For many aqua capers, the fauna is what put the last touch on the aquascapes. Planted aquascapes take a lot of acquaintance and patience to put together. And once your plants are flourishing and water parameters are exactly where they need to be adding fish can be the step that pitches things out of balance.
Many fishes are too large, create excessive waste, or simply love to eat or destroy aquarium plants! It’s better to cautiously consider the appropriate aquascaping fish before stocking your planted aquarium fish setup.
Here is a list of easy fish to breed:
What to Look for in Aquascaping Fish
Deciding on fish for carefully aquascaped aquariums isn’t always as simple as walking to your local fish store and picking out whatever catches your eye.
Here are a few things to look for when choosing fish:
Small to Medium Sized
The majority of fish used for planted aquascapes are on the small end of the variety. Schools of 1 to 2-hhhh Tetras, Danios, and Rasboras work so well because they provide a burst of color while having no effect on plants beyond a bit of extra CO2 and nitrogenous fertilizer.
Sociability
Planted aquascapes tend to be community tanks or aquariums devoted to a single species of fish. Both schooling and solo fish can be kept together. Planted aquascapes with small fish, though, can have an exciting aesthetic if that is your goal. They have the least effect on the tank’s bioload and nutrient cycles.
Plant Safe
At times the larger fish introduce bad habits, such as digging and uprooting plants (Goldfish, Cichlids, and Catfish, for example) or finding plants delicious. Select fish that are small, typically carnivorous, and spawn by scattering eggs. Nest builders occasionally collect plant leaves or dig into the substrate, which can disturb plant roots.
Set featured imageWhite Cloud Minnow
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow, also known as the Meteor Minnow, are excellent fish that tend to get ignored in the freshwater aquarium hobby. They are very hardy fish and are known for their capability to handle cooler water temperatures, like better to stay around 72F. These fish are small and do well at a distance of about 1.5 inches.
White Clouds are pacific and would do well in a community tank, as long as the temperature of the aquarium doesn’t get too high. When they are set aside in larger schools, they will flare their fins to keep up with other White Clouds. This behavior is fun to look at, and they look even more attractive when they’re showing off their fins! White Clouds come in a few different variations, one of the most popular being the gold form.
Ember Tetra
The Ember Tetra has grown to be a very popular fish among aquascapers. They are sociable community fish that are adept at schooling. These nano fish reach a maximum size of about 0.8 inches (~2 cm) and tend to stay at the uppermost or mid-level of the aquarium. Because they are smaller fish, it’s almost difficult for them to mess with the aquascape they’re in. This is because they are too small to interrupt the substrate if they decide to rummage for any food in it.
The color of the Ember Tetra makes it a striking addition to a planted tank. Once these fish are comfortable in their environment, they will fire up and become lively red. This contrasts very nicely with the green of the aquatic plants. The Ember Tetra is certainly one amongst the go-to fish for aquascapers.
Betta Fish
Bettas are a species that many beginner fish keepers have as their very first fish in the hobby. You won’t be able to resist them once you see the large variety of colors, styles, and tail types that this species comes in! Betta fishes are also known for their exclusive and spunky personalities. These fish usually have no trouble adapting to completely different environments with different water conditions. They like to be in warmer temperatures of at least 78F and reach a height of 2.5 – 3 inches. So, choosing the right aquarium heater is essential.
While strikingly handsome, they can be hostile to other fish, especially male bettas. Male bettas shouldn’t be kept in the same tank together, as they are likely to fight to the death. It’s very communal for a male betta to have its own aquarium all to itself.
Harlequin Rasboras
If you’re considering a species of fish that’s excellent at schooling, then look into the Harlequin Rasbora! They are a favorite choice for planted tank proprietors because of their schooling behavior and the look of their vibrant orange conflicting against the green of the plants. These rasboras get their name from the black patch on their bodies that look like a pattern characteristically found on jester uniforms.
Harlequins are welcoming fish that find safety in larger numbers, so please keep that in mind if you’re thinking of getting some. Adults reach a usual length of 2 inches.
Summary
Planted tanks might seem difficult at first, but they bid many aids to fish and invertebrates. Many of the aquascaping fish suggested for these tanks are small and colorful, however, a few featured species are larger and can fill up empty space.
Just make sure that a species is 100% plant-friendly or you will end up with chewed-on greeneries!
Photo by Delbert Pagayona on Unsplash