fish

Fish for nano tanks (≤ 40 L)

Species with a published minimum tank size of 40 L or less. Verify adult size and group needs before stocking small volumes.

28 species

Asia
Asian Stone Catfish
Hara jerdoni
Temp18–24°C
pH5.6–7.6
Size3 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimBottom
DifficultyModerate
Asian Stone Catfish
Hara jerdoni
Lifespan
5 yr
Schooling
Pairs
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Malabar pufferfish
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Temp22–28°C
pH6.8–8
Size2.5 cm
DietCarnivore
SwimBottom
DifficultyExpert
Malabar pufferfish
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Lifespan
5 yr
Schooling
Solo OK
Aggression
3
Compare
Asia
Galaxy betta
Betta splendens var.
Temp24–30°C
pH6–8
Size6.5 cm
DietCarnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Galaxy betta
Betta splendens var.
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Solo OK
Aggression
5
High aggression — research tankmates carefully
Compare
Taiwan (selectively bred from wild Neocaridina davidi)
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Temp18–28°C
pH6.5–8
Size3 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimBottom
DifficultyEasy
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Lifespan
2 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Alien betta
Betta splendens hybrid
Temp24–30°C
pH6–7.5
Size6.5 cm
DietCarnivore
SwimAll levels
DifficultyEasy
Alien betta
Betta splendens hybrid
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Solo OK
Aggression
4
High aggression — research tankmates carefully
Compare
Asia
Least rasbora
Boraras urophthalmoides
Temp24–28°C
pH6–7
Size2 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyEasy
Least rasbora
Boraras urophthalmoides
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique)
Zebra Nerite
Vittina natalensis
Temp22–28°C
pH7–8.5
Size3 cm
DietHerbivore
SwimBottom
DifficultyModerate
Zebra Nerite
Vittina natalensis
Lifespan
2 yr
Schooling
Solo OK
Aggression
1
Compare
Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia)
Assassin Snail
Anentome helena
Temp20–28°C
pH7.2–8.5
Size3 cm
DietCarnivore
SwimBottom
DifficultyEasy
Assassin Snail
Anentome helena
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Solo OK
Aggression
2
Compare
West Africa
Banded panchax
Epiplatys annulatus
Temp23–26°C
pH5.5–7
Size3.5 cm
DietInsectivore
SwimTop
DifficultyModerate
Banded panchax
Epiplatys annulatus
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Emerald Dwarf Rasbora
Danio erythromicron
Temp20–24°C
pH7–8
Size2 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyEasy
Emerald Dwarf Rasbora
Danio erythromicron
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Neon Blue Rasbora
Sundadanio axelrodi
Temp23–26°C
pH4–6.5
Size2.5 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyHard
Neon Blue Rasbora
Sundadanio axelrodi
Lifespan
4 yr
Schooling
Strong
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
White cloud mountain minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Temp14–22°C
pH6–8
Size4 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyEasy
White cloud mountain minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Lifespan
5 yr
Schooling
Strong
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Daisy's Rice Fish
Oryzias woworae
Temp23–27°C
pH6–7.5
Size2.8 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Daisy's Rice Fish
Oryzias woworae
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
South America
Zebra Oto
Otocinclus cocama
Temp21–25°C
pH6–7.5
Size4.5 cm
DietHerbivore
SwimBottom
DifficultyModerate
Zebra Oto
Otocinclus cocama
Lifespan
5 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Oceania
Desert goby
Chlamydogobius eremius
Temp20–28°C
pH7–8.5
Size6 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Desert goby
Chlamydogobius eremius
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Solo OK
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Panda Loach
Yaoshania pachychilus
Temp20–24°C
pH6.5–7.5
Size5.8 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Panda Loach
Yaoshania pachychilus
Lifespan
5 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
2
Compare
Central America
Southern platyfish
Xiphophorus maculatus
Temp20–26°C
pH7–8.2
Size6 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyEasy
Southern platyfish
Xiphophorus maculatus
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Oceania
Honey blue eye
Pseudomugil mellis
Temp20–28°C
pH6–7.5
Size3.5 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Honey blue eye
Pseudomugil mellis
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Dwarf rasbora
Boraras maculatus
Temp20–28°C
pH5–6.5
Size2.5 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Dwarf rasbora
Boraras maculatus
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Strong
Aggression
1
Compare
South America
Ember tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Temp20–28°C
pH5–7
Size2 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyEasy
Ember tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Strong
Aggression
1
Compare
South America
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Temp17–28°C
pH7–8
Size5 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimTop
DifficultyEasy
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Lifespan
2 yr
Schooling
Pairs
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Javanese ricefish
Oryzias javanicus
Temp24–29°C
pH7–9
Size3.5 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Javanese ricefish
Oryzias javanicus
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
1
Compare
Asia
Pygmy gourami
Trichopsis pumila
Temp22–28°C
pH5–7.5
Size4 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Pygmy gourami
Trichopsis pumila
Lifespan
4 yr
Schooling
Pairs
Aggression
2
Compare
Southeastern United States
Ghost shrimp
Palaemon paludosus
Temp18–28°C
pH6.5–8
Size4 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyEasy
Ghost shrimp
Palaemon paludosus
Lifespan
1 yr
Schooling
Pairs
Aggression
1
Compare
Japan, Taiwan, Korea
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Temp18–28°C
pH6.5–7.5
Size5 cm
DietHerbivore
SwimAll levels
DifficultyEasy
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Pairs
Aggression
1
Compare
Lake Tanganyika
Multies
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
Temp24–27°C
pH7.5–9
Size4.5 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Multies
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
Lifespan
5 yr
Schooling
Yes
Aggression
3
Compare
Oceania
Spotted blue-eye
Pseudomugil gertrudae
Temp21–28°C
pH4.5–7.5
Size3.8 cm
DietPlanktivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Spotted blue-eye
Pseudomugil gertrudae
Lifespan
3 yr
Schooling
Strong
Aggression
1
Compare
Africa
Gold Shell Dweller
Lamprologus ocellatus
Temp23–27°C
pH7.5–9
Size5.8 cm
DietOmnivore
SwimMiddle
DifficultyModerate
Gold Shell Dweller
Lamprologus ocellatus
Lifespan
8 yr
Schooling
Pairs
Aggression
3
Compare