10 Best Community Fish That Get Along With Everything

A community tank — multiple species living peacefully together — is the most popular type of freshwater aquarium. But not all fish are compatible. Aggression, fin-nipping, and predation ruin community tanks. Here are the 10 most reliably peaceful species that work in almost any community setup.

1. Neon Tetras

Neon tetras are the quintessential community fish. Electric blue-and-red stripe, peaceful, schooling (keep 6+), stay small (1.5 inches), eat any flake or micro pellet. They add movement and color to any tank. One caveat: they need clean, slightly acidic water — they're sensitive to ammonia spikes.

2. Corydoras Catfish

Cory cats are the best bottom-dwellers for a community tank. Peaceful, social (need groups of 6+), they clean up leftover food from the substrate. Available in many species: bronze cories, panda cories, emerald cories, pygmy cories (tiny, perfect for nano tanks). Never keep on sharp gravel — their barbels are sensitive.

3. Harlequin Rasboras

Orange fish with a distinctive black triangular patch — beautiful, peaceful, and extremely hardy. Schooling fish (6+). Compatible with almost anything. One of the best all-around community fish for beginners.

4. Platies

Available in dozens of color varieties (sunset platy, rainbow platy, mickey mouse platy). Livebearers that give birth to live young. Hardy, peaceful, eat any food. Will breed prolifically if you keep males and females together — get all males or all females if you don't want fry.

5. Otocinclus Catfish

Tiny algae eaters (1.5 inches) that graze on green algae on glass and leaves without disturbing plants or other fish. Essential in planted tanks. Keep in groups of 4+. They're sensitive to water quality — don't add to a new tank. But in an established, cycled tank they're one of the most useful fish you can keep.