A big community tank is suitable for aquatic species as it can become an excellent environment.
But at the same time, this can be challenging for you.
WHY?
Because you would be left to choose the right fish for your home aquarium.
Today with so many options available at your disposal, the decision-making is quite hardening.
For instance, if you’ve picked oscar fish, what would be the best oscar tank mates.
With dozens of similar questions, that’s a lot of work for you.
But don’t think too hard, as I’ll try to take away your biggest headache using this post. Here I’ll list down the 10 best community fish that can be the crowning jewel of your fish collection.
Let’s get started:
Best Community Fish
Peacock Goby
The Peacock Goby is a unique freshwater fish that will add bold patterns and vibrant colors to any community tank.
Along with their unique look, these gobies are peaceful and easy-going.
They don’t pay much attention to others in the tank, making them compatible with most other similarly sized fish.
They can be challenging to keep in an aquarium, however. They require a stimulating diet and detest flakes or pellets.
Some individuals also have trouble acclimating to the aquarium environment for long periods.
Diamond Tetra
Diamond Tetras are active and friendly fish popular with fishkeeping enthusiasts.
These fun little fish have a silver body and a bright red patch on their heads.
They are best kept in groups of 6 or more as they enjoy being in groups when kept in captivity.
Diamond Tetras are relatively easy to care for and do well in community tanks. They will generally keep to themselves, although they do like to feed often because they are so active.
However, if food is provided regularly, they will not disturb other fish or plants in the tank.
Note: It’s recommended to have 15 gallons for a group of 5 tetras, 20 gallons for ten tetras, and 30 gallons for 20 tetras.
Glass Catfish
Also known as ghost catfish, phantom catfish, and glass cats, the Glass Catfish is a very peaceful fish, so they are best kept in community tanks.
It is advisable to keep them in groups of at least five as they display schooling behavior.
These fish have a long eel-like body with a very long spine, and the most visible part of their body is the large eyes.
Glass catfish are translucent or transparent in color, which gives them a glass-like appearance.
Their internal organs including the swim bladder are visible through the skin.
Their size is about 3 inches long, which is relatively tiny for aquarium fish.
The lifespan of glass catfish is about 5 years, and they can reach up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length when raised in a captive environment.
Suitable tankmates include Corydoras, Plecostomus, other small catfish species, and small-sized characins such as Tetras and Rasbora.
If you want them to display schooling behavior, I advise you to always keep glass catfish in a group of at least 5.
Guppy Fish
Guppy fish is one of the most widely kept aquarium fish in the world.
If you want to have peaceful fish in your community tank, Guppy Fish should be your first choice.
Because of their peaceful nature, you can keep them with a wide range of community and tropical fish, including Tetras, Rasboras, Mollies, and Platys.
Make sure all your tank mates are natural swimmers and not bottom feeders, as Guppy Fish tend to be on the top or middle level of the water.
Molly Fish
The Molly is a peaceful fish that can live in a community tank with other members of the Poeciliidae family, including Platies and Swordtails.
Molly Fish isn’t shy. That’s why, when inside a tank, they can always be seen chasing around.
Mollies do best in hard water with a stable pH level and plenty of oxygen. Also, they like to be kept in groups of 5 or more (at least one male and two females) so they will have lots of company.
Unlike many fish species, molly fish tends to give birth to a live young fish rather than laying eggs.
Mollies will eat almost anything, so providing them with a varied diet containing flake food and live plants or algae wafers for nutrients is crucial.
Mollies are not picky eaters and will eat anything they can find on their way through your aquarium including algae wafers, flakes, and even bloodworms if you feed them! Just make sure there is enough food for everyone because mollies can get aggressive when hungry!
Neon Tetra
Neon Tetras are known as peaceful and docile species. They do well with other tetras, Rasboras, Cory Catfish, Gouramis, Plecos, and similar fish.
The Neon Tetra is an omnivore so they will eat both plants and protein. You should always feed them plenty of fresh vegetables and food that includes high-quality flakes for their better growth.
Siamese Algae Eater
A good tank mate for community tanks will get along well with other fish. They also need to be hardy enough to regularly withstand the changes you make to the tank.
When in a group of 6 or more, Siamese Algae Eater can be a generally peaceful aquatic species.
Aquariums set up as community tanks have many different types of plants, rocks, and wood inside them, providing hiding places for the various fish species.
Community tanks are usually highly populated with small fish like Tetras or Danios paired with larger fish such as Gouramis or Catfish.
Conclusion – What Makes A Good Community Fish?
As a fishkeeping beginner, the community fish category is the most popular.
That’s because they require little to no maintenance from a newbie.
In short, a community tank is a great learning curve for new keepers, developing knowledge and understanding that can be built upon in the future.
Once you’ve gained the necessary experience, you can set up a personalized fish tank.