Freshwater fish care guides and gear that actually works.

Species profiles, honest gear reviews, and no-nonsense advice for every tank size.

Explore Species Guides

Species Guides

Everything you need to know before bringing a new fish home.

Easy

Betta Fish

Betta splendens

5+ gal76-82°F

Beginner

Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

10+ gal70-81°FSchool of 6+

Beginner

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

10+ gal72-82°FSchool of 6+

Beginner

Bronze Corydoras

Corydoras aeneus

20+ gal72-79°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

5+ gal65-80°FSchool of 10+

Beginner

Platy

Xiphophorus maculatus

10+ gal70-80°F

Easy

Molly

Poecilia sphenops

20+ gal72-82°F

Easy

Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii

20+ gal72-82°F

Beginner

Endler's Livebearer

Poecilia wingei

10+ gal72-82°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

15+ gal73-81°FSchool of 8+

Moderate

Rummy Nose Tetra

Hemigrammus rhodostomus

20+ gal75-84°FSchool of 10+

Beginner

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

10+ gal72-82°FSchool of 8+

Beginner

Cherry Barb

Puntius titteya

15+ gal73-81°FSchool of 6+

Beginner

Zebra Danio

Danio rerio

10+ gal64-78°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Panda Corydoras

Corydoras panda

15+ gal68-77°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Pygmy Corydoras

Corydoras pygmaeus

10+ gal72-79°FSchool of 8+

Advanced

German Blue Ram

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

20+ gal80-86°F

Moderate

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

30+ gal76-84°F

Easy

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

20+ gal75-82°F

Easy

Bristlenose Pleco

Ancistrus sp.

20+ gal73-81°F

Moderate

Otocinclus

Otocinclus vestitus

10+ gal72-79°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Kuhli Loach

Pangio kuhlii

15+ gal73-86°FSchool of 6+

Beginner

Mystery Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

5+ gal68-82°F

Beginner

Nerite Snail

Neritina natalensis

5+ gal72-80°F

Easy

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

10+ gal70-80°FSchool of 6+

Moderate

Dwarf Gourami

Trichogaster lalius

10+ gal72-82°F

Easy

Honey Gourami

Trichogaster chuna

10+ gal72-82°F

Easy

Pearl Gourami

Trichopodus leerii

30+ gal77-82°F

Easy

Tiger Barb

Puntigrus tetrazona

20+ gal74-79°FSchool of 8+

Beginner

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

5+ gal73-84°FSchool of 8+

Easy

Celestial Pearl Danio

Danio margaritatus

10+ gal73-79°FSchool of 6+

Moderate

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

75+ gal77-86°FSchool of 5+

Expert

Discus

Symphysodon spp.

55+ gal82-88°FSchool of 5+

Moderate

Electric Blue Acara

Andinoacara pulcher hybrid

30+ gal72-82°F

Easy

Sterbai Corydoras

Corydoras sterbai

20+ gal75-82°FSchool of 6+

Beginner

Ghost Shrimp

Palaemonetes paludosus

5+ gal65-80°F

Beginner

Assassin Snail

Clea helena

10+ gal70-80°F

Easy

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus oblongus

30+ gal75-79°F

Moderate

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

20+ gal60-68°F

Easy

African Dwarf Frog

Hymenochirus boettgeri

5+ gal72-78°F

Why TankMinded

Species Deep Dives

Detailed care guides with real parameters, feeding schedules, and tankmate compatibility. No generic fluff.

Honest Gear Picks

Gear matched to specific species and tank sizes. Every recommendation includes pros, cons, and who it is actually for.

Thorough Research

Every guide cross-references multiple sources, hobbyist forums, and manufacturer specs. We note where the hobby disagrees.

Latest Guides

How-to guides and practical advice for every stage of fishkeeping.

How to Set Up Your First Fish Tank

Complete beginner guide to setting up your first freshwater fish tank. Covers tank size, location, equipment, water prep, cycling, and adding fish with a budget breakdown.

Read Guide

How to Cycle a Fish Tank

Step-by-step guide to cycling a fish tank using the fishless method or fish-in method. Covers ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, timelines, and common mistakes.

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How to Do Water Changes (The Right Way)

Learn how to do aquarium water changes correctly. Covers frequency, equipment, step-by-step process, and common mistakes that harm your fish.

Read Guide

Why Is My Fish Tank Cloudy? (And How to Fix It)

Cloudy aquarium water? Learn the exact cause based on the color and when to fix it vs. wait it out. Covers bacterial blooms, algae, and tannins.

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How to Acclimate New Fish (Stop Killing Fish on Day One)

Learn how to acclimate new fish properly with the float method, drip method, and more. Prevent pH shock and temperature shock on day one.

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How Many Fish Can I Put in My Tank?

Find out how many fish your tank can actually hold. Real stocking examples for 5-55 gallon tanks with specific species combos and the math that matters.

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How to Set Up a Planted Freshwater Aquarium

Step-by-step guide to setting up a planted freshwater aquarium. Covers substrate, lighting, easy beginner plants, fertilization, and common mistakes to avoid.

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How to Get Rid of Algae in Your Fish Tank

Identify and eliminate every type of aquarium algae. Covers green spot, hair algae, BBA, diatoms, and blue-green algae with specific fixes for each.

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What Fish Can Live With Bettas? (Complete Tankmate Guide)

Find out which fish, snails, and shrimp can safely live with bettas. Covers safe tankmates, risky picks, fish to avoid, and tank size requirements.

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Common Fish Diseases: How to Identify and Treat Them

Identify and treat common fish diseases including ich, fin rot, velvet, swim bladder, and dropsy. Covers symptoms, medications, and prevention strategies.

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