Size

Energy

Cleanup need

Breed & nickname	Temperament sketch	Size	Energy	Cleanup need	Family fit	Enrichment & routine	Health notes
Betta (Siamese fighting fish)Desk pet with attitude	Solo showpiece that flares at rivals but chills with plants and gentle flow.	Small	Moderate	Low	Works for focused keepers who enjoy target feeding and daily observation.	Provide leaf rests, mirror training in short bursts, and slow bubble streams.	Needs heated, filtered water; watch for fin rot and overfeeding.
Fancy Goldfish (Ryukin/Oranda)Bubbly dinner bell	Gentle cruiser that begs for food and tolerates calm tankmates.	Medium	Moderate	Heavy	Suits families with room for a larger tank and steady maintenance habits.	Enrich with floating rings, slow-flow mazes, and hand-feeding sessions.	High waste output; needs strong filtration and monitoring for swim bladder issues.
GuppyConfetti tail	Friendly schooling fish that zips around and breeds readily.	Small	High	Low	Great starter fish if provided stable water, cover plants, and modest flow.	Offer floating plants, micro-pellet feeding variety, and gentle current to explore.	Keep stable hardness; separate fry if needed and watch for fin nipping from tankmates.
Neon TetraGlow stripe scout	Peaceful shoaler that relaxes in shaded areas and shows color in groups.	Small	Moderate	Low	Works in calm community tanks with soft lighting and hiding spots.	Dim light swimming lanes, leaf litter, and small feedings twice daily.	Sensitive to parameter swings; quarantine newcomers to avoid neon tetra disease.
AngelfishGraceful sentry	Semi-peaceful cichlid that claims territory but coexists with similar-sized tankmates.	Medium	Moderate	Moderate	Good for display tanks with vertical space and attentive feeding routines.	Tall plants, gentle flow, and target feeding with tongs build confidence.	Needs clean, warm water; monitor for fin nips and pair aggression during spawning.
OscarWet puppy	Personable predator that recognizes keepers and rearranges decor.	Large	High	Heavy	Best for large dedicated tanks with strong filtration and secure lids.	Offer sinking pellets, safe driftwood to patrol, and puzzle-style feeding.	Heavy bioload; watch for hole-in-the-head disease and keep nitrates low.
Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)Easygoing confetti sail	Peaceful livebearer that schools loosely and coexists with most community fish.	Small	Moderate	Low	Ideal for first community tanks with stable tap water and cover plants.	Provide floating cover, mixed vegetable and protein feedings, and gentle flow corridors.	Prefers moderate hardness; watch for fry overpopulation and fin-nipping neighbors.
Molly (Poecilia sphenops/latipinna)Salt-tolerant grazer	Social livebearer that can be assertive when crowded.	Medium	Moderate	Low	Suits midsize tanks with mineral-rich water and steady upkeep.	Add algae wafers, vegetable grazing spots, and gentle current for cruising.	Needs harder, alkaline water; watch for shimmying, ich, and rapid breeding.
Zebra Danio (Zebrafish)Striped sprinter	Fast, peaceful shoaler that may outcompete slow eaters.	Small	High	Low	Works in unheated or mild-temperature tanks for active households.	Give long swim lanes, floating food scatter, and a gentle current to chase.	Hardy but jumps when startled; use a tight lid and steady parameters.
Corydoras CatfishSand-sifting clean-up crew	Peaceful bottom shoaler happiest in groups of six or more.	Small	Moderate	Low	Great for planted community tanks with smooth substrate.	Provide fine sand, sinking wafers, and shaded resting spots.	Avoid sharp gravel; ensure good oxygenation and avoid copper medications.
Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus)Algae janitor with whiskers	Generally peaceful bottom dweller that guards a favorite cave.	Medium	Moderate	Heavy	Fits midsize tanks with driftwood, steady filtration, and secure lids.	Offer wood to rasp, vegetable chips, and caves for territory.	Moderate waste producer; needs stable pH, good aeration, and plenty of fiber.
Pearl GouramiSpeckled glider	Calm labyrinth fish that can be shy around boisterous tankmates.	Medium	Moderate	Low	Suits planted, low-flow community tanks with subdued lighting.	Provide floating cover, gentle flow, and let males build occasional bubble nests.	Needs warm, clean water; avoid fin-nippers and maintain stable surface access for air.
Cherry BarbRuby dash	Peaceful schooling barb that colors up in groups.	Small	Moderate	Low	Good for small planted tanks that avoid fin-nippers.	Provide plants, dim light, and small varied feedings to keep them bold.	Keep in groups of six or more; maintain clean water to prevent stress-related illness.
White Cloud Mountain MinnowCool-water spark	Peaceful, active schooling fish that tolerates a range of temperatures.	Small	High	Low	Suits unheated indoor tanks with good oxygenation and cover.	Provide open flow to dash through, floating plants, and fine foods scattered.	Hardy but prefers clean, cool, stable water; secure lids prevent jumping.