Tag: Freshwater

Welcome to our aquarium blog, fellow fishkeeper 🐟!

Have you seen a Discus fish and wished you could own them, but concerned about its sensitivity? There is a fish out there that looks just as good, gets just as large, and is pretty hardy.

That fish is called the Severum Cichlid, and while it is called the poor person’s Cichlid in the hobby – I would call it the sensible aquarist’s Cichlid.

While these fish are relatively mellow, they get large and have certain tank requirements, and are limited in the type of tankmates you can keep. With the knowledge tidbits I’ll offer today, you will be ready to embark on keeping your first Severum successfully.

Let’s learn all we can about this beautiful fish. Time to dive in!

An Overview

Scientific Name	Heros severus
Common Names	Severum Cichlid, Banded Cichlid, Rainbow Severum Cichlid
Family	Cichlidae
Origin	Orinoco and upper Rio Negro basins, South America
Diet	Omnivore
Care Level	Moderate
Activity	Active
Lifespan	7 to 10 years
Temperament	Semi-aggressive
Tank Level	Bottom and mid
Minimum Tank Size	55 gallons
Temperature Range	75 F° to 84 F°
Water Hardness	4 to 6 dH
pH Range	6.0 to 7.5
Filtration/Water Flow	Low
Water Type	Freshwater
Breeding	Egg-layers
Difficulty to Breed	Easy
Compatibility	Community tanks (with large enough fish)
OK, for Planted Tanks?	With Caution

What Is A Severum Cichlid

Severum Cichlids have been in the aquarium hobby since the 1800s¹ and the reasons are apparent: their pleasant personalities, large size, and unique and attractive color patterns have made them very popular to aquarists.

These freshwater fish species are scientifically named Heros Severus while commonly known as Severum Cichlids, Rainbow Severum Cichlids, and Banded Cichlids.

Apart from adding a diversity of colors to your aquarium, these fish can are one of the rare large fish that can actually be considered community fish (as long as the fish housed aren’t small enough to fit their mouths)

Origin And Habitat

Severum Cichlids, also labeled as a Poor Man’s Discus, hail from the upper Orinoco and upper Rio Negro Basins in South America.

They were first sighted in the 1800s by an Austrian zoologist and ichthyologist named Johann Jakob Heckel. In their natural habitat, they inhabit slow-moving and vegetated areas with underwater trees and plants.

Appearance

Finding a fish that exhibits a beautiful spectrum of unique colors and patterns, pleasant personality traits, and the ability to bring liveliness to a traditional home aquarium is not impossible anymore.

Severum Cichlids fit well in the showcase fish role. These Cichlid Fish come in different varieties, and each variety has a special color pattern that helps it stand out.

Generally, Severum Cichlids have large oval-shaped compressed bodies with a golden hue dispersed over their entire frames. These bands are visible along the sides and are more vivid in juveniles. Adult Severum Cichlids feature duller stripes. The fry feature consistent gold colors that become flecked with burnt orange spots across a large part of their bodies and fins. There are almost 8 bands present on their bodies, which go dull as the fish ages.

But awkwardly enough, noticing these bands in fry is hard. You can only see that clearly once the juveniles hit maturity.

Severum Cichlids feature sharp anal and dorsal fins that look rather yellow. Their pectoral fins also look pointed. The first set of fins narrows down to a striking point. And in most fish, these fins extend past the caudal fin, giving them a round-shaped look.

Apart from yellow dorsal fins, they have yellow eyes and beautiful tails with a combination of a white base and specks of yellow.

These fish are sold in fish sizes when they are small, but they can grow to an impressive size if you properly look after them.

Since there are different types, it can be slightly hard to recognize the original one. To identify which one is real, look at the greenish-hued body combined with a golden-yellow underbelly. Nowadays, you can see alternations in their color patterns that are obtained by home breeding.

These fish are well-known for their subtle orange. These fish tend to get more intense in color as they mature.

Depending on what species you have, you can expect to see changed color morphs, as well as stripes. Some fish have large and vertical stripes, while others only exhibit extremely contrasting spots that sit perfectly with their yellowish-golden base.

And unlike African and South American Cichlids, Severum Cichlids look flattened and are tall with a vertically rounded shape. The reason they are called poor man’s discus lies in the fact that they mimic the profile of the more pricey discus fish.

To differentiate males from females, look at the size and markings on their gills. The male Severum Cichlid is usually larger and may develop a nuchal hump and extensions to its anal and dorsal fins. This makes the overall appearance more prominent compared to the female Severum.

Another difference between males and females is the dark spot visible on the female’s dorsal fin. Females also lack patterning on their heads.

Now it’s time to talk about the five most common varieties of Severum Cichlids!

5 Common Varieties

In the aquarium hobby, there are different types of Severum Cichlids. Introducing any type to your tank can be a good change from the wild Severum Cichlids that have subdued colored bodies.

Heros Severus

This type of Severum Cichlid is the most recognized compared to others. It has yellow and golden spots, a flat body with pointed dorsal fins, and a tail. They sometimes feature dark stripes down their length and make a beautiful addition to dull aquariums.

These fish can be semi-aggressive around some specific species. Usually, they do well in a community tank, so make sure you select the right tank mates for them (we discuss tankmates later in this post).

Heros efasciatus

Heros efasciatus, Redhead Severum, or Red Shoulder Severum are the same fish. This type isn’t as common , but it is incredibly beautiful in its own right. They feature a golden base and bright red spots behind their gill covers, and a vibrant green color as well. 

They are usually available as wild-caught, which makes them more sensitive to tank-bred species. Because they are in high demand, they command a high price tag at the local fish store.

Heros liberifer

Fish of this type feature a plain glistening white base that can sometimes look red or orange.

They have prominent horizontal deep black stripes. Unlike Heros Severus, they are more aggressive and can give a tough time to their tank mates.

Heros spurius

This type of Severum Cichlid is duller than the others mentioned previously. They have hues and stripes visible all across their bodies, including their fins and tails. They can grow up to 7 inches in length.

Heros Notatus

You can find different color varieties with this type of Severum Cichlid. They can be purple, orange, green, and yellow. They are known for their spotted bodies. This Severum Cichlid has spots all over their bodies, fins, and tails.

Author's Note: Green Severum Cichlids are the most common and easily found type in pet stores. The Gold variety is the second most common type of Severum Cichlids found in the aquarium trade.

Lifespan

The average lifespan of a Severum Cichlid is around 5 years. With proper care, they can live as long as 10 years in an aquarium.

This makes them a perfect pet for those fish owners who want to spend more time with their pets and establish a stronger connection with their aquatic friends.

Average Size

The Severum Cichlid is known to grow to an impressive size both in the wild and in a home tank.

The Severum Cichlid can go as large as 8 inches. You need to focus on its diet, tank conditions, water quality, and what type of tank mates it has around it to ensure healthy growth. It might suffer from stunted growth as a result of stress. So, ensure there’s nothing in the tank that can stress your pet out.

Care

Severum Cichlid care is actually pretty basic compared to other large fish species. If you’re an ambitious beginner, and you understand their temperament, and what things fit them best in a home tank, you can have a great experience with them.

The Severum Cichlid is a hardy fish capable of adapting to harsh conditions in the wild. Some fish cannot survive what they can peacefully put up with. But it doesn’t mean you should ignore regular maintenance and a proper tank setup.

The Severum Cichlid is typically a peaceful fish. Unlike other Cichlid species that can fight to the death over food or maintain control over their territory, they remain relatively calm.

However, they can act potentially aggressively around other fish. It can be territorial aggression or the overwhelming effect of attacking the smaller fish. Once they show aggression or signs of stress, make sure you separate them from the cause of stress. The Severum Cichlid can fall prey to diseases because of high levels of stress.

Providing good care and a safe environment will create a strong preventive shield from diseases.

Aquarium Setup

Severum Cichlids get large and need an appropriately sized home to make themselves comfortable. A large environment with clean water will help stress low and your fish healthy.

When it comes to setting up an aquarium, you should think about the Severums habitat in the wild. These fish come from murky waters that have low water flow. Knowing this, we do not want high water flow for our gentle giants. They are surface swimmers, so open space is ideal for them.

Open space will get them to swim around, and a large space will keep aggression down. These fish, which gentle in nature can get territorial. A crowded tank will lead to disputes and fighting. Rocks are preferred over driftwood as these fish like to dig. They will stay active throughout the day.

Tank Size

Severum Cichlids don’t grow overnight. But while setting up their tank, considering their growth rate can help decide the size of the tank. Usually, a 55-gallon tank does best for a Severum Cichlid. Feel free to get a larger tank because it’s always better to invest in a spacious tank for your pet.

Baby Severum Cichlids grow half an inch a month. Once they get to a certain size, you will see a decline in their growth rate. It takes them 2 years to become 8 inches long. Depending on the number of species you have, you can go for a 70-100 gallon tank for fully grown Severum Cichlids and other fish of similar size.

Water Parameters

Severum Cichlids live in tropical water areas of South America. To provide them with the healthiest environment, maintaining the right water parameters is necessary.

Keep the water temperature between 75 F° to 85 F°. Anything below this range might stress out your pet. The range can vary if you want to breed your fish though.

For pH, keep it between 6.0 to 7.0. Make sure pH levels remain stable. Any drastic changes can harm your fish. As for water hardness, I recommend staying between 4 to 15 dGH.

Filtration and Aeration

Facilitating regular water changes is a great way to maintain a healthy tank environment.

A freshwater tank can accumulate several nutrients from waste, such as nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. Fish waste will contaminate your water quality.

It’s better to make regular water changes of up to 20% to ensure a healthy environment. You can also use a high-quality canister or hang-on-back filter to keep the water well-oxygenated.

Author's Note: Severum Banded Cichlids often gasp for air at the surface when the oxygen levels are low. This often leads to high levels of distress in the fish. If your fish constantly repeats it, it's time to clean out the aquarium water.

Lighting

Lighting is not an issue when it comes to Severum Cichlids. They mostly stay active throughout the day and rest throughout the night. A mild exposure to natural lighting is great.  You can also use light LED lights to monitor their activities or to enhance their appearance.

Aquatic Plants And Decoration

Designing the interior of your Severum Cichlid freshwater tank is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the aquarium hobby.

In the wild, they thrive in highly vegetated water and use plenty of hiding spaces to rest in.

While designing their tank, you can use different live plants, plastic caves, and castle accessories. Adding driftwood and rock formations are also some good choices.

This way, your fish will stay busy exploring different things and feeling at home.

While the Severum Cichlid needs hideouts, it can be problematic for you to keep the decorative items in place. They have a tendency to dig below decorations. It is recommended to have them set at the tank glass bottom, so they don’t topple over if dug up.

Live plants are a major challenge with Severums. While many guides you will find online will tell you there are some plants like Anubias and Hornwort that can survive, our experience tells us that this is typically not the case. Severums are best kept with aquarium rocks over live plants.

Tank Maintenance

Regular tank maintenance holds great value for the well-being of Severum Cichlid.

Cichlids produce chunks of bioload. Apart from getting a good-sized canister filter, you should clean the tank every now and again to keep decorative items, the tank, and the underwater environment clean.

Here are some tank-cleaning tips to get you started:

• Occasionally trim the plants and remove plant material from the tank.
• Use aquarium water and a clean toothbrush to wash caves and other decorative items
• Use an algae scrapper to clean off algae from the tank walls.

Substrate

Severum Cichlids tend to dig around a lot. They love to create hills and pits by moving sand. You don’t have to be too creative with layering the base since they will redecorate it anyway.

I recommend using a fine sand substrate for the Severum tank. You can also use a little bit bigger grains but don’t good too large on the gravel as large gravel can injure these fish when they try to dig

Pro Tip: In community tanks that need softer water. You can layer the top of the substrate. You can use Indian almond leaves or small clumps of peat moss. This will benefit water conditions. Using leaves will also help create the effect of their natural habitat. Also, make regular replacements as the debris deteriorates.

Community Tank Mates

Placing your Severum Cichlid with the right kind of tank mates will help in the long run. No beginner can afford frequent conflicts among fish. Not only that, incompatible tank mates can turn a healthy fish into a stressed one.

Severum Cichlids are generally peaceful. But they habitually love colonizing the entire tank. You can prevent this by creating necessary barriers within the tank without curtailing their land and freedom to roam around.

For a Severum Cichlid tank, you should look for medium or larger mellow fish species that can make compatible tank mates.

Here’s a list of some of the best species to consider.

• Barbs
• Angelfish
• Blue Acara
• Catfish
• Pearl Cichlid
• Blue Gouramis
• Gold Gourami
• Moonlight Gouramis
• Flag Cichlid
• Blood Parrot Cichlid
• Loaches
• Silver Dollars
• Oscar Fish (most cases)
• Pleco Fish
• Silver Dollars

Poor Tank Mates

Avoid larger and more aggressive fish species to pair up with Severum Cichlids. These aggressive tank mates should never be kept in the same tank as your Severum Cichlid.

Unlike other Cichlid species, Severum Cichlids don’t realize they have the ability to defend themselves. Avoid these other species when it comes to Banded Cichlid tank mates:

• All large New World Cichlid species
• Small Gouramis like Dwarf and Honey Gouramis
• Freshwater Shrimp
• Aquarium Snails

Breeding

Breeding Cichlids is a wonderful experience as these fish will breed in pairs and will care for their fry. In order to pull it off, you will need to start up with several juvenile fish – at least to start out. They will need to grow up together until you see a couple pair up. That is your sign that a breeding pair is forming

However, these Severum Cichlids are selective about who they decided to breed with. Keep them together and hope that they bond. It will usually take up to 6 months for cichlids to go from juveniles to forming as a pair. You will need to be patient and understand that this takes time.

Once you have a breed, it’s time to set up the environment. Here is what you need to do:

1. Obtain a separate tank to use for breeding the pair.
2. Set the temperature higher – 78 – 81 degrees F to be exact
3. Keep plenty of decor and hiding plants for comfort
4. Feed the fish a well-balanced diet. A healthy fish will actively breed, so diet is key

Once the pair do their thing, the eggs will hatch in about a week. Both parents will watch over the eggs and raise the fry together. Work with crushed flake food to feed the fry or use enriched hatch brine shrimp.

Food and Diet

The Severum Banded Cichlid is an omnivore. They are hardly picky and, therefore, will feast on anything you drop in their tank.

To spice up their menu, feel free to go for high-quality herbivore and carnivore flakes.

You can also feed them pellets, micro worms, earthworms, bloodworms, marine crustaceans, white mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, green vegetables, and even fruit.

Don’t feed your pet beef heart or liver as they have fragile digestive systems and can fall ill from it.

Common Health Problems

Like any other fish, Common Severum Cichlid species can also fall prey to different diseases. You should always keep an eye out for common symptoms so that you can treat them on time.

Here are some common diseases Severum Cichlids are susceptible to.

Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)

This disease is common in fish species raised in tanks with poor water quality. Other common reasons can be over-filtration with toxic chemicals, stress, vitamin deficiency, and poor diet.

The most common symptom of this disease is a hole in the head of the fish

It begins as small pits of receding skin around the fish’s head and lateral line and sometimes occurs on the unpaired fins. To treat this, simply isolate your pet, get water conditions fixed and supplement its diet with vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus.

Ich

Ich is a very common fish disease. The presence of an external protozoan parasite typically causes this infection.

Some common symptoms are:

• Multiple small white spots on the fish’s body and gills
• Frequent scrapping of the body against hard objects
• Abnormal behavior

FAQs

Closing Thoughts

I hope you learned a lot about Severums from our article. They are an underrated fish, and in my opinion, the label of poor person’s cichlid doesn’t jive well with me. They stand on their own in an aquarium and make a settler showcase fish. Their gentle nature makes them one of the rare large fish that will tolerate tank mates and is hardy. Give them a chance, and they will shine and give you many years of joy.

Have you kept Severums in the past? Let us know in the comments. Until next time!

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📘 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Freshwater Fish Guide — your ultimate resource for freshwater species, care tips, tank setup, and more.

One of the most fascinating mysteries of the underwater community is the reproductive processes of both marine and freshwater eels. Specifically, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has confounded philosophers, naturalists, and scientists for decades. It was long believed that male eels lacked reproductive organs and thus couldn’t create offspring. The truth of eel reproduction is much more complex than this, though.

Thousands of eels were dissected, tracked, and studied to understand their reproductive and lifecycle processes, but the evidence was scarce and only theories remained. If eels lacked reproductive organs since the time of their evolution, how did they survive as a species? It wasn’t until the 20th century that these simple eel questions began to be answered.

Before deep-diving into how eels continue to live and reproduce, we need to first understand what eels are, where they come from, and eventually, how they reproduce.

What Are Eels?

If you’re not familiar at all with eels, then they’ll initially look otherworldly. Are they fish? Are they snakes? Or are they something new altogether?

Don’t be fooled, these are actually thin, almost finless fish that belong to the Anguilliformes order. Within this scientific order are 8 suborders and almost 800 species! Both saltwater and freshwater eels belong to this scientific order, though not every fish that’s labeled as an ‘eel’ is a true eel!

If you are familiar with eels at all, then you may have heard of the electric eel (Electrophorus spp.) which is capable of delivering a deadly shock. While these fish certainly look like true eels, they are actually more closely related to knife fish as members of the Gymnotiformes order.

Although freshwater eels and saltwater eels look very different from each other and their related genera, there are a few defining features that make them true eels of the Anguilliformes order.

Anguilliformes are ray-finned fish. But unlike other fish, eels lack pelvic fins entirely and most species don’t have pectoral fins. Eels also have a conjoined dorsal and anal fin that makes a singular, long fin that extends across the latter half of their body. Interestingly, this evolution also allows these fish to swim backward. Another defining feature of eels is that some species have small scales while others have incorporated scales into their skin. Some may lack scales entirely.

Anglers and other eel-handlers especially note their ability to produce slime, which is a defense mechanism against predators and pathogens. Eels have sharp teeth fixed in their mouths, with some species having a second jaw known as the pharyngeal jaw. The first set of jaws is thought to specialize in catching the prey while the second set processes the food and moves it along to the digestive tract.

True eels can be found in freshwater and marine ecosystems around the world. Some species are catadromous which means that they migrate from one body of water to another. As we’ll see, some species of eel, especially those in the Anguillidae family, make extensive journeys from freshwater ecosystems to purely saltwater conditions.

An example of a true eel is the European freshwater eel. This species of freshwater eel lacks scales and breathes through its skin. This unique ability makes them able to survive out of water for up to 48 hours! European freshwater eels can also bury themselves and hibernate in the mud over the winter months; this is also needed when their natural habitats dry out over the summer.

Where Do They Come From?

Fish have been around for a long time which means that they’ve been studied for a long time. So much so that even ancient Greek philosophers devoted their entire lives to understanding their origins, especially the beginnings of eels and their reproductive processes. Surprisingly, the great Aristotle contributed much thought to these lifecycles.

According to Aristotle, eels materialized from mud and were actually a type of earthworm. This became a popular theory as no one had ever seen eels reproduce and there was no other reasonable explanation; this also eliminated the need to explain their apparent absence of reproductive organs.

It’s hard to believe that this exact explanation for eel reproduction persisted for over 2,000 years, but few dared to challenge the findings of Aristotle.

It wasn’t until Pliny the Edler, a Roman naturalist and natural philosopher, theorized another answer to eel reproduction. He believed that new eels were born from the old shed skins of parent eels that scratched themselves on hard surfaces, like on the seafloor and on rocks. Each scraping would turn into a new eel.

Other popular beliefs included eels being born from sea foam or from when sunlight reflected off the surface of the water in just the right way. Some even thought that eels hatched on the rooftops of great buildings or derived from the gills of other fish. The more absurd theories mentioned the involvement of beetles and hair from horses falling into the river.

Many centuries later, famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud took a stab at uncovering the mystery of eel reproduction. In 1876, while a medical student at the University of Vienna, Freud bought as many eels as possible. After 400 dissections, Freud finally located the male eel’s gonads deep within the abdominal cavity, dispelling any previous theories!

Geography

This was a major breakthrough in understanding eel reproduction and their lifecycle.

You might be saying to yourself that you’ve never actually seen an eel in the wild. This isn’t because eels aren’t abundant, but rather because they’re reclusive and nocturnal.

When not migrating thousands of miles, these fish like to stay as elusive as possible, cramming themselves into tight caves and rock formations, burying themselves in the substrate, or even living together in communities known as eel pits.

In freshwater ecosystems, they can be found on nearly every continent excluding Antarctica in rivers, lakes, streams, and even ponds. Keep in mind that some eels are able to move across land, allowing them to enter isolated areas of water. Marine eels have a much larger range and can be found in most regions of the ocean at varying depths.

How Do They Reproduce?

The long-asked and long-evaded question: how do eels reproduce? Even today, after thousands of theories and anatomical dissections, there are many unknowns about the lives of eels.

To help understand how eels reproduce, we need to first look at the 5 incredibly complex stages of an eel’s life cycle.

5 Stages Of Their Life Cycle

The lifecycle of an eel is divided into 5 distinct stages. Each one marks different biological and sexual maturity levels of the eel. Most notably, sex organs develop in the later stages.

1. Larvae
2. Glass Eel
3. Elver
4. Yellow Eel
5. Silver Eel

You can see an illustration of the life cycle in the photo below (Wikipedia photo source)

The Larvae

The first stage of an eel’s lifecycle is the larval stage, individually known as leptocephalus. In this phase, the baby eel emerges from its fertilized egg in or near its species’ breeding grounds.

Leptocephalus are largely transparent. They have radically compressed bodies with minimal muscles and organs. One of their most defining features is a simple stripe that runs down the middle of their pane-like body. During the next metamorphosis period from larva to glass eel, the transparent gel changes into solid adult tissue.

Interestingly, leptocephali feed on marine snow and other organic matter to facilitate growth. They are largely planktonic and depend on ocean currents to get them to where they need to go, mostly estuaries and other safe coastal ecosystems. Once in an intertidal region, they begin their transformation into glass eels.

Glass

The transformation from leptocephalus to glass eel is both a geographical and physical change. As leptocephali, eel larvae live in the ocean. As they begin their metamorphosis into glass eels, they must make their way into protected estuaries where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems mix. This is a challenging move and many eels do not survive due to their lack of control over their navigation.

Physically, leptocephali start to change into more recognizable glass eels. One of the major changes during this life stage is the development of pigmentation which takes over the previous clear gel. But underneath their skin, there is another major change happening.

A regular fish’s body needs to osmotically adapt to changes in salinity, like the differences between freshwater and saltwater conditions; typically, when marine fish enter brackish water, their cells begin to swell as there is a difference in osmotic pressure. Eels have evolved to combat this problem with specialized kidneys that are able to retain more salt to better match their internal salinity to their external salinity.

Elvers

The next stage of an eel’s life cycle is the elver stage. This is the pre-adult stage that occurs once the eel is about 2 to 3 years old. The elver will have dark yellow pigmentation and reach up to 8 inches in length. If they’ve not already made their way upstream to freshwater rivers and streams, then young elvers will begin their journey.

At this point, the eels are omnivores and will try to eat anything they can fit into their mouth. This largely includes crustaceans, worms, and insects. Elvers and the next lifecycle, yellow eels, can stay in these freshwater upstream regions of rivers for up to 20 years until they are mature enough to migrate back out to the ocean. Many eel species return to the Sargasso Sea to spawn, though this varies by species.

Sadly, elvers are a very popular dish that has caused issues with eel sustainability in the past.

Yellow

Before becoming a silver eel, or an adult eel, elvers must first become a yellow eel. This is when the pigmentation turns even darker and their true adult colors start to form, including brown, olive green, yellow, and black. These colors will largely depend on environmental factors, such as temperature and turbidity. At this point, juvenile eels can measure over 30 inches in length.

Yellow eels will continue to live in and move from one freshwater ecosystem to the next until they’re ready to transform into their final life stage, the silver eel.

Silver or Adult

Believe it or not, not much is known about adult eels, also known as silver eels. Scientists aren’t sure what determines when eels transition into their final form. This is even more complicated by being unable to tell how old an eel is by its appearance alone at this point. One thing is understood though, eels aren’t considered fully mature until they develop sex organs in the last stage of their life cycle as an adult eel.

As adult eels, males can reach 2 feet in length while females can grow up to 4 or more feet. They change drastically in color from dark natural colors to steel silver. Only as adults is when eels are mature enough to make the trip to the Sargasso Sea or other spawning grounds depending on the species.

How Do They Mate In The Wild

When talking about eel reproduction, you’ll often hear about the Sargasso Sea. The Sargasso Sea encompasses Bermuda (including the infamous Bermuda Triangle), the Azores, and the West Indies. This area of the Atlantic Ocean is a 2-million-square-mile span of saltwater that is home to the breeding grounds of millions of eels. Most notably, freshwater European and American eels make this thousand-mile journey.

When male and female eels arrive at their specific breeding grounds, it is believed that eels reproduce through external fertilization. This means that the females release millions of eggs that then get fertilized by the males’ sperm. Sadly, the adult eels die soon after. The eggs then get fertilized and repeat the previous lifecycles, making their way back to North America and Europe respectively. Other species of eel have different, yet still specific breeding grounds.

Different Types

Remember, there are 800 species of known eel around the world! Imagine how many there are undiscovered if scientists couldn’t even identify their sexual organs for thousands of years.

The truth is that a lot is still unknown about eels and new species are still being discovered. Even the species that we have documented are not fully understood.

Here are some of the most well-known species of freshwater eel.

European

The European eel is a common type of freshwater eel that can live to be 85 years old in the wild and 55 years old in captivity! Unfortunately, they are listed as a critically endangered species due to overfishing, parasites, and other human activity.

These fish feature a pair of small pectoral fins and have the typical snake-like body. They grow to between 2 to 3 feet in length. As catadromous fish, European eels spend their adult lives in freshwater rivers and streams throughout much of Europe and migrate to saltwater conditions to reproduce. This particular species travels to the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean.

Interestingly, European eels don’t stop traveling upstream until they’re sexually mature. They’ve been found in seasonal ecosystems that dry up over hot months and in isolated lakes and ponds, confirming their ability to travel over land and to survive for extended periods buried in the substrate.

Many breeding programs have been installed to help declining numbers of the European eel with slight success using hormones and controlled conditions.

Shortfin and Longfin

Two more common types of eels originate from New Zealand: the longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the shortfin eel (Anguilla australis). The longfin eel is endangered while the shortfin eel is near threatened.

Like European eels, longfin and shortfin eels can live for a considerably long time. They are found in freshwater streams and lakes and make their way to regions in the Pacific Ocean for spawning. Longfin eels are found further inland in New Zealand than shortfin eels, but shortfin eels can also be found in several other countries across the South Pacific.

These two fish also have different breeding grounds. Longfin eels travel to areas near Tonga while shortfin eels migrate to deep waters around New Caledonia. Every female can produce up to 20 million eggs!

Longfin eels are aptly named for their lengthy fins. Their dorsal fin is almost two-thirds the length of their body. Shortfin eels have a similar appearance but have a fin that starts farther away from the head. Another difference is that when a longfin eel bends, wrinkles form on its skin; a shortfin eel’s skin will remain smooth. Females are notably larger and live longer than males.

Japanese

Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) are mainly found in Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Like the other types of eel on this list, Japanese eels also spawn in the sea but spend a large majority of their lives in freshwater.

When the time comes, Japanese eels travel to the North Equatorial Current in the western North Pacific. Throughout this long journey, Japanese eels do not eat. Instead, they collect all the nutrients they need through a specialized oil before making the trip.

These fish feature a dull grey, brown, and greenish dorsal on top of a white underbelly, though these colors depend on environmental factors.

Sadly, Japanese eel populations are decreasing due to changing ocean temperatures, habitat loss, and fluctuating salinities. Japenese eels are also a popular culinary dish, popularly known as unagi, though regulations have been implemented to reduce overharvesting and to encourage supplementation. As a result, they are listed as an endangered species.

The African Longfin

The African longfin eel (Anguilla mossambica) is another common type of eel, though not much is known about them. They have olive, gray, and black bodies with a light underside. They prefer fast currents in the western Indian Ocean off of Africa.

They eat a variety of fish and invertebrates, but will also scavenge.

Difference Between Freshwater and Saltwater

There are freshwater eels and there are saltwater eels, but most freshwater eels spend some time in saltwater conditions. Where marine eels live in the ocean can vary, with some preferring coastal lagoons and others enjoying the open sea. Some species even dig into the mud and sand.

The major difference between freshwater and saltwater eels is body texture and appearance. Freshwater eels have a firmer texture, while saltwater eels are softer and leaner. Most saltwater eels are also much more colorful than freshwater eels, making them a very popular addition to the marine aquarium.

For the adventurous eel connoisseur, freshwater and marine species also have different tastes.

How Do They Survive Migration?

You might be wondering how eels survive for thousands of miles as they transition from freshwater to saltwater. What do they eat? When do they sleep? How do they know where to go?

In fact, most eels don’t eat on their way to their final destination. In most cases, their stomach deteriorates. The blood vessels around the swim bladder increase for additional support while swimming. Their eyes also double in size, which increases sensitivity to blue waves of light, increasing their ability to see in the dark. Their kidneys also adapt to hold more salt to increase internal salinity levels to compensate for their surrounding salinity changes.

European eel migration is one of the longest migrations documented by any marine creature. They typically start their migration in autumn and arrive at the Sargasso Sea in late winter and spring. This journey is approximately 3,000 miles long and can range from 80 to 170 days.

It is believed that eels use every sense they have to navigate their journey. It’s also strongly believed that they rely on lunar cycles and wait for the perfect conditions in regard to temperature, salinity, tides, and currents, to make their move.

What About Captivity?

Because of their complex lifecycles, eels have not been bred in the home aquarium. Many researchers and hobbyists have attempted artificial breeding, but nothing can replicate the years spent in freshwater, transition to saltwater, and external fertilization.No one has ever seen captive eels breeding in a home aquarium. They have a complex life cycle, and their sexual organs only develop at the last stage. Also, they spend months and years traveling to the spawning ground present in the Sargasso Sea, where once eel eggs and sperm are realized, the fish die. Those free-floating eggs get externally fertilized.

That isn’t to say that researchers aren’t close, though. In fact, some species of eel have been successfully bred in closely monitored systems with the help of hormones and fluctuating parameters. However, the full lifecycle of an eel has never been achieved in captivity.Many people tried different artificial ways to breed mature eels in a home aquarium but to no avail.

Their Lifespan

Eels are very hard to kill. They are built to withstand extreme differences in environmental conditions and have a very long lifespan. Their blood is poisonous and they have been known to swim for hours on end even with their head cut off.

However, any traces of toxic ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate in the aquarium can cause your freshwater or saltwater eel to succumb to unfavorable environmental factors.

FAQs

Closing Thoughts

Eels are some of the most complex aquatic creatures but you wouldn’t know that from their simple snake-like appearance. For years, it was impossible to know the complex life stages these fish go through while transitioning from freshwater to saltwater. While we’re still not exactly sure how eels go through these stages and make their migrations, we will make those dissections over time.

Do you have any theories about how eels reproduce? Let us know your thoughts below! Let us know your thoughts below! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more crazy videos.

Are you looking to add some variety and ‘oomph’ to your African cichlid tank? With the right companions, an African cichlid tank can provide a vibrant display of unique colors, life-like behavior, and fun interactions. Check out the top 7 ideal African Cichlid tank mates ―all of which are sure to make any fish enthusiast smile! Each companion has been researched and vetted in order to ensure that they fit well with African cichlids while taking into account their specific needs so that you have peace of mind knowing your fish will have a safe environment in which to thrive.

Introduction To African Cichlids

When deciding what kind of fish to keep in your freshwater aquarium, you’ll be forced to choose between a community tank or an aggressive one. Those who don’t choose to go with community oftentimes find themselves with an impressive African cichlid setup.

It’s no wonder why African cichlids aquariums are so popular. These fish are big and beautiful and have interesting behaviors. Though they require a bigger tank than their community counterparts, their care requirements are relatively easy and straightforward.

African cichlids originate from some of the oldest freshwater lakes in the world, including Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Victoria. Many of the species in these African lakes have undergone divergent evolution over millions of years. This implies that one common ancestor evolved and adapted to different depths, parameters, and conditions within these ecosystems to create new species.

There are thought to be as many as 2,500 known members of the Cichlidae family around the world, with many unnamed and yet to be discovered.

Stocking A Tank

With so many species to choose from, it’s no wonder that the African cichlid quickly made its way into the home aquarium hobby.

One of the most common African cichlid setups is a 55-gallon tank featuring several lake species or a variety of one species. This tank should have good filtration as these fish can grow to a reasonable size. Decoration should be minimal yet sturdy, as cichlids are notorious for rearranging their environments; natural rocks, driftwood, and clay pots are preferred for shelter.

Most hobbyists use a bare bottom or crushed coral substrate that helps boost pH levels. African cichlids originate from hard, basic water parameters that need to be replicated in the home aquarium. Many hobbyists achieve this through a calcium carbonate substrate, though pH-boosting powders and liquids are regularly used as well.

Once the tank has been set up and cycled, it’s time to start thinking about which species you want to keep in the tank. While many cichlid enthusiasts only keep different types of cichlid in their tanks, others attempt to keep other fish species altogether.

There are a few things to keep in mind when keeping either other cichlid tank mates or other species, like tank size, water parameters, and aggression.

Things To Consider

It’s important to ask the question of if and why you want to keep species other than African cichlids. These are beautiful, active fish that naturally provide variety and excitement. Introducing other species is always a risk due to the natural aggression of cichlids.

Cichlids are large, aggressive fish that need adequate swimming space and ground to claim territory. The bare minimum tank size recommended for a cichlid tank is 55 gallons, with a 75-gallon tank setup providing much more comfortable space. Based on the size and aggression of individual fish, this may or may not be enough buffering to keep fish safe from one another, which could limit the number of potential tank mates.

If planning to keep tank mates outside the Cichlidae family, it’s recommended to have an aquarium that is at least 125 gallons. As we’ll see, many potential cichlid tank mates grow to extreme sizes on their own, requiring a larger tank.

It’s also important to consider the natural habitat of African cichlids. Though they come from isolated ecosystems, conditions change across different regions of the given lake. In general, African cichlids prefer hard, basic water parameters. This is in contrast to most another freshwater tropical fish that originate from soft, acidic conditions.

Lastly, aggression will determine which tank mates do and do not work. This is true for the demeanor of the individual cichlid and given tank mate.

The Best Tank Mates

Though African cichlids are regularly kept in cichlid-only tanks, there are a few options once tank size, water conditions, and aggression levels have been matched. Even if you choose to keep only African cichlids, there are still a few considerations when putting different species together.

We have a video below from our YouTube channel. We go over more detail in our blog post below. If you like our content, make sure to subscribe. We post new videos every week!

Here are some of the best tank mate options available for African cichlids tank setups!

1. Other Types

The best tank mates for African cichlids are other African cichlids. However, there are some hard rules that need to be considered when mixing these fish.

African cichlids originate from massive lakes where varieties of the same species might not ever interact. Now take into consideration the differences in appearance and behavior between entire species found at separate ends of the given lake. There are simply too many differences between African cichlids to say they are all compatible.

The key differences between these fish are size, activity, and aggression. Some fish stay relatively still while others zoom around the tank. Though all cichlids have an aggressive nature, some actively seek out fights while others wait to defend their territories.

There are many species of African cichlids (and many more yet to be discovered). Some of the most popular ones are from the following genera:

• Melanochromis
• Pseudotropheus
• Aulonocara
• Neolamprologus
• Sciaenochromis
• Haplochromis
• Cyphotilapia

It is very common to keep species-only tanks featuring peacock cichlids (Aulonocara spp.), hap cichlids (Haplochromis), or Mbuna cichlids which is a general group of cichlids from Lake Malawi. Other hobbyists pick specific regions of African lakes and stock according to the endemic species of that area.

There are many combinations that do and do not work. Some tried, and true tank mate pairings don’t work because of an especially aggressive fish. Tank mates should be researched thoroughly and added together for the best chances of success. It also helps to pick fish that are generally the same size and different colors.

2. Jewel Cichlid

• Scientific name: Hemichromis bimaculatus
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Origin: Western Africa
• Size: 6 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• pH: 7.0-8.0
• Temperature: 75-82°F

The jewel cichlid is one of the most attractive African cichlids available. These fish are bright red with small, iridescent blue flecks.

Though jewel cichlids are a type of African cichlid, they’re not compatible with most other endemic species. This is because these otherwise semi-aggressive fish turn into overly aggressive fish whenever they spawn. Jewel cichlids have known fin nippers and will fight to the death to defend their young.

There is some debate about whether or not jewel cichlids should be kept with other cichlids. There is a lot that can and has gone wrong. However, hobbyists have found success keeping jewel cichlids in the same tank with more aggressive African cichlids, like Mbuna species.

3. Paratilapia polleni

• Scientific name: Paratilapia polleni
• Temperament: Aggressive to smaller fish
• Origin: Madagascar
• Size: 12 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore (naturally a piscivore)
• pH: 6.5-8.0
• Temperature: 75-82°F

Sometimes called the starry night cichlid (video source), Paratilapia polleni is a relatively peaceful species of East African cichlid. These speckled near-black fish are endangered and the last remaining species of their genus. This can make them relatively difficult and expensive to obtain in the hobby.

Paratilapia polleni are large fish that are mainly piscivores in the wild, meaning that most of their diet is made up of smaller fish. The problem is that these African cichlids can grow to be a foot in length, leaving many fish to be smaller than them. As long as tank mates can’t easily fit into the mouth of your Paratilapia polleni, there shouldn’t be too many problems keeping them with other African cichlids.

4. Synodontis Catfish

• Scientific name: Synodontis spp.
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Origin: Africa
• Size: Varies
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• pH: 7.5-9.0
• Temperature: 75-82°F

Cichlids aren’t the only fish present in African lakes. Synodontis catfish are found in central and west African ecosystems, with notable populations in Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. Some popular species for the cichlid aquarium include:

• Cuckoo catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus)
• Dwarf Lake/False cuckoo Synodontis (Synodontis petricola)
• Malawi squeaker (Synodontis njassae)

These catfish are ideal as they come from the same ecosystems as cichlids, but at different depths; Synodontis catfish live on the bottom while cichlids stay higher up in the water column. In the aquarium, these fish need to be given plenty of hiding places. They also prefer to be in small shoals or at least 3 or 4.

5. Rainbowfish

• Scientific name: Melanotaenia spp.
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Origin: Australia and New Guinea
• Size: 4-5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• pH: 7.0-8.0
• Temperature: 75-82°F

An unlikely pairing, rainbowfish and African cichlids have been known to live harmoniously together. Rainbowfish are large and fast yet peaceful fish that can easily outmaneuver or intimidate a cichlid when in a school with others.

Their size, speed, and tolerance to more basic water conditions make rainbowfish a great potential tank mate for African cichlids. Rainbowfish can be thought of as a dither fish species for cichlids as they lessen aggression and encourage natural behavior.

Not all rainbowfish can be tank mates for African cichlids, though. Boeseman’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is the best species to pick.

6. Pleco Fish

• Scientific name: Hypostomus spp., Ancistrus spp.
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Origin: South America
• Size: Varies
• Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• pH: 7.0-8.0
• Temperature: 75-82°F

Pleco species aren’t usually recommended for aquarium use, but they tend to make perfect tank mate options for a cichlid aquarium. These South American fish have been bred in the aquarium to endure various water parameters, including those harder and more basic ones preferred by African cichlids.

Plecos are armored fish that spend most of their time hidden under rocks and branches on the substrate floor. While these fish have excellent camouflage, chosen plecos should still be several inches in length to be able to defend themselves from especially aggressive cichlids.

Common plecos kept in cichlid tank setups include the common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) and some bristlenose species (Ancistrus spp.).

7. Red Tail Shark

• Scientific name: Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive to aggressive
• Origin: Thailand
• Size: 4 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
• Diet: Omnivore
• pH: 6.5-7.5
• Temperature: 75-82°F

The red-tail shark is a problematic fish within the tropical community fish hobby. They are often misidentified as calmer and more peaceful rainbow sharks (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum), leaving unknowing hobbyists with very aggressive fish as they can be incompatible tank mates.

Red-tail sharks are small and fast. They can easily find coverage in a sheltered area from a predator, though they’re very likely to try to fight back. These freshwater sharks are extremely territorial and have successfully been kept with some of the less aggressive species of an African cichlid.

The problem is that redtail sharks can’t tolerate a high pH level. The red tail shark originates from detritus-rich freshwater rivers and streams in Southeast Asia, which is a very different environment from that of African cichlid species. To make these two work as tank mates, the pH must stay at the upper range for the red-tail shark and the lower range for the African cichlid at about 7.5.

Fish To Avoid

Unfortunately, there are more fish that can’t be added to African cichlid tanks than there are good tank mates. Many fish available in the hobby can’t tolerate the hard and basic water that African cichlids need. On top of that, cichlids try to kill almost every small and docile fish that comes near them. Both these factors considered leaves very few tank mate options available.

Still, some fish species should be avoided entirely.

Most Community Freshwater Fish

As mentioned before, most community freshwater fish are incompatible with African cichlid species. This is largely due to differences in preferred water parameters and aggression levels.

Most freshwater fish originate from South America or Southeast Asia where water is very soft and acidic. This is very different from the higher hardness and pH levels preferred by African cichlids.

A freshwater fish tank is also set up much differently than one meant for cichlids. Freshwater fish love plenty of hiding spots with natural decor like live plants. While cichlids come from a very open and rocky terrain, freshwater fish like to hide in and around vegetation.

Lastly, many freshwater fish have peaceful demeanors. They rely on schooling behaviors to keep them safe from predators instead of being actively aggressive. Cichlids establish territories they will defend to death, especially during spawning periods, and won’t hesitate to attack and kill other fish.

Goldfish

Goldfish cannot be kept with any tropical fish, including African cichlids. Goldfish are coldwater fish with very exact and limited tank mates due to their preference for low temperatures and their high waste output. On top of that, many fancy goldfish are poor swimmers that would easily get beat up by an African cichlid.

Koi

For the same reasons why goldfish can’t be African cichlid tank mates, koi should also be avoided. Koi are coldwater fish that need low temperatures and good filtration due to their high waste output. Due to their size and activity level, they are best kept in pond settings.

Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras catfish might seem like a good tank mate option for African cichlids due to their speed and safety in numbers as bottom feeders, but they are not. Corydoras largely originate from blackwater ecosystems throughout South America. In addition to their preference for softer and acid water, they also prefer lower water temperatures which are incompatible with cichlids.

Corydoras also stay relatively small, making them easy to eat for larger fish despite being kept in big schools.

American Cichlids

While many cichlids are native to Africa, an entirely different selection of fish is available from South America, including Central America. Some of these fish include members of the Mikrogeophagus, Apistogramma, and Symphysodon genera.

Many South American cichlids, especially dwarf cichlids, can be kept with freshwater community species due to their generally peaceful demeanors. This is in direct contrast to African cichlids’ aggressive and incompatible temperament. As species from South America, these fish also prefer different water parameters from their African counterparts.

While it is usually a hard no to keep African and South American cichlids together, hobbyists have succeeded in keeping some species together. This should only be attempted by expert cichlid-keepers.

Final Thoughts

African cichlids are large, beautiful fish that can quickly fill up an aquarium. The problem is that not many suitable tank mates can be safely kept with them, deterring some hobbyists from keeping a species-only setup. Even then, some African cichlids have problems with each other, which can lead to gruesome death.

Luckily, several species have been found to be good tank mates for African cichlids. Long-term success will largely depend on the individual personalities of the fish, though.

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📘 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Freshwater Fish Guide — your ultimate resource for freshwater species, care tips, tank setup, and more.

Are you looking for some great new friends for your neon tetras? These colorful fish are one of the best community species in the aquarium hobby because of their peaceful and easy-going nature. Choosing the perfect tank mates for your fish can be stressful, and that’s exactly why I’ve written this article.

Read along for some great neon tetra tank mates and loads of other useful tips. Let’s get started!

Choosing NEON TETRA Tank Mates – A Word Of Caution

Neon tetras get along with loads of other tropical fish, but there are just as many species that don’t make good tank mates. So how do you choose?

Size

Neon Tetras are very small fish with a maximum size of about 1.25 inches. At this size, many larger fish can (and will) swallow them whole!

Most popular aquarium species are omnivorous or carnivorous fish, so choosing similar-sized tank mates is always a good idea. There are exceptions, but most fish that grow over 3 or 4 inches will be risky.

Neon tetras can be housed in tanks as small as 10 gallons on their own, but bigger is better if you want to keep more than one species. 15 gallons will work, but 20+ is a better bet when setting up a community tank.

Group Size

Group or school size is another important factor to consider when choosing neon tetra tank mates.

You will notice that the fish species in this article are small, up to 2 inches. Fish of that size might not need very much room, but these species are social creatures that need to be kept with their own kind to behave confidently.

Parameters

Neon tetras prefer slightly cooler water than most other tropical fish. They also enjoy mildly acidic water. These are important factors when choosing tank mates because some fish need colder or warmer conditions or water with a higher pH.

Let’s take a look at the ideal parameters for your neon tetras:

• Water Temperature: 68 – 78 °F
• pH: 5 – 7
• Hardness: 18 – 215 ppm
• Flow: Low to Moderate

Temperament

Neon tetras are peaceful fish, and they need peaceful tank mates. Avoid territorial fish or species that are known to be aggressive or nip fins. Be aware that even peaceful fish can behave badly if they are not kept in groups or if they are under stress.

Swimming Level

It’s a good idea to add fish that occupy various levels in the water column. This article focuses on colorful schooling and shoaling fish, but adding a few bottom feeders will help to keep your tank clean while adding another layer of movement.

Top 15 Companions

Now that you know what to look for in the perfect neon tetra tank mate let’s jump in and meet 15 amazing species you can add to your fish tank. Take note of the following facts and guidelines for each species:

• Scientific Name
• Adult Size
• Care Level
• Temperament
• Swimming Level
• Minimum Tank Size
• pH
• Water Temperature

Let’s get started!

1. Other Types

• Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
• Adult Size: 1.25 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Middle
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• pH: 5 -7
• Water Temperature: 68 – 78 °F

Sometimes, the best tank mates for neon tetras are other neon tetras! These peaceful tropical fish are very social creatures that live in large schools in their natural habitat.

There is no limit to the number of neon tetras you can keep if you have enough room, but you should keep a minimum of 6. Like other schooling aquarium fish, your neon tetras just won’t be comfortable without the company of their own species.

2. Black

• Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
• Adult Size: 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ top-water
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• pH: 5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 72 – 77 °F

Black neon tetras are a different species from regular neon tetras, but they have very similar behavior. Their bold black, silver, and red colors contrast with the blues of the neon tetras for an amazing display.

Black neon tetras are true community fish. They grow slightly larger than regular neon tetras, but you can easily keep a small school of both species in a 15-gallon tank with good filtration and plenty of swimming space.

3. Green

• Scientific Name: Paracheirodon simulans
• Adult Size: 0.75 – 1 inch
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ top-water
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• pH: 5 – 6.5
• Water Temperature: 76 – 95 °F

The green neon tetra is very similar to the regular neon, but it stays a little smaller. These little fish have even brighter blue and green coloration but have less red than regular neon tetras.

Green neons can make great neon tetra tank mates, but they prefer warmer water. That means the two species must be kept right around 77°F to keep everyone happy.

4. Dwarf Rasbora

• Scientific Name: Boraras maculatus
• Adult Size: 0.75 – 1 inch
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ top-water
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• pH: 5 – 6.5
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82 °F

The dwarf rasbora (video resource) is a tiny fish from Southeast Asia. They are very peaceful fish that will thrive in a well-maintained community tank with neon tetras and other smaller fish.

The dwarf rasbora is a good tank mate for a heavily planted aquarium. These fish can thrive in a small tank, but maintaining excellent water quality in a low volume of water is best left to more experienced aquarists.

5. Exclamation Point Rasbora

• Scientific Name: Boraras urophthalmoides
• Adult Size: 0.5 – 0.75 inches
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ lower levels
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• pH: 6 – 7
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82 °F

The exclamation point rasbora is a true nano fish and one of the smallest freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby! These tiny schooling fish get their name from the dot and stripes on the sides of their body.

Exclamation point rasboras are good neon tetra tank mates in a heavily planted aquascape. They are ideal for more advanced aquarists looking for a nano community fish.

6. Harlequin Rasbora

• Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
• Adult Size: 1.5 – 1.75 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ top-water
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• pH: 5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 70 – 82°F

Looking for a hardy fish with great color and personality for your neon tetra community tank? Look no further than the harlequin rasbora! These beautiful fish make quite a statement with their bold black triangular markings.

Harlequin rasboras will get along great with your neon tetras, but it’s very important to keep them with other fish of their own species. Pick up a group of at least 8 of these active fish.

7. Celestial Pearl Danio

• Scientific Name: Celestichthys margaritatus
• Adult Size: 0.75 inches
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ lower levels
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• pH: 6.5 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 68 – 78°F

Celestial pearl danios (AKA galaxy rasboras) are very suitable tank mates for neon tetras in a well-maintained home aquarium. These little fish are very peaceful, but they are easily outcompeted for food by larger active swimmers, so choose their tank mates carefully.

You will love the way these shoaling fish hang out and display for each other. They are not exactly coldwater fish, but they enjoy the same cooler water temperatures as neon tetras.

8. Cherry Barbs

• Scientific Name: Puntius titteya
• Adult Size: 1.75 – 2 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Mid/ top-water
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• pH: 6 – 8
• Water Temperature: 68 – 80 °F

Cherry barbs are a great nano community fish from the same family as goldfish. They are a very peaceful barb species that won’t bother your neon tetras.

These schooling fish come from forest streams in Asia, and they thrive in community tanks with other peaceful schooling fish.

Cherry barbs are very active swimmers, and they need the company of their own species to feel comfortable. Keep a group of at least 6 in a tank with plenty of swimming space, and you’ll find that they make great tank mates for your neon tetras!

9. Dwarf Gourami

• Scientific Name: Trichogaster lalius
• Adult Size: 3 inches
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: All levels
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• pH: 6 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 72 – 80°F

Dwarf Gouramis are active and curious fish that enjoy exploring their aquarium. These fascinating fish breathe air at the surface of the tank, so keep that in mind if you plan on growing floating plants.

The male dwarf gourami is a very colorful fish with iridescent blues, reds, and silvers – just like your neon tetras! These fish should be kept in pairs or small groups.

10. Honey Gourami

• Scientific Name: Trichogaster chuna
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: All levels
• Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
• pH: 6 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 72 – 80 °F

The honey gourami is similar to the dwarf gourami but stays even small at around 2 inches. These peaceful tropical fish will brighten up your aquarium with their beautiful golden color.

Honey gouramis are easy to care for, so they make a great choice for beginner fish keepers looking for a new species with an interesting shape and calm personality. You can keep a pair of these fish in a tank of 15 gallons but jump up to 20 gallons or more if you want a small group.

11. Sparkling Gourami

Sparkling gouramis (video source) are also known as pygmy gouramis. They are one of the smallest gourami species in the aquarium hobby, and they are a great choice for your neon tetra tank.

They are more streamlined than other gouramis, and their large fins and bright blue eyes really make them stand out in a tropical community. Sparkling gouramis are not exactly schooling fish, but they prefer to be kept in a group with their own species.

12. Amano Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Caridina multidentata
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Care Level: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Bottom
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• pH: 6 – 7.6
• Water Temperature: 60 – 80°F

Amano shrimp are one of the larger freshwater shrimp species in the aquarium hobby. These shrimp are named after Takashi Amano, the legendary aquarist and photographer.

Amano Shrimp are amazing algae eaters, which makes them the perfect choice for planted aquariums. They may not be the most colorful inverts, but they are fascinating to watch.

Adults are generally safe with neon tetras and other small fish, but shrimplets can be risky. Providing plenty of hiding spaces and dense plants like Java moss will give them a safe place to hang out until they are large enough to explore.

13. Cherry Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi
• Adult Size: 1.25 – 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Bottom
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• pH: 6.8 – 7.5
• Water Temperature: 65 – 80 °F

Cherry shrimp are popular, hardy, and affordable freshwater shrimp that can be great neon tetra tank mates. These bottom feeders eat algae and other waste, which makes them a natural choice for your clean-up crew!

Adult cherry shrimp are usually safe to keep with neon tetras, but the babies will be eaten if they don’t have plenty of hiding places like caves and fine-leaved plants. You may wish to add a few inexpensive ghost shrimp first to see if your fish are going to be shrimp-safe.

14. Nerite Snail

• Scientific Name: Neritina spp.
• Adult Size: 1- 1.5 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Bottom
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• pH: 6.5 – 8.5
• Water Temperature: 65 – 85 °F

Nerite snails are beautiful and hardworking members of your clean-up crew. These colorful creatures cruise around on the leaves of plants and your aquarium glass, slowly grazing on algae to keep your tank looking great.

Nerite snails do not breed in freshwater, so you don’t have to worry about them multiplying in your tank. Many amazing species are available in the aquarium trade, with zebra and tiger nerites being the most popular.

15. Mystery Snails

• Scientific Name: Pomacea bridgesii
• Adult Size: 2 inches
• Care Level: Easy
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Swimming Level: Bottom
• Minimum Tank Size: 5 gallons
• pH: 7 – 8.4
• Water Temperature: 68 – 82°F

Mystery snails are another great invertebrate option for your neon tetra tank. These large snails come in a variety of colors, including white, golden, purple, and blue.

These snails lay their eggs outside of the water, so you don’t have to worry about them breeding if you keep your tank full. Mystery snails can be kept with neon tetras if you have water right around neutral but they do not thrive in low-pH conditions.

Other Possibilities

Want even more neon tetra tank mate ideas? These fish are also potential choices:

• White cloud minnows
• Bristlenose plecos
• Kuhli loaches
• Corydoras catfish
• Zebra danios

Fish To Avoid

Now that we’ve covered a bunch of great neon tetra tank mates let’s take a look at some of the tank mates you should avoid.

• Severums
• Any large, aggressive fish
• Aggressive cichlids

Most of the fish listed above are examples of larger fish that can eat your neon tetras. Avoid fish that grow larger than about 3 inches to stay on the safe side.

Betta fish aren’t going to eat neon tetras, but they can be a little aggressive toward them. The least risky will be female bettas. Other small aggressive fish like tiger barbs and silvertip tetras should also be avoided as well as any species that require water temperatures above 78 °F or a pH above 7.

Community Tank Tips

Have you chosen your favorite neon tetra tank mates? Before you go out and order your new fish, take a few minutes to read through these handy neon tetra tank tips!

Tank Size

You can keep neon tetras in a tank of just 10 gallons, but your options are pretty limited. I would suggest a tank of at least 15 gallons, but 20 gallons or more is advisable. Remember, neon tetras are schooling fish, so you’re going to want at least 6.

If you add some other schooling aquarium fish like harlequin rasboras, your total stocking will increase to at least 14 fish.

Bigger is (almost) always better when setting up a community tank, so keep this in mind if you don’t already have your aquarium set up.

Filtration, Lighting & Heating

A successful neon community tank requires good filtration, a reliable aquarium heater, and six to eight hours of lighting each day.

Neon tetras do not mind a decent flow rate in their tank since they live in rivers in their natural environment. Nevertheless, they are small fish that will become stressed if forced to swim against a strong current all day.

Decorating Your Tank

Your Neon Tetras will enjoy plenty of swimming space, but they prefer to have some structure in their home. Add some driftwood and rocks to create a more natural habitat.

Growing live plants in your aquarium is a great way to improve your water quality and make your tank even more beautiful.

Choose easy plants like Java ferns and Amazon sword if you’re just starting out. These plants don’t need any specialized equipment to thrive.

Feeding Your Fish

Neon tetras are very easy to feed. Providing high-quality flake food once or twice each day will keep them happy and healthy. Provide the occasional treat like live or frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp to keep your fish in top condition.

Overfeeding your fish is a common mistake that can have some surprisingly serious consequences. Watch your fish eat; they should be able to finish their food in a minute or so.

Tank Maintenance

Maintaining a healthy neon tetra community tank takes a little regular maintenance.

Schedule an hour or so each week to perform regular water changes and tank maintenance. I recommend testing your water every week to monitor the build-up of nitrates and phosphates.

You can plan your maintenance schedule around the results of your tests and aim to keep your nitrate levels down to about 20 parts per million or less. You’ll also want to clean your glass and ornaments from time to time and rinse out your filter media when it begins to clog up.

However, there are some things you can do to minimize the amount of maintenance you need to do. Use these tips to keep your tank cleaner for longer:

• Avoid overstocking your tank. More fish means more food and more fish poop!
• Grow live plants
• Use high-quality filtration
• Avoid overfeeding
• Add clean-up crew animals like nerite snails and cherry shrimps

Where To Buy

Are you ready to get some new friends for your neon tetras? You should have no trouble tracking down the species in this list. Most local fish stores will stock these fish; just make sure to buy from stores that take great care of their animals.

More and more aquarists are buying their fish online these days. You can also consider ordering your fish from a trusted online retailer and having them delivered directly to your door!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Use the tips in this guide to help you choose your next tank mates. Remember, choose peaceful, similar-size fish that enjoy the same water parameters as your neon tetras. Give them plenty of swimming space and keep their tank clean for a happy and healthy home aquarium!

What is your favorite neon tetra tank mate? Let us know in the comments below!

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📘 Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Freshwater Fish Guide — your ultimate resource for freshwater species, care tips, tank setup, and more.