Choosing the right fish for your aquarium is essential for a harmonious and healthy ecosystem. Not all fish species can live together well, and the wrong combinations can lead to stress, aggression or diseases. In this blog we discuss which fish can be kept together in an aquarium and what you should pay attention to when putting together a fish stock.
Important factors when combining fish
When composing a fish stock, you need to take several factors into account:
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Water parameters : Make sure that all fish have the same water parameters, such as temperature, pH and hardness.
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Behavior and Temperament : Some fish are aggressive or territorial, while others are peaceful. Choose fish species that do not attack each other.
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Size and swimming preference : Combine fish that are similar in size and make sure they inhabit different water layers.
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Feeding : Avoid fish that may mistake each other for food and ensure all fish are fed properly.
Fish that can live well together
Here are some fish species that often do well together in a community tank:
1. Tropical community aquarium
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Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) : Peaceful, colorful fish that are easy to care for.
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Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) : Small, active schooling fish that gets along well with other peaceful fish.
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Corydoras catfish : Bottom dwellers that help clean up food scraps.
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Platy's (Xiphophorus maculatus) : Hardy and peaceful fish species suitable for beginners.
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Zebrafish (Danio rerio) : Lively swimmers that like to be kept in groups.
2. Cichlid aquarium
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Dwarf cichlids (Apistogramma species) : Relatively peaceful cichlids that can be kept with certain tetras and bottom dwellers.
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Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) : Can live together with larger tetras and peaceful bottom dwellers.
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Blue acara (Andinoacara pulcher) : Peaceful cichlid that gets along well with other medium sized fish.
3. Goldfish aquarium
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Goldfish (Carassius auratus) : Can live with other goldfish varieties such as veiltails.
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White Chinese Loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) : Help keep the substrate clean and can be kept with goldfish.
Fish species that are better not to keep together
Some fish do not combine well due to aggression or different living conditions:
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Bettas (Siamese fighting fish) : Male bettas are aggressive towards each other and cannot live with other brightly colored fish.
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Large cichlids such as Oscars (Astronotus ocellatus) : They eat smaller fish and need a lot of space.
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Fish with different water requirements : For example, discus fish and goldfish, which require completely different water values.
Tips for a successful community aquarium
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Research compatibility before adding new fish.
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Provide plenty of hiding places such as plants, wood and caves.
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Add fish gradually to minimize stress and territorial conflicts.
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Maintain a balanced population with fish inhabiting different water layers.
Conclusion
Choosing the right fish species for your aquarium is essential for a healthy and harmonious environment. By taking into account water parameters, temperament and swimming preferences, you can create a beautiful and peaceful community aquarium. Always provide sufficient space and a well-equipped aquarium to minimize the chance of conflict.
