About AquariumDB

What this site is

AquariumDB gives every freshwater species its own profile: a pinned 16-field quick-facts card, a structured care guide, and — on every page — an interactive tank-mate checker that scores other species against it. Each species also has a dedicated "tank mates" page. The goal is to answer the two questions fishkeepers actually ask: how do I care for this fish, and what can it live with?

How we compile care data

The biological backbone of each profile — scientific name, family, adult size, native range and natural water parameters — is drawn from FishBase, the standard reference database for fish. The aquarium-specific fields that FishBase doesn't cover — care level, temperament, minimum tank size, swimming level, minimum group size and breeding difficulty — are compiled from established aquarium-keeping references and long-standing hobby consensus. Every species is described with the same 16 fields so pages stay consistent and comparable.

How the tank-mate checker works

The checker is a transparent rule engine, not a black box. For any two species it compares their actual parameters across six axes and returns a three-colour verdict with reasons:

• Temperament — two assertive fish, or an aggressor with a vulnerable tank-mate, raises a flag.
• Adult size — a much larger meat-eater can simply eat a small tank-mate.
• Water parameters — temperature, pH and hardness ranges must overlap.
• Swimming level — fish that share a zone compete more.
• Tank size — the pairing is checked against the room you actually have.
• Group size — shoaling species need their own kind first.

Because it runs on each species' real data, the same logic powers the live tool in your browser and the pre-computed lists on every page. It's a strong, honest starting point — but individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Our standards

These guides are written for adult fishkeepers. We aim to be accurate and practical rather than sensational, and we'd rather flag a pairing as risky than pretend everything gets along. Care information is general guidance: for fish-health and medication decisions, please confirm against a qualified aquatic veterinarian or a reputable fish-health source before acting.