by A Morris

Created on: July 22, 2008

There are many small species of tropical freshwater fish that make great pets and live well in a community with other species. The following species would be ideal for a community aquarium. Their sizes range from approximately 25mm to 125mm, with Barbs, Danios, Tetras and Guppies at the smaller end, and Gouramis and Headstanders at the larger end. Catfish vary greatly in size so be careful to select an appropriate sub-group.

Cyprinids (Barbs, Rosboro and Danio)

These fish are quite unique - they don't have any teeth in their jaws. Instead they grind up food using their throats. The three main species of cyprinids are listed here, although there are many other species that don't fall into any of these three categories. Barbs are generally very active fish, and have small whiskers (hence 'barb') for searching for food on the tank floor. Most Danios are also active, and live in the upper levels of the tank, feeding at the surface. Barbs tend to prefer still water, whereas Danios are much happier in faster flowing water. Keep your tank well filtered and aerated. Danios are a shoaling fish, so it's good to keep them in groups. Rasboros have a mixture of characteristics from both the Danio and the Barb, living at the upper and mid levels of the tank in shoals.

Characins (Tetra, Piranha, Hatchetfish, Pencilfish, Headstander)

Most fish in the characin group originate in South America, though several are native to Africa. These fish have a small extra fin on the dorsal surface. Known as the adipose fin, it remains a mystery to scientists as to its purpose. The males of some species also have a tiny hook on the anal fin. Hatchetfish live just below the surface, waiting to catch food. They're known to 'fly' above the surface catching food by flapping their large pectoral fins. Tetras swim in the mid-level, whilst pencilfish prefer the upper levels

Anabantoids (Gourami, Siamese Fighting fish)

These medium-sized fish are native to parts of Africa and Southern Asia. Whilst the Siamese Fighting fish is known world-wide for its aggression towards other males, anabantoids are generally noted for their peaceful character. Still, any fish can become aggressive at breeding time. Some fishkeepers refer to the Gourami as the Labyrinth fish. This name derives from this fish's ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen through a special organ just below the gills. If the water is polluted or loses its oxygenation, the gourami can use this special system to get the oxygen it needs. When breeding,

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