Short-finned plakat with a shifting marble pattern — the color keeps changing as it ages. Solo in 5+ gallons, heated, gentle flow, lid on.

Steel-blue body with mustard-yellow fins. Plakats are the athletic, short-finned bettas — more active than halfmoons. One per tank, 5+ gallons.

A delicate mouthbrooding gourami with a chocolate body and gold bars. Wants soft, acidic, blackwater-style conditions, peaceful tankmates, and warm water. For experienced keepers.

Solid metallic-blue dwarf gourami. Peaceful centerpiece for a planted community — one male per tank, floating cover, calm tankmates.

Small, gentle, and quiet — one of the easiest gouramis for a planted community. Shy at first; settles in with floating plants and slow flow.

The intense orange-red form of the honey gourami. Same easy care — great in pairs or small groups in a 10+ gallon planted tank.

The classic — full-length red stripe under electric blue. Keep 10+ in a planted tank; soft, warm water brings out the best color. Great with discus and rams.

Tiny glowing-orange nano tetra. Peaceful and perfect for planted nano tanks; keep 10+ and they'll school tight. Safe with shrimp.

Two sizes in this week. The standard community schooler — groups of 8+, planted tank, moderate temps. Cheaper than cardinals and a little hardier.

A deep cherry-red Hyphessobrycon that holds its color in a planted tank. Peaceful schooler — 6+ together, soft to neutral water.

Surface-dwelling hatchet with a marbled body. Floating plants and a tight lid are mandatory — they jump. Groups of 6+, feed at the surface.

The smallest hatchetfish — a nano surface fish for planted tanks. Groups of 6+, gentle flow, lid on. Shrimp safe.

Slender pencilfish with a clean dark stripe and red fin accents. Peaceful, hangs mid-to-upper water; 6+ in a planted tank with gentle flow.

A peaceful barb with orange-gold diamond patterning — nothing like a tiger barb temperament. Groups of 6+, planted tank, soft water.

Galaxy-spotted nano danio with red fins. Keep 8+ in a heavily planted tank; shy in open tanks. Shrimp safe.

Gold-spotted nano danio that stays under an inch. Active but peaceful; groups of 8+ in a planted 10+ gallon. Tolerates cooler water.

Blazing red nano rasbora, one of the best shrimp-tank fish. Keep 10+ in a planted tank with tannins and low flow for the deepest red.

A slimmer, more copper-orange cousin of the harlequin. Peaceful schooler — 8+ in a planted community.

Iridescent blue-green nano fish from blackwater streams. Needs very soft, acidic water, tannins, and tiny foods — for experienced nano keepers. Groups of 10+.

The dependable community schooler with the black triangle patch. Groups of 8+, any planted tank, hardy and peaceful.

Red-orange nano rasbora with a dark shoulder spot. Same care as chili rasboras — soft water, planted tank, 10+ together.

Deep red with a dark blotch behind the gill. One of the boldest-colored nano rasboras; keep 10+ in a planted tank. Shrimp safe.

Strawberry-red body with a large dark spot. Tiny, peaceful, and shrimp safe — 10+ in a planted nano with gentle flow.

Pale cory covered in fine black dots with a dark eye mask. Groups of 6+ on sand, sinking foods. A less common cory that's easy to keep.

A smooth slate-blue cory with orange-edged fins on mature males. Peaceful and hardy; 6+ on sand with sinking wafers.

The nano cory that swims mid-water in a tight school. Keep 10+ in a planted tank on sand; shrimp safe and perfect for small setups.

The go-to algae eater for planted tanks — grazes diatoms and soft film without touching plants. Groups of 6+ in an established tank with algae or wafers.

Flat, sucker-bodied loach with a gold net pattern. Needs strong flow, oxygen, and cooler water — a powerhead helps. Grazes biofilm off rock and glass.

The true SAE — one of the few fish that eats black beard algae. Grows large and active; 30+ gallons, groups of 3+, planted tank.

A dark, sleek garra that scrapes algae and biofilm off hardscape all day. Wants current and oxygen; peaceful with community fish.

Gold body with black leopard spotting. Hardy community livebearer — harder, alkaline water, will breed. Grazes soft algae.

Red body with jet-black fins and tail. The classic beginner platy; peaceful, hardy, and prolific.

Blue-green rainbow with a deep body and orange-edged fins on mature males. Groups of 6+ in a 40+ gallon planted tank; peaceful and active.

A small rainbow that colors up orange-red under good light. Great for 20-gallon-long planted tanks; groups of 6+.

Solid turquoise-blue that shifts to a green sheen. One of the most striking rainbows — 40+ gallons, groups of 6+, harder water.

Banded nano killi with a rocket-shaped blue-and-orange tail. Peaceful surface fish for planted nano tanks; tight lid, gentle flow, small live/frozen foods.

Red-and-blue Nothobranchius sold in pairs. An annual killi — fast-growing, spectacular color, short lifespan; easy to breed in peat. Best in a species tank.

The best algae-eating shrimp in the hobby — won't breed in freshwater, so the population stays put. Groups of 5+ in an established planted tank. No copper meds.

Deep translucent-red Neocaridina. Same easy care as cherry shrimp — stable mature tank, sponge filter, no copper. Breeds readily.

Mixed colors — gold, blue, ivory, and more. Peaceful scavenger that won't eat healthy plants; harder water for shell health, tight lid.