilities, water quality, and fish species compatibility, determine how many and what kinds of fish may be housed in one.

As a general guideline, you should offer at least one gallon of water for every inch of mature fish in the tank.

Overstocking the tank can result in lousy water quality, stress, illness, and aggressive behavior in the fish.

So, the tank size and mature fish species will also help determine the number of fish in it and what kind of fish may be kept in it.

Certain species could exhibit greater aggression or territoriality than others, and others might have particular nutritional needs or temperature preferences.

One of its main issues is that this approach only considers two factors—the fish’s length and the amount of water in the tank—when there are many more that need to be taken into account.

There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule for how many fish you may maintain in your tank, but you can figure it out by utilizing this approach as an approximate estimate and considering the other factors involved.

Nevertheless, for the time being, use the following figures as a guide and the variables listed in the next section to make any necessary adjustments.

• In a 20-litre tank, how many fish is it possible to keep? Five Inches
• In a thirty-litre tank, how many fish can you keep? Seven Inches
• In a 60-litre tank, how many fish is it possible to keep? fifteen inches
• In a 100-litre tank, how many fish is it possible to keep? 25-in.

What kinds of tropical fish may live together

Guppies, tetras, danios, rasboras, certain barbs, rainbowfish, bristle nose catfish, and corydoras catfish are common community fish species.

1. Unintentional fish eaters

Certain fish should only be kept in communal tanks when they are young. While peaceful, their growth is disproportionate to that of other species in the tank.

While they are not direct predators, huge individuals have the potential to devour smaller species, such as Neon tetras, if given the opportunity.

As an illustration, consider silver sharks and angelfish, which are highly sought-after in stores but are ultimately best suited for community tanks with medium- and large-sized fish.

2. Nippers with fins

By far, the most well-known fin nippers are tiger barbs. All eyes are on them, yet they will clip the fins of other well-liked long-finned fish, such as male Siamese fighters, angelfish, and guppies. Fin nippers can also be seen in other inconspicuous fish.

Steer clear of Skunk Botia, Blue Tetras, and Serpae Tetras. Many fish have the potential to develop into renegade fin nippers, albeit this might be caused by simple hunger, overpopulation, inadequate tank size, or a lack of peers.

There are even specialized fin-eating fish in the wild that have adapted to consume other fish’s fins when there is a food shortage.

However, many wild fish may combat this by developing detachable tail fins and even patterns with “eye spots” on them, making the tail seem to be the head.

Since fins can regenerate, it is preferable for a predator to bite one and live to swim another day rather than bite flesh and suffer a deadly wound. The world of fins is intriguing. 

3. Swordtail

These colorful fish, which come in a range of hues, are excellent for community tropical aquariums. Remember that swordtails prefer to live in groups of four to five individuals per tank.

The long “sword” that protrudes from the caudal fin’s bottom is exclusive to males alone. Remember that these fish breed swiftly since they are livebearers.

4. Fish from a territory

Certain fish species carry territoriality from their native environments. Due to their inherent scarcity, fish still determine where their next food will come from.

Being more aggressive than those around you and driving them away from your location is one strategy to fight against that and ensure that you’ll be the first to devour any food that does come up.

Predatory fish also experience this; they dislike coexisting since the fish next to them will devour their prey. Drive them out, and the issue ought to disappear.

5. Tetra Congo

A gorgeous fish with a bright, rainbow-like appearance, the Congo tetra is one of numerous tranquil schooling tetras. Its elaborate, lengthy fins are a beautiful feature in community aquariums.

What are some friendly and non-harmful fish to keep together in an aquarium?

When keeping fish together in an aquarium, choosing species that get along in temperament, size, and water requirements is important. Some examples of calm, non-aggressive fish that can live together in an aquarium are as follows:

1. Neon Tetras: These placid little fish stand out for their vibrant colors and energetic disposition. They are frequently maintained in groups of six or more and get along well with other calm fish species.

Guppies are common and lovely freshwater fish. They are easy to care for and multiply. Guppies can live with peaceful, active fish because they get along well with people.

Small, serene, bottom-dwelling Corydoras catfish are known for their friendly disposition and cute looks. They may keep the aquarium tidy by eating leftovers and getting along with other peaceful fish species.

Dwarf goramis are little and serene, with bright colors and flowing fins. They get along with other calm fish species and are ideal for small aquariums.

2. Cherry Shrimp: Small and placid. Cherry shrimp get along well with placid, small-mouthed fish. They also contribute to the tank’s cleanliness by eating algae and leftover food.

These are just a few examples of fish that get along well in an aquarium and aren’t hostile. It is essential to extensively study each species to ensure they coexist peacefully in the aquarium.

What fish can be kept alone?

If you only want one fish, a betta is ideal. Most other fish will do better in some kind of arrangement.

At least four dwarf gouramis should be kept. However, you may get away with two in a 20-gallon container.

As goldfish don’t go to school, they don’t truly experience loneliness in the traditional sense.

Sometimes, a few goldfish share a home for a brief while, however, only in the presence of a nearby food supply.

If a goldfish notices other goldfish congregating, it may imagine there is a good area of algae to graze on.

Until it’s time to reproduce, goldfish live alone. Then, it’s common to witness many fish congregating to fight for mates and spawning spots. The goldfish will then leave and return to live alone.

Nevertheless, keeping two or more goldfish together has advantages. A setting that doesn’t alter much is more stimulating when more fish are in the tank.

Animal enrichment is vital for all of them. Therefore, I advise maintaining two or more goldfish in a group.

 Although they benefit from having other tank mates, goldfish don’t experience loneliness as social fish or mammals do! By the way, these tank mates don’t need to be other goldfish—any little fish will do!

Final thought

Now that we have established What fish species can live together, It is feasible to have several kinds of fish in the same tank, but you must make sure they get along well and have similar needs in terms of tank size, pH levels, and water temperature.

When stocking a community aquarium, focus on species with similar water parameters and temperaments, such as research habits, size, and potential compatibility issues.

Then, choose combinations that occupy different tank areas and don’t compete for the same resources. With some care in selection, your fish community can thrive harmoniously together for many years.

Community aquariums can be among the most rewarding freshwater setups with the right preparation and stocking choices.