This guide to help people set up a community freshwater aquarium. They are many fish that can used in an aquarium. It is a matter of personal taste and compatability of the fish. Different fish like to live in different zone of water top, middle and bottom. You should pick fish that like to different in the areas which makes a more interesting and lively tank. I am assume that you have the tank set up and in the stocking phase of the tank.

First of all if you are starting a new tank, the most important thing is to not add too many fish as first. The bigger the tank the more fish that you can have. The tank is more stable when it is a larger size. The most bang for the buck is the 55 gallon tank which costs only a bit more compared to a thirty or twenty-nine. Ten gallon tanks are really not for the amateur. It is more of a challenge to keep them in balance.

This fish should be added at a rate of 25% per week or longer.

Some of the fish available. They are hundreds if not thousands of species available.

Cory catfish or Corydoras species. They are over one a hundred species of at least thirty commonly available in the fish trade. Cories are one of the most docile fish available. They have puckered mouth with whisker. They can bite other fish. They are able to eat baby fish that will fit in their mouths. They can in a wide range of color. They should be kept in groups at least three with six or more better.Some of the species that I have kept over the years.
C. aenus, C. aenus 'Albino', C. panda, C. paleatus, C. metae, C. melini, C. rabauti,C. robinae, C. natterei, C. arcutas, and C. trilineatus. They also three dwarf species C. pygmaeus, C. hastus, and C. habrous .

Angelfish this is the cichlid that even non-fish keeping people will recognize. They have adapted well to the aquarium and are not in a range of colors. The biggest problem with them is the aggression. When they become old enough to spawn, they will become very terriorial and possible kill other fish. They are natural predators. They will eat baby fish especially livebearer young like guppies, swordtails, and platies. The tend to stay in the middle region.

Various Tetras most of them behave very similar in an aquarium. They should be kept in group of six or more. They should never be kept one of each mixed group. They need the company of their own species. They are social fish that want to school. They tend to be middle or top dwellers.

Guppies can be kept in an aquarium. Many of the show guppies have been raised in such superior conditions that have trouble adapting to the average hobbyists. They come in many beautiful colors. They tend to stay in the middle zone.

Common pleco usually grow too large to be practical. They can grow to over a foot in less than two years.  It is true to will eat algae off the glass. This is better down with smaller species. They tend to stay at the bottom or sides of the tank. They will destroy artificial rocks by removing the painted coating when eating algae.

Bushy nose or Bristle nose pleco. This is a small species than at most get three or four inches. They are great for keeping algae under control. They are fairly east to breed. They tend to stay on the bottom or sides of the tank.

Endler's Livebears this is small attractive fish that is closely related to guppies. The males are green, orange, and black. They are great eaters. They will graze algae off the glass. They breed readily in community tanks but you must pick tank mates carefully. Larger fish will eat fry. I keep and breed my Endler's in community tanks. They tend to stay in the middle zone.

Khuli Loaches look like snake fish. They are brown with orange stripes. They tend to hide so after you buy them you might never see them. When they are fully adapted to your tank you will see they eat feed in the evening. They need hiding places. They like caves or rock to hide under. They also like plants like Java Moss. They will eat any flake food offered and love worms. The females will be fatter than the males. When they are full of eggs the body has a green color. It possible to have them spawn in the aquarium. It is not a common thing. They love to hide in small places at the bottom. You might only see them when they feed at night.

Clown loaches very attractive fish orange and black pattern. They will in time grow to very large size. It is better not to keep with cories. They have large spines for defense. They tend to stay at the bottom.

Swordfish are great livebears. They females will often produce fry. The male have the long tails. They have been selective breed in a wide range of colors. They tend to stay in the middle zone.

Congo Tetras are very best kept in large aquariums. They need a large space to swim. When the males mature they have longer tails. The color is grayish with a iridescent sheen. They are seasonally available in the fall. As the name suggests from the Congo in Africa. They tend to stay in the top zone.

Tiger Barbs are beautiful fish. They like to nip at fins. They are best kept groups of six or more. They will tend to nip each other instead of attacking other fish. There three color forms. The natural tan with black strips and bright orange tipped fins. The Green Moss which the stripes melt together with a green irridescense. The albino form which has no black. The body is gold with lighter stripes in place of the black stripes and orange tipped fins.
They tend to stay in the middle or bottom zone.

Zebrafish or Danio are a schooling fish. They are several species with line or spot patterns. There are some genetically engineered fish that are hot pink or neon green colored. You may have seen they in the news. They should be keep in a school of six or more. They have been kept in tanks for generations are usually trouble free. They tend to stay in the middle zone.

White Clouds are a tetra-like species. They are really a minnow. The name cames from the mountain range that they first found. They are tan body with a orange-pinkish line along the body. The fins are red with yellow tips. They color are more intense when they are spawning. They do this often. They should be keep in group of six or more. They is an albino form that has a yellow-orange body instead of brown. They are a middle zone dweller. They are native to China. They are easy to breed. I had group through four generations. Babies would just appear in my community tanks.

Discus are a beautiful and expensive fish. They usually are shade of blue and red with various stripe patterns. They are newer forms that have yellow and or black. I find these less attractive. They are very demanding fish. They need very clean water. It that they need twice weekly water changes. They are a perfectly circle shape. They are cichlids related to Angelfish and kept under similar conditions. They are very shy and like to hide. There tank mates should be calm and slow moving. Cardinal tetras are often kept with them. The water should be soft and pH below 7.5. Many people keep them at higher temperature to prevent disease. They were hard for me to keep alive.


An examples of a community tanks:

20 gallon long aquarium

6 cory catfish any medium sized type
4 sword fish one male & 3 female
8 white clouds

30 gallon

6 Corydoras panda
8 Zebra danios
3 pairs Endler's livebearers
1 Bristle-nose pleco

55 gallon tank

6 discus
12 cardinal tetras
6 clown loaches


If you have specific questions contact me. I will be revising this guide in the future.