Planted Tank Mates

Silver Hatchetfish

2.25″ | 6 or more | 20 gal

PH 6-7 | Peaceful

Gasteropelecus levis

Characteristics:

Max Size: 2.25″

Care Level: Intermediate

Behavior: Peaceful

Dwelling: Top of Tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 75 – 80

PH: 6 – 7

dGH: 2 – 14

dKH: 2 – 8

Tank Size: 20 gal

Grouping: 6 or more

Tank Mates

Peaceful and calm mid dwellers like tetras, rasboras, danios, Odessa barbs.

Bottom dwellers like corydoras, plecos, otocinclus, snails and dwarf shrimp.

Peaceful top dwellers can be OK, but avoid ones that are super active and may compete for food.

Notes

Known for their unique swimming behavior, hatchetfish often swim near the water’s surface, and have the ability to leap out of the water for short distances. This behavior is believed to help them evade predators or catch insects.  Often shy, provide some tall or floating plants to give them hiding space and relief from bight lights.  Provide a protein rich diet with flakes or food that are slow to sink.  Turn off the aerator during feeding or ensure there is some still water so they have time to eat.

Quick Comparison

Silver Hatchetfish removeClown Killifish removeDouble Tail Betta removeBlue Gourami removeRed Honey Gourami removeThree-Spot Gourami remove
NameSilver Hatchetfish removeClown Killifish removeDouble Tail Betta removeBlue Gourami removeRed Honey Gourami removeThree-Spot Gourami remove
ImageSilver hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla).Clown killifish (Epiplatys annulatus).Double tail betta fish (Betta splendens).Blue gourami fish (Trichopodus trichopterus).Red honey gourami fish (Trichogaster chuna).Three-spot gourami fish (Trichopodus trichopterus).
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Description

2.25" | 6 or more | 20 gal

PH 6-7 | Peaceful

1.5" | 1-3 group | 5 gal

PH 6-7.5 | Peaceful

3" | Single | 5 gal

PH 6.5-7.5 | Aggressive

5.5" | Single | 30 gal

PH 6-7.5 | Peaceful

2.5" | Single | 10 gal

PH 6-7.5 | Peaceful

5" | Single | 30 gal

PH 6-7.5 | Peaceful

Content

Gasteropelecus levis

Characteristics:

Max Size: 2.25″

Care Level: Intermediate

Behavior: Peaceful

Dwelling: Top of Tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 75 – 80

PH: 6 - 7

dGH: 2 - 14

dKH: 2 – 8

Tank Size: 20 gal

Grouping: 6 or more

Tank Mates

Peaceful and calm mid dwellers like tetras, rasboras, danios, Odessa barbs.

Bottom dwellers like corydoras, plecos, otocinclus, snails and dwarf shrimp. Peaceful top dwellers can be OK, but avoid ones that are super active and may compete for food.

Notes

Known for their unique swimming behavior, hatchetfish often swim near the water's surface, and have the ability to leap out of the water for short distances. This behavior is believed to help them evade predators or catch insects.  Often shy, provide some tall or floating plants to give them hiding space and relief from bight lights.  Provide a protein rich diet with flakes or food that are slow to sink.  Turn off the aerator during feeding or ensure there is some still water so they have time to eat.

Epiplatys annulatus

Characteristics:

Max Size: 1.5″

Care Level: Easy

Behavior: Peaceful

Dwelling: Top of tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 68° – 79°

PH: 6 - 7.5

dGH: 8 - 16

dKH: 4 - 8

Min Tank Size: 5 gal

Grouping: 1-3

Tank Mates

Tetras, Rasboras, Danios, Hatchetfish, Mollies, Dwarf Gourami, Angelfish, Guppies, Loaches, Corydoras, Plecos and Otocinclus.

Adult shrimps are generally safe.

Notes

Although they're top dwellers, they can be shy and do best in large groups. You can keep 1-5 of of these tiny guys in a 5 gallon tank, but provide 10 gallons or larger if keeping in a community with other fish. They're predators and like to wait at the top to grab their food. Killifish often prefer live foods over frozen foods and pellets. Avoid aggressive or territorial species or large fish with big mouths such as cichlids.d pellets.   Since they are colorful top dwellers, bettas may see them as competition and show aggression.

Betta spenden

Characteristics:

Max Size: 3″

Care Level: Easy

Behavior: Aggressive

Dwelling: Top of tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 76 – 82

PH: 6.5 - 7.5

dGH: 2 - 5

dKH: 1 – 4

Tank Size: 5 gal

Grouping: Single

Tank Mates

Peaceful mid-dwelling nano fish like ember tetras, harlequin rasboras, and celestial pearl danios, but keep them in strong groups

Bottom dwellers like Kuhli loaches, Corydoras, Malaysian Trumpet snails.  Depending on each individual betta, dwarf shrimp may or may not get eaten. Avoid other aggressive, fin-nipping or even colorful fish like tiger barbs and fancy guppies. Prevent stressing the betta by keeping top dwelling fish to a minimum. Avoid larger fish which can prey or intimidate like cichlids.

Notes

Double Tail Bettas actually have 2 distinct tail lobes instead of 1. Their tail symmetrically splits and their anal fin runs the full length of their body.

Betta fish are also known as Siamese or Japanese Fighting Fish.  They're very territorial and should never be kept together unless for short-term breeding.  Despite their aggressive nature, they can have a curious and playful personality.  They'll often recognize their caretaker and will even come up to the glass to greet them.  The betta spenden species come in a variety of tail shapes, colors and patterns.  They're easily the show piece to any tank and their extravagant tails flow like living art.  Provide their space with a lot of plants, slow water agitation and warm waters to keep them healthy and active.

Regardless of what you see in retail stores or what people say, NEVER keep a betta in anything less than a 5 gallon tank. https://plantedtankmates.com/types-of-betta-fish/

Trichopodus trichopterus var. Blue

Characteristics:

Max Size: 5.5″

Care Level: Intermediate

Behavior: Peaceful

Dwelling: Middle to Top of tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 72 – 82

PH: 6 - 7.5

dGH: 4 - 15

dKH: 3 – 8

Tank Size: 30 gal

Grouping: 1, or 6+

Tank Mates

Larger nano community fish like large tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, Tinfoil Barbs that dwell at the middle of the tank

Slightly smaller or equal in size fish such as dwarf cichlids, German Blue Rams, Apistogramma Larger bottom feeders like loaches, corydoras, Siamese Algae Eaters Avoid fin nipping fish

Notes

Blue Gouramis are a cross between Three-Spot and Opaline Gouramis and recognized by their light blue color and soft marbled body patterns.  They're a color variation from the same Trichopodus trichopterus species as the Three-Spot Gourami, Opaline Gourami, Gold Gourami and Lavendar Gourami.

Keep as a single feature fish, or as a male & female pair.  They're generally peaceful community fish but can become semi-aggressive towards each other, especially males.  When in groups, keep 1 male to every 3 female ratio.

Trichogaster colisa

Characteristics:

Max Size: 2.5″

Care Level: Easy

Behavior: Peaceful

Dwelling: Middle to Top of tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 72 – 82

PH: 6 - 7.5

dGH: 4 - 15

dKH: 3 – 8

Tank Size: 10 gal

Grouping: 1, or 6+

Tank Mates

Most nano community fish like Tetras, Rasboras, Danios, Hatchetfish, Mollies, Guppies

Bottom feeders like loaches, corydoras, otocinclus, snails.  Adult shrimp OK, but smaller shrimp or fry can become snacks.

Notes

Red Honey Gouramis are a color variation of the Honey Gourami. They can still have a yellow body with more Red hues which translates to their fins and tail.Keep as a single feature fish, or as a male & female pair.

They're generally peaceful community fish but can become semi-aggressive towards each other, especially males.  When in groups, keep 1 male to every 2-3 female ratio.

Trichopodus trichopterus var. Three-Spot

Characteristics:

Max Size: 5″

Care Level: Intermediate

Behavior: Peaceful

Dwelling: Middle to Top of tank

Diet: Omnivore

Water Movement: Slow Moving

Parameters

Temperature: 72 – 82

PH: 6 - 7.5

dGH: 4 - 15

dKH: 3 – 8

Tank Size: 30 gal

Grouping: 1, or 6+

Tank Mates

Larger nano community fish like large tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, Tinfoil Barbs that dwell at the middle of the tank

Slightly smaller or equal in size fish such as dwarf cichlids, German Blue Rams, Apistogramma Larger bottom feeders like loaches, corydoras, Siamese Algae Eaters Avoid fin nipping fish

Notes

Three-Spot Gouramis are recognized by the two spots on their body and the 3rd suggestive spot being their eye.  They're a color variation from the same Trichopodus trichopterus species as the Opaline Gourami, Blue Gourami, Gold Gourami and Lavendar Gourami.

Keep as a single feature fish, or as a male & female pair.  They're generally peaceful community fish but can become semi-aggressive towards each other, especially males.  When in groups, keep 1 male to every 3 female ratio.

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