MICRO AQUARIUM GUIDE
Stock your small tank with confidence.
Clear guides to nano fish, shrimp, snails, and plants — how to set up, feed, and keep a small aquarium healthy and humane.
Care level key
- Beginner Hardy and forgiving
- Moderate Needs stable water and experience
Browse by type
Nano Fish
All Nano Fish →
Beginner
Neon Tetra: The Classic Nano Schooling Fish
霓虹灯鱼:经典的微型群游鱼
1.5 in
The neon tetra is one of the most recognizable and beloved nano fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby.
Beginner
Ember Tetra: A Tiny Orange Glow
火尾灯鱼:微小的橙色光点
0.8 in
The ember tetra is a diminutive freshwater fish that has become a favorite among nano aquarium enthusiasts.
Beginner
Celestial Pearl Danio: A Speckled Nano Jewel
银河斑马:带斑点的微型宝石
0.8 in
The celestial pearl danio is one of the most striking small freshwater fish available to home aquarists, and it has become a favorite in the nano aquarium world since it first appeared in the hobby.
Beginner
Chili Rasbora: A Tiny Red Jewel
辣椒灯鱼:微小的红色宝石
0.7 in
The chili rasbora is one of the smallest and most striking nano fish available to freshwater hobbyists, and it has earned a devoted following for good reason.
Beginner
Pygmy Corydoras: A Tiny Bottom-Dweller
小精灵鼠鱼:微小的底栖鱼
1 in
The Pygmy Corydoras is one of the smallest catfish available in the aquarium hobby, reaching only about 1 inch in length as an adult.
Beginner
Endler's Livebearer: A Bright Little Guppy Relative
恩氏孔雀:明亮的小型卵胎生鱼
1 in
The Endler's Livebearer is a tiny, vibrant livebearing fish that has become a favorite among nano aquarium enthusiasts.
Bettas & Gouramis
All Bettas & Gouramis →
Beginner
Betta: A Solitary Showpiece Fish
斗鱼:独居的展示鱼
2.5-3 in
The Betta, often called the Siamese fighting fish, is a small, colorful freshwater fish that has become a staple in the home aquarium.
Beginner
Dwarf Gourami: A Colorful Labyrinth Fish
丽丽鱼:色彩斑斓的迷鳃鱼
2-3 in
The dwarf gourami is a small, colorful labyrinth fish that has been a favorite among freshwater aquarists for decades.
Beginner
Honey Gourami: A Gentle Golden Dwarf
蜂蜜丽丽:温和的金色小个子
2 in
The honey gourami is one of the most approachable small labyrinth fish available to home aquarists, and it has earned a lasting reputation as a gentle centerpiece for peaceful community tanks.
Beginner
Sparkling Gourami: A Tiny Croaking Gem
珍珠马甲:微小的鸣叫小精灵
1.5 in
The sparkling gourami is a diminutive labyrinth fish that brings big personality to a small planted aquarium.
Moderate
Pea Puffer: A Tiny Snail-Hunting Puffer
红眼娃娃:微小的食螺河豚
1 in
The pea puffer, also known as the dwarf puffer or red-eye puffer, is a tiny freshwater fish that has become increasingly popular among nano-aquarium enthusiasts.
Moderate
Scarlet Badis: A Shy Micropredator
红宝石丽丽:害羞的微型捕食者
0.8 in
The scarlet badis is one of those tiny freshwater fish that rewards patience more than flash.
Shrimp
All Shrimp →
Beginner
Red Cherry Shrimp: The Hardy Beginner Shrimp
红樱桃虾:皮实的入门虾
1.5 in
The red cherry shrimp is one of the most forgiving freshwater invertebrates a beginner can keep, and it has earned a reputation as the hardy入门 shrimp of the planted nano tank.
Beginner
Amano Shrimp: The Algae-Eating Workhorse
大和沼虾:吃藻的主力
2 in
Amano shrimp are among the most popular freshwater invertebrates for planted aquariums, prized for their relentless appetite for algae and their peaceful nature.
Moderate
Crystal Red Shrimp: A Delicate Show Shrimp
水晶红虾:娇贵的观赏虾
1.2 in
Crystal Red Shrimp are a striking freshwater invertebrate prized for their vivid red and white banding.
Beginner
Ghost Shrimp: A Transparent Cleanup Shrimp
幽灵虾:透明的清洁虾
1.5 in
Ghost shrimp are a popular choice for beginner aquarists looking for a low-maintenance cleanup crew.
Moderate
Bamboo Shrimp: A Fan-Feeding Filter Shrimp
竹节虾:扇滤食的虾
3-4 in
The bamboo shrimp is a large, peaceful freshwater shrimp that has earned a devoted following among aquarists who enjoy watching unusual feeding behaviors.
Beginner
Blue Dream Shrimp: A Bold Blue Neocaridina
蓝梦虾:醒目的蓝色新米虾
1.5 in
The Blue Dream Shrimp is a striking freshwater invertebrate that has become a favorite among aquarists for its vivid blue coloration and peaceful nature.
Snails & Algae Eaters
All Snails & Algae Eaters →
Beginner
Nerite Snail: The Algae Cleaner That Won't Overrun
斑马螺:不泛滥的食藻螺
1 in
The nerite snail is one of the most popular algae-eating invertebrates in the freshwater aquarium hobby, prized for its voracious appetite for algae and its inability to reproduce in freshwater.
Beginner
Mystery Snail: A Large and Peaceful Cleaner
神秘螺:大型温和的清道夫
2 in
The mystery snail is a large, peaceful freshwater snail that has become a favorite among beginner and experienced aquarists alike.
Beginner
Ramshorn Snail: A Tiny Prolific Cleaner
扁卷螺:微小而多产
0.5-1 in
The ramshorn snail is a small, peaceful freshwater snail that has earned a place in many home aquariums as a diligent cleaner.
Moderate
Otocinclus: A Gentle Dwarf Algae Eater
小精灵鱼:温和的微型食藻鱼
1.5-2 in
The Otocinclus, often called the dwarf algae eater or simply "oto," is a small, peaceful catfish that has become a favorite among planted aquarium enthusiasts.
Moderate
Siamese Algae Eater: A Hardworking Grazer
泰国飞狐:勤奋的刮藻鱼
5-6 in
The Siamese Algae Eater is one of the most useful grazing fish available to freshwater hobbyists, prized for its appetite for algae that many other tank inhabitants ignore.
Live Plants
All Live Plants →
Beginner
Java Moss: The Versatile Nano Plant
爪哇莫斯:百搭的微型水草
Spreads 1-4 in
Java moss is one of the most forgiving and adaptable live plants you can add to a nano aquarium.
Beginner
Anubias: The Hardy Low-Light Plant
水榕:皮实的低光水草
Height 4-8 in
Anubias is one of the most forgiving live plants you can add to a freshwater aquarium, making it a favorite among beginners and experienced hobbyists alike.
Moderate
Dwarf Hairgrass: A Fine-Leaved Carpet Plant
矮珍珠草:细叶的草皮水草
Height 1-3 in
Dwarf hairgrass is one of the most popular carpeting plants in the freshwater hobby, prized for the way it knits itself into a soft, lawn-like foreground over time.