Recommended Fish for a Small Tank

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Introduction

The list of fish species on this page is strictly presented as a guide only. The process of determining the appropriate size tank for any fish is not a simple process, having to take into consideration their physical size, feeding, waste generation, natural behaviour, natural range and natural habitat, plus the size, shape, filtration, lighting, water circulation and cohabitants of the system itself. Gross generalisations have been made, which may or may not be appropriate for many situations. Use this as a starting point only and look into the specifics of each species of interest. This guide has limited itself to systems up to 120 litres of display tank volume with an approximation of the number and species of fish that may be housed in such a tank.

A further list of "small fish" can also be found at Small Fish, which is simply based on the size of the fish, not on their suitability for small tanks.

Things to Consider

The choice of an appropriate fish species for any tank is not always simple, and it can be a more difficult one for small display tanks. It is important to remember a number of things while making the fish stocking decisions:

  • fish do not grow to the size of a tank (this is a myth), they will not be stunted if placed in an environment that is too small.
  • maximum size of the fish is not the only consideration. Consideration also has to be given to the behaviour, natural range and feeding requirements, as these are just as important.
  • just because someone / something (an LFS employee, a friend, someone posting on a forum, some article on the internet) says a particular fish might be suitable, take that information with a grain of salt. That includes this document.
  • Keep in mind that the display area of all-in-one tanks hold less water than the total tank, as some of that water is in the filtration area. When picking out fish, pick fish based on the display area volume, not the total tank volume.

Inappropriate Fish

Any small tank should steer clear of the following species:

  • members of the Acanthuridae family (Surgeon Fish or Tangs), these fish require large amounts of swimming room and grow to a large size.
  • members of the Scorpaenidae family (Scorpion Fish or Lionfish), with exception of Dendrochirus spp. (Dwarf Lionfish). These fish will quickly out grow a small tank, no matter how small they appear initially.
  • members of the Pomacanthidae family (Angel Fish), with the exception of Centropyge spp. (Dwarf Angels), these fish require large amounts of swimming room and grow to a large size.
  • any species that will grow to around a quarter of the tank width / length and requires swimming space.

Tank Inhabitants by Size

As noted above, gross generalisations have been made in assembling these guidelines, take the time to learn of the requirements of proposed livestock to ensure they are compatible. If there is some question mark on a particular species, then err on the side of caution.

< 15 Litres - 0 Fish

This tank is too small for nearly all species, it is best to concentrate on invertebrates and corals. Some of the members of the Gobiodon genus may be possible, but requires an experienced hobbyist and careful husbandry.

Species:

  • none

15-30 Litres - 1 Fish Limit

Despite this being a very small tank, it is possible to keep very small fish in a system of this size.

Species:

30-60 Litres - 1 to 2 Fish Limit

Species:

60-90 Litres - 2 to 4 Fish Limit

Species:

90-120 Litres - 4 to 6 Fish Limit

Species:

Resources

References

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