Top 5 Centerpiece Fish for Your Small to Medium Sized Community Aquarium
Creating your own ‘school of fish’ in a medium-sized or small fish tank is a fun and rewarding experience. It’s made even more fun by introducing a showpiece fish to serve as your aquatic pride and joy. The centerpiece fish attracts attention and stands out by its color or size. It also helps to get along with other swimmers in your community tank. But which one should you get? We don’t want the larger fish eating the smaller ones!
What to Look for in a Centerpiece Fish?
Let’s look at some key characteristics you need to be aware of before you head out fish shopping for the right species. Your centerpiece fish must be noticed and stand out. This is where two key factors come into play:
– Color – Size
The five fish we’ve picked below each feature color and pattern variations that would catch your eye as soon as you look in the tank. These fish are also more robust than the community fish. So, even in a smaller tank, you can have a fish that really stands out.
We’ll be discussing our favorite and top five centerpiece fish at Aquarium Co-op in this article. These species can all be happy in a small tank (minimum 29 gallon) and will not eat other fish.
These are our Top 5 Picks
No matter how big your tank is, it doesn’t matter if you have a 10 gallon or 20 gallon tank.
5. Angelfish
The striking angelfish lives up to their name with its beautiful form, distinctive fins, and beautiful striped pattern. They are not suitable for 10-gallon tanks. However, if your tank is larger than 20-25 gallons (especially tall vertical tanks), these angelfish will fit in well and thrive. Although they can be quite aggressive, they are much more docile and easygoing if there is only one.
4. Gourami
Gouramis look a lot like bettas. They are both part of the Siamese fightingfish family. The honey gourami, which can grow to approximately 2″ to 2.5″, is a perfect centerpiece fish. It has a distinctive yellow color and only 2″ to 2.5″. Another choice? The female powderblue gourami is beautiful and shimmery. It’s slightly larger than honey. Only get one to prevent aggression. If you have shrimp, it depends on the fish whether they want to eat it or not! There is always a risk when you add fish that can fit shrimp in their mouth. Although 5 gallons may seem a little too small, we recommend at minimum 10 gallons as the ideal habitat size.
3. Apistogramma / Dwarf Cichlid
This striped fish is our number three choice with its bright orange and black fins. For the best color, choose a male. You could also choose the Agassizii color variety, and the double red is particularly striking. Another variety is the Japanese Fire Red, which is mostly orange. You can also choose the Apistogramma Borellii (yellow dwarf) if you prefer a yellow colour. These cichlids grow to about 3″ in length, they can handle a relatively low pH in the water and are adaptable enough to go with many smaller fish species. Although a 10 Gallon is a bit small, a 20 Gallon or more will suffice.
2. Bolivian Ram
Not as many bright colors on this species, with its muted striped palette, but they do have the 3″ size and make a great centerpiece fish. They have beautiful trailer fins that extend from their tails. Plus, they’re also easy to care for and have a remarkably peaceful demeanor. They will not harass other species. It is fine to live with one fish.
1. Betta Fish
Our number one choice is the betta fish! Our number one pick is the betta fish. However, other fish might be tempted to eat their stunning crown tails or half-moon fins. We suggest the Plakat Betta Pugnax or Betta Pugnax with shorter fins. The Koi ones look just like real koi and are very beautiful. Although male bettas are sometimes aggressive, as long as one is kept and they have enough space in a 20-gallon aquarium, they will be fine. Bettas all have their own unique personality so it depends on the fish! It’s still a great centerpiece.