Zebra Danios
Zebra Danios are surface dwellers and a peaceful schooling fish. Zebra fish are very active, lively and hardy. An excellent addition to any tropical aquarium because they are never shy, always visible and they feature a beautiful shimmering silver color that gives life to the aquarium. Zebra Danios are one of the best freshwater fish for starting out an aquarium. Zebra Danios are best kept in schools of 4 or more. When kept alone, they tend to be shy and nervous and get easily stressed out. Zebra Danios will school with other types of danios (leopard danios and spotted danios for example).
Maximum size: 2 inches - Average size: 1 inch
Sex differences: Females have more of a vivid silver tone then males and they grow larger and more round then the male zebra danio.
Clown Loach
Clown Loaches are suitable for freshwater aquariums 20 gallons and up. They can get quite large but they grow very slow, so they can be put in a small aquarium as long as they are eventually upgraded to a larger tank. Clown Loaches are often added as a bottom feeder to aquariums to control snails, they eat pest snails and bottom food like shrimp pellets. Clown Loaches like adequate hiding spaces yet they still need open space to swim since they can be active at times and very shy at other times. They can be put together in schools but they are solitary once they get older. The Clown Loach ia a great community fish addition for any tropical aquarium.
Maximum size: 12 inches - Average size: 6 inches
Sex differences: Clown Loach females and males are indistinguishable from each other.
Tiger Barbs
Tiger Barbs are schooling tropical fish that are quite active and an enjoyment to watch. Tiger Barbs are mildly territorial if they are not a part of a school. Minimum 3 per tank and they can be kept with other peaceful fish. Do not keep Tiger Barbs with slow moving, long finned tropical fish because they are fin-nippers and can be aggressive towards slow moving fish. Tiger Barbs are a hardy fish that will occupy all areas of a tank, top, middle and bottom. If your aquarium is small, 20 gallons and under, you might not want to include barbs because of their territorial nature unless you include other semi-aggressive fish then every fish school will establish their own territories. Tiger barbs are very hardy fish and a good addition to the semi-aggressive and fast-moving tropical fish aquarium.
Maximum size: 2.25 inches - Average size: 1 inch
Sex differences: Female Tiger Barb is more round and has lighter/pale color then males. The slimmer males have vivid coloring compared to females.
Cherry Barbs
Cherry barbs are a shy fish, so adequate hiding spaces are necessary. Cherry barbs are a peaceful (when in schools) and hardy tropical fish that are a good addition to a tropical aquarium. Sometimes males can be a little bit aggressive but they tend to be more calm when they are in a school. It is recommended cherry barbs be in a school of at least 4 so that they keep to themselves and do not pick on other fish, unless you can distinguish and acquire only females, then a pair will be fine in any freshwater fish tank. Cherry barbs are very shy and nervous when kept alone.
Maximum size: 2 inches -Average size: 1 inch
Sex differences: Females are darker colored with yellow toned fins compared to the male Cherry barb.
Red Tailed Black Shark
The Red Tailed Black Shark is a peaceful schooling fish when young, but beware they grow up to be solitary and highly aggressive towards their own species. They have been known to kill other Red Tailed Black Sharks that they once schooled with in an aquarium once matured. It is best to get only one per aquarium. These freshwater sharks are bottom dwellers that are very peaceful with other freshwater fish. Provide adequate hiding space for they need their privacy and can sometimes be shy. Other times, you'll find them swimming about in a frenzy with your other fish
Maximum size: 4.5 inches - Average size: 2.5 inches
Sex differences: Females are more bulky and more rounded then the slim and sleek male Red Tailed Black Shark