Not all fish are created equal. Some fish are more social than others, making them ideal for a community aquarium with other fish. Our expert-approved list of the friendliest freshwater fish puts your aquarium on easy street with a gang of tank mates who will love each other! If you want an aquarium fish that will get along well with other fish, keep reading. We’re going to look at the friendliest freshwater fish for your aquarium based on their personality traits, behavior, and tolerance of other fish.

 Neon Tetra

The Tetra is one of the beginner favorites and by far one of the most well-known species of freshwater fish on our list. The Neon Tetra are well known for their bright blue bodies and red stripes that seemingly glow in the dark! They are a very easy to care for little fish who reach a length of under 3cm. They are very calm and like to be in groups of other tetras. They love to hide to make sure to have plenty of décor in their homes.

 

Guppies

Guppies are a great beginner friendly fish and make wonderful community fish as well. They like being in groups of about 5 to 10 at a time. Since they swim in the foreground of your tank, you will see them quite often. They are very social and will interact with one another on a regular basis. If you don’t want these groups to grow, be sure to separate them, in the right conditions, they are excellent breeders.

 

Rainbowfish

The Rainbowfish is very easy to care for. They have beautifully vibrant colors that come through in adulthood. They tend to be very shy, but they get along very well with other fish such as barbs and tetras.

 

Zebra Danios

Zebra Danios are low maintenance small fish that love groups as they are schooling fish. If these little guys are not kept in groups, it will stress them out so be sure to get them lots of friends. They are jumpers so be sure to keep their tanks covered. These fish tend to love a varied diet and are well mannered, so they are the perfect fish for beginners.

 

Platies

The Platies, otherwise known as the Platy fish, are very pretty and come in a variety of colors. They are peaceful and love communities; they get along very well with guppies and mollies. They love a mix of plant-based foods and meats.

 

Angelfish …Don’t let the name fool you …

Did you know that the Angelfish, while they are a beautiful, angelic looking fish, should be kept away from small fish? Angelfish can be territorial and aggressive (though not anywhere the level of a Betta fish who should be kept alone), so it’s best to keep them in a tank without many other smaller fish.

Finding the best fish for your aquarium can be a daunting task. After all, there are thousands of different species to choose from and hundreds of options within each species. But one thing is certain: at the end of the day, the personality of your fish and how they interact will define your aquarium experience.