Freshwater fish care guides and gear that actually works.

Species profiles, honest gear reviews, and no-nonsense advice for every tank size.

Explore Species Guides

Species Guides

Everything you need to know before bringing a new fish home.

Easy

Betta Fish

Betta splendens

5+ gal76-82°F

Beginner

Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

10+ gal70-81°FSchool of 10+

Beginner

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

10+ gal72-82°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

5+ gal65-80°FSchool of 10+

Moderate

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

30+ gal76-84°F

Moderate

Dwarf Gourami

Trichogaster lalius

10+ gal72-82°F

Beginner

Zebra Danio

Danio rerio

10+ gal64-78°FSchool of 6+

Easy

Kuhli Loach

Pangio kuhlii

15+ gal73-86°FSchool of 6+

Beginner

Cherry Barb

Puntius titteya

15+ gal73-81°FSchool of 6+

See all 76 species guides

Why TankMinded

Species Deep Dives

Detailed care guides with real parameters, feeding schedules, and tankmate compatibility. No generic fluff.

Honest Gear Picks

Gear matched to specific species and tank sizes. Every recommendation includes pros, cons, and who it is actually for.

Thorough Research

Every guide cross-references multiple sources, hobbyist forums, and manufacturer specs. We note where the hobby disagrees.

Latest Guides

How-to guides and practical advice for every stage of fishkeeping.

Your First Fish Tank: Complete Setup Guide for Beginners

Everything you need to set up your first fish tank without killing anything. Tank size, equipment, water prep, cycling, and adding your first fish.

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How to Cycle a Fish Tank (Skip This and Your Fish Die)

Your tank needs 4-6 weeks before fish go in. Here is exactly how to cycle it, what to test for, and the mistakes that kill fish in week one.

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How to Do Water Changes (The Right Way)

Learn how to do aquarium water changes correctly. Covers frequency, equipment, step-by-step process, and common mistakes that harm your fish.

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Why Is My Fish Tank Cloudy? (And How to Fix It)

Cloudy aquarium water? Learn the exact cause based on the color and when to fix it vs. wait it out. Covers bacterial blooms, algae, and tannins.

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How to Acclimate New Fish (Stop Killing Fish on Day One)

Learn how to acclimate new fish properly with the float method, drip method, and more. Prevent pH shock and temperature shock on day one.

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How Many Fish Can I Put in My Tank?

Find out how many fish your tank can actually hold. Real stocking examples for 5-55 gallon tanks with specific species combos and the math that matters.

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Planted Tank Setup: A No-Nonsense Guide for Beginners

Set up a planted tank that actually grows. Substrate, lighting, easy starter plants, and the fertilization mistakes that turn your tank into an algae farm.

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How to Get Rid of Algae in Your Fish Tank

Identify and eliminate every type of aquarium algae. Covers green spot, hair algae, BBA, diatoms, and blue-green algae with specific fixes for each.

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What Fish Can Live With Bettas? (Complete Tankmate Guide)

Find out which fish, snails, and shrimp can safely live with bettas. Covers safe tankmates, risky picks, fish to avoid, and tank size requirements.

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Fish Diseases: Identify What Is Wrong and Fix It Fast

White spots, ragged fins, bloated belly, floating sideways? Identify what is wrong with your fish and treat it before it spreads to the whole tank.

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Live Aquarium Plants: What to Grow and How Not to Kill Them

Which aquarium plants survive in a beginner tank, which need CO2, and how to stop killing java fern. From someone who has melted a lot of stems.

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How to Feed Your Fish (Without Killing Them With Kindness)

How much to feed, how often, and what food actually works for each fish type. Plus the overfeeding mistakes that kill more fish than disease.

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Aquarium Water Quality: Fix Problems Before Your Fish Get Sick

Ammonia spiking? pH crashing? Fish gasping at the surface? How to diagnose and fix water quality problems before you lose fish.

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Why Is My Fish Aggressive? Fixing Predation, Stress, and Territorial Behavior

Fish acting aggressive? Learn why (predation, stress, or territorial behavior) and how to fix it. Actionable advice for Betta owners and community tanks.

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How to Start a Fish Tank on a Tight Budget: A Realistic Guide for Beginners

You do not need $500 to start a fish tank. Here is what to buy, what to skip, and how to set up a solid aquarium for under $150.

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Betta Fish Tank Size Guide: Minimum, Ideal, and What to Avoid

What betta tank size do you actually need? 5-gallon minimum, 10+ ideal. Learn why bowls fail and how to pick the right setup for your betta.

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How to Treat Ich in a Fish Tank (Step-by-Step)

Complete guide to treating ich in freshwater aquariums. Learn heat treatment, medications, lifecycle timing, and prevention methods to save your fish.

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Aquarium Lighting Guide: How to Choose and Use Tank Lights

How to pick the right aquarium light without overspending. LED vs fluorescent, how many hours to run it, and why too much light turns your tank green.

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Best Beginner Fish for Your First Aquarium (2026)

The fish that actually survive in a beginner tank and the ones pet stores sell you that will not. Honest picks with exact tank sizes and care difficulty.

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Best Fish for a 5 Gallon Tank (And What Will Die in One)

The best fish for a 5 gallon tank, including bettas, shrimp, and nano species. Honest stocking advice with what actually works in small tanks.

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Best Fish for a 10 Gallon Tank (With Stocking Combos)

The best fish for a 10 gallon tank with real stocking suggestions. Bettas, tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and community combos that actually work.

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Best Fish for a 20 Gallon Tank (Complete Community Builds)

The best fish for a 20 gallon tank with complete stocking ideas. Community setups, species tanks, and exact numbers for tetras, gouramis, corydoras, and more.

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