Fish in a community aquarium – which species to choose?

Setting up your first aquarium? It’s advisable to choose species of non-aggressive fish that you’ll be able to easily take care of. Here’s a list of fish recommended for a beginner aquarist:

Guppy

There are many strains of this species, so it’s very popular among aquarists. It requires an aquarium with a capacity of at least 40 l. The main advantages of this species include its easy reproduction.

Green swordtail

It needs an aquarium with a capacity of 100 l. It’s best to get 1–2 males and keep them together with 5–6 females. This species is agreeable and sociable toward other inhabitants of the tank.

Southern platyfish

In order to be able to keep the southern platyfish, you’ll need to have a tank with a capacity of at least 50 l. Care should be taken not to keep them together with the closely related swordtails, because the offspring resulting from crossbreeding loses the characteristic features of its species.

Black molly

If you have an aquarium of at least 60 l, this species may be right for you. The Black Molly has a beautiful black color. It’s best to keep it in a group in which there’s a slight majority of females.

White cloud mountain minnow

Another species that owners of a 50 l aquarium can afford to have. Minnows are best kept in the company of 6–8 individuals. The aquarium should be brightly lit and rich in plants.

Zebrafish

A school fish. It will get on well with other mild-natured species in a tank of at least 50 l. The group should count at least a dozen or so fish. The aquarium should be tightly covered.

Cherry barb

It feels good in a group of no fewer than 6–8 fish. To be able to keep them, you should have an aquarium of at least 50 l that you should tightly cover. This is quite a timid species so, to make it feel comfortable in the tank, give it some hiding places.

Cardinal tetra

These fish require a tank of at least 50 l. They’re best kept in groups of 8–10 individuals. The aquarium should not be overlit. It should, however, have a good filter.

Three spot gourami

A species that requires a slightly larger aquarium with a minimum capacity of 100 l. These are sociable fish, but it’s recommended to keep one male together with several females in the tank.

Panda corydoras

Feels best in small groups (5 individuals each). Will be suitable for aquariums with a capacity of at least 80 l. It’s worth getting a good filter and aerator, as well as making many nooks and crannies in the tank for them to hide in.

Clown loach

To keep loaches, you must have a tank with a capacity of at least 200 l. This species, kept individually, becomes aggressive toward other fish, so make sure there are at least 5 individuals in the aquarium.

Most of the strains are satisfied with standard aquarium water parameters (temperature of 24–26°C, pH at 7.0–7.5). But keep in mind that some of them differ in terms of minimum requirements regarding, for example, aquarium dimensions or number of fish in the group. To match the strains reasonably, always check if they get on well in aquariums.