Skip to content
Care guide

Species guide

The species guide is the reviewable data layer behind the tools. It starts small so care ranges, compatibility notes, and confidence labels can be improved responsibly.

Common starting points include Nerite snail, Mystery snail, and peaceful schooling fish in tanks that meet their group needs.

Use the matching calculator to check the exact tank, species, and setup before buying.

Use the toolReport a correction

Guide status

Confidence status: medium confidence

Conservative care guide

Last reviewed: 2026-06-30

Source notes: This guide uses conservative local care data and should be checked against the full setup before buying fish.

Beginner answer

The species guide is the reviewable data layer behind the tools. It starts small so care ranges, compatibility notes, and confidence labels can be improved responsibly. Start with the concrete limits: tank volume, adult size, temperament, group size, water range, and filtration margin.

Top beginner-safe data checks

  • Same temperature range - Tropical fish usually need 72-82 F; mixing coldwater and tropical fish causes chronic stress.
  • Similar aggression level - Peaceful fish belong with peaceful fish; avoid fin-nippers with bettas, guppies, or angelfish.
  • Matching pH range - Most community fish tolerate pH 6.5-7.5, but sensitive species still need stable water.
  • Appropriate tank size - Use the larger species minimum, not the smaller fish minimum.
  • Schooling group size - Neon tetras, rasboras, and Corydoras show stress when kept alone.

Setup rule: Each species record includes tank size, adult size, water range, group needs, temperament, bioload, warnings, source notes, and review status.

Setup rule: The MVP avoids creating thin pages for low-confidence species combinations.

How to use this guide

Use the table to inspect care data before opening a calculator result.

Compare tank size, group size, temperament, bioload, and warnings across species instead of choosing by name alone.

Treat low-confidence or unreviewed records as planning notes until stronger sources are added.

Current Species Data

The MVP starts with fewer species so care data, source notes, and confidence labels can be improved responsibly. This table shows what the tools currently know.

Use View full guide to open care notes, compatibility warnings, and tank mate guidance for each species.

Species records

59

Care data currently available to the calculators.

Reviewed records

0

Records with human review and no active review flag.

Beginner-friendly

14

Species marked high for beginner friendliness.

Low confidence

0

Records that should be treated as planning notes.

Betta

Betta splendens

medium
Tank
5+ gal / 19+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

territorial

View full guide

Neon tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
6+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful schooling

View full guide

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
3+
Beginner
high
Status
conservative

active peaceful

View full guide

Ember tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
8+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful schooling

View full guide

Platy

Xiphophorus maculatus

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
3+
Beginner
high
Status
conservative

active peaceful

View full guide

Molly

Poecilia spp.

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
3+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

active peaceful

View full guide

Goldfish

Carassius auratus

high
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful messy coldwater

View full guide

Tiger barb

Puntigrus tetrazona

high
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
8+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

active semi-aggressive schooling

View full guide

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

medium
Tank
29+ gal / 110+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

semi-aggressive cichlid

View full guide

Kuhli loach

Pangio kuhlii

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
6+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful shy bottom dweller

View full guide

Dwarf gourami

Trichogaster lalius

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

semi-peaceful territorial labyrinth fish

View full guide

Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
3+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

active livebearer

View full guide

Otocinclus

Otocinclus spp.

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
6+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful algae grazer

View full guide

Pea puffer

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

high
Tank
5+ gal / 19+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
low
Status
conservative

territorial predatory

View full guide

Serpae tetra

Hyphessobrycon eques

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
8+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

semi-aggressive schooling

View full guide

Rosy barb

Pethia conchonius

medium
Tank
29+ gal / 110+ L
Group
6+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

active semi-aggressive schooling

View full guide

Panda cory

Corydoras panda

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
6+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful bottom dweller

View full guide

Pygmy cory

Corydoras pygmaeus

medium
Tank
10+ gal / 38+ L
Group
8+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

peaceful schooling bottom dweller

View full guide

Yoyo loach

Botia almorhae

medium
Tank
55+ gal / 208+ L
Group
5+
Beginner
low
Status
conservative

active semi-aggressive bottom dweller

View full guide

Bolivian ram

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

semi-peaceful cichlid

View full guide

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

medium
Tank
20+ gal / 76+ L
Group
1+
Beginner
medium
Status
conservative

territorial cichlid

View full guide

Warnings

These are the failure points that hurt beginner tanks most often. Do not use guide content as a guarantee. Watch actual fish behavior, test water, respect adult size, and keep a backup plan if stress appears.

  • Tiger barbs - Confirmed fin-nippers; do not keep them with bettas, angelfish, guppies, or other long-finned fish.
  • Goldfish - Coldwater, high-waste fish that do not belong with warm tropical community species.
  • Angelfish - Adults become territorial and may eat very small fish such as neon tetras in cramped tanks.
  • Pea puffers - Aggressive hunters that bite fins and attack snails; treat them as species-only unless experienced.
  • Temperature mismatch - White cloud mountain minnows and goldfish prefer cooler water than bettas and many tropical fish.

Editorial notes

How this page is maintained: The species guide is the data layer behind the calculators. Records can be expanded as source notes, confidence, and review quality improve.

This page uses conservative local care data, explicit compatibility records, and established aquarium care references rather than store-label shorthand.

Combinations are reviewed before they are promoted as indexed guides, and uncertain pairs stay cautious or marked as needing more research.

The recommendations are intentionally conservative because most readers are planning beginner tanks, where water quality and backup options are limited.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-30.

FAQ

Common beginner questions

Why are some species missing?+

The site prioritizes reviewable data over page count. More species can be added after source notes and confidence checks are ready.

How do I know if my fish are stressed by tank mates?+

Common stress signs include hiding constantly, clamped fins, faded color, not eating, rapid breathing, and being chased away from food or open swimming space.

Related pages

Betta tank mates checkerThe safest betta tank mates are peaceful, non-flashy species that fit the tank size, use different areas of the aquarium, and are introduced only after the tank is stable.Read guide Fish compatibility calculatorUse this calculator as a conservative first pass before mixing fish. It checks water range overlap, tank size, aggression risk, fin-nipping risk, predation, and confidence.Read guide Safe betta tank matesNo tank mate is guaranteed safe with every betta. The safest choices are low-risk animals that fit the tank size and cannot easily nip or be eaten.Read guide Aquarium stocking calculatorThe stocking calculator estimates broad stocking bands instead of fake precision, then explains bioload and setup warnings.Read guide