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Nanofish List (v1.0)

259K views 170 replies 98 participants last post by  TankDave 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Howdy!

In the course of researching this amazing hobby, newbies (like me) often ask the same questions over and over; among them, the question of "so what kind of fish can I put in my planted nano?" seems to come up quite a bit.

To that end I'd like to start an easily-referenced thread with lists of ideal species for nanos. Wherever possible, please provide both the common name and the scientific name. :icon_bigg

EDIT (8/31/10):

Click Here for Fishydaze's cleaned up, expanded, and most updated version of the list.
 
#4 ·
Here's a list I put together a while back. I've had three of them so far *...

Microrasbora kubotai
" erythromicron
Nana
* Boraras maculatus (Dwarf rasbora or Pygmy spotted rasbora)
Boraras brigittae (Mosquito rasbora)
Danio choprae
* Boraras urophthalmoides (Exclamation point rasbora)
* Sundadanio axelrodi (Neon rasbora)
 
#5 ·
Thanks Turbomkt - I was just about to add a Microrasbora to the list, but shoot, 7 or 8 more fish for the list is great!

Digsy: if you find any others in the course of your own research, please feel free to post it here and I'll add it to the list.

Now we're rolling...
:proud:​
 
#6 · (Edited)
These might go in too! :D

Phoenix Rasbora (Boraras merah)
Boraras micros

Jae barb (Barbus jae)
Barbus sylvaticus

Neolebias ansorgii
Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans)
Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)

What do you guys feel about these teeny corys? Would they go in a nano?
Salt and Pepper Catfish [?, cf. mongabay](Corydoras habrosus)
Dwarf Cory (Corydoras hastatus)
Pygmy Cory (Corydoras pygmaeus)

:D

P.S. Btw. the species name is not capitalised - only family name is. ;)
 
#9 ·
alphacat said:
- Endler's Livebearer (Poecilia Wingei)
Hmmm, if you are talking males only...OK...but females get a bit larger, and with that additional size comes babies...lots and lots of babies. Then, you will need more than a nano to house them...just something to keep in mind, especially with putting livebearers in nano's. Sure other types can breed in a nano, but not with the same ease.

I had a 2.5 nano, a 6g nano, and now I have a 40g fry tank of endlers...

Corydoras hastatus and pygmaeus are cool.
I personally like habrosus for a nano (>=5g thought), followed by pygmaeus.
 
#11 ·
Fantastic! This is just great, keep 'em coming.

Daniel*Swords - thanks for letting me know about the taxonomic syntax! ;)

Addicted2sp33d - I left off the Black Tetras because they get to be 2½-3 inches... however, if you know something I don't about how well-suited these guys are for nanos, I can add them. Let me know. Thanks!

AnneRiceBowl - pics would be great, but also space-consuming. Just use Google Image Search and probably start by looking for the scientific name first, then the common name (and make sure you put it in quotes so they search for the exact phrase, not just either/or of the names). Fishbase.org is good for this too.

Jhoetzl - Excellent point about the Endlers; like I said in another post somewhere, they breed like rabbits on Viagra, to use a colorful euphemism... anybody interested in more about these guys should check out endlersr.us, the Endlers Livebearers Association of America. But yeah... if you keep this fish, be prepared to deal with scads of fry!

Lil boy blue - an obvious choice that I overlooked. Thanks!
----------------------------------

It seems that sooner or later we're going to have to further refine/organize this list - species that are best kept in groups (i.e. the earlier question about Corys, for instance), species that are best kept alone or with specially selected neighbors (Bettas), perhaps categories for water conditions (some of these guys like it cold, some warm, some like hard water, others die unless they're in soft water, etc.) - stuff like that.

For now though I'm really happy about the feedback, and hope this proves to be a useful resource in the future.

Next...?
 
#13 ·
I think this is going to be a great list! :D Thanks for starting the thread!!

How about organising the fish in groups like families: livebearers, minnows or carps, tetras, barbs, etc. ? I second the info on water parameters, and other stuff, maybe the TL, too!

You got a typo there?
Glow Light Tetra is - to my knowledge - Hyphessobrycon erythrozonus and Danio choprae maybe Glowlight Danio?
 
#19 ·
Dario dario (not sure of the common name.. it's pretty new to the fish trade)
beatiful fish that only grows to 20mm long... kinda beta splendens like in it's breeding behavior... and tiny! and friendlier than betas... not quite so fighty... still wouldn't pack in a whole bunch of males though. Check out the latest "Tropical Fish Hobbist" mag for 2 articles on the critter.. definitely on my wish list!
 
#20 · (Edited)
Guys! I think we are missing all the nice killis!! :icon_eek:
Anyone keep those to give us a starting point? :)

After browsing the forum, found that these have been kept by members too.

Dwarf Pencilfish (Nannostomus marginatus)
Similis Ciclid (Neolamprologus similis)
Bumblee Goby (Brachygobius sp.)
Pygmy/ Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)
 
#40 ·
Guys! I think we are missing all the nice killis!! :icon_eek:
Anyone keep those to give us a starting point? :)
havent kept them, but they look awsome and stay small(1.5"). From what Ive read, they dont require the ammount of work most killis require for breeding I.E. removing the eggs for a set ammount of time.
Simpsonichthys magnificus AKA Magnificus Killi
 
#22 ·
Don't know anything about killis but started to search for some that would stay small enough. Found the following genera on the killi.net where the maximum length was given. I chose those genera all the species of which stay under 4.5 cm (ca. 1.8'') - but there surely are other genera with species small enough for our nanos and even picos!

Adamas AF
Aphyoplatys AF
Campellolebias SA
Congopanchax AF
Cynopoecilus SA
Diapteron AF
Fluviphylax AF
Foerschichthys AF
Fundulosoma AF
Yucatan flagfish Garmanella pulchra CA
Leptolucania NA
Catarina Pupfish Megupsilon aporus CA (Mexico)
Micropanchax AF
Pantanodon AF
Plesiolebias
Stenolebias SA
Terranatos SA
Tomeurus SA

[AF = Africa, SA = South America, CA = Central America, NA = North America]
 
#24 · (Edited)
Remembered that I have a list of livebearers with their sizes! :) So compiled this list of those small enough (IMHO, < 4,5 cm, 1.8'') and of which there are registered populations kept.

Allotoca zacapuensis CA (Mexico)

*Barred Livebearer [Fishbase], Banded Widow, Stuart's Livebearer (Carlhubbsia stuarti) CA (Guatemala)
*Carnegie's Millionsfish/Livebearer, Ten-Spotted Live Bearer (Cnesterodon carnegiei) SA
Cnesterodon decemmaculatus SA
Gambusia alvarezi CA (Mexico)
Gambusia atrora CA (Mexico)
Gambusia aurata CA (Mexico)
Gambusia eurystoma CA (Mexico)
*Big Bend Gambusia (Gambusia gaigei) NA
Gambusia geiseri NA
Gambusia heterochir NA
Gambusia hurtadoi CA (Mexico)
Gambusia lemaitrei SA
Gambusia luma CA
Gambusia milleri
Gambusia nicaraguensis CA
Gambusia rachowi CA (Mexico)
Gambusia regani CA (Mexico)
*Teardrop Mosquitofish [Fishbase], Tropical Mosquitofish, Bandit Mosquitofish (Gambusia sexradiata) CA [fem. max. 5 cm]
Gambusia xanthosoma (Grand Cayman)
Girardinus cubensis (Cuba)
*Grand Cayman Limia (Limia caymanensis) (Grand Cayman)
Limia dominicensis (Haiti)
Limia rivasi (Haiti)
*Sulphur Limia (Limia sulphurophila) (Dom. Rep.)
Neoheterandria cana CA (Panama)
*Tiger Teddy (Neoheterandria elegans) SA
*Picotee Livebearer [Fishbase], Fairweather/Elegant Widow (Phallichthys fairweatheri) CA
*Four-Spot/Domino Widow (Phallichthys quadripunctatus) CA (Costa Rica)
*Pallid Widow (Phallichthys tico) CA (Costa Rica)
*Dusky Millions Fish [Fishbase], Caudo (Phalloceros caudimaculatus) SA
Phalloptychus januarius SA
Poecilia amazonica SA
(*)Branner's Livebearer, Ocellated Micromolly (Poecilia branneri) SA
*Cauca Molly, South American Molly (Poecilia caucana) CA-SA
*Dwarf Molly (Poecilia chica) CA (Mexico)
*Caracas Livebearer, Dwarf Limia, Haiti Limia, Venezuela-Molly (Poecilia heterandria) SA
Poecilia minima SA
Poecilia minor SA
Poecilia sulphuraria CA (Mexico)
Poeciliopsis baenschi
Poeciliopsis monacha CA (Mexico)
*Blackstripe Livebearer (Poeciliopsis prolifica) CA (Mexico)
Pseudopoecilia chocoensis SA
Pseudopoecilia festae SA
Pseudopoecilia nigroventralis SA
Pseudopoecilia panamensis CA (Panama)
*Barred Topminnow (Quintana atrizona) (Cuba)
Xiphophorus continens (Mexico)
*Monterrey Platyfish (Xiphophorus couchianus) (Mexico)
*Northern Platyfish (Xiphophorus gordoni) (Mexico)
*[Southern] Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) CA
*Catemaco Platyfish (Xiphophorus milleri) (Mexico)
*Pygmy Swordtail (Xiphophorus pygmaeus) (Mexico)
*Swordtail Platyfish (Xiphophorus xiphidium) (Mexico)

Those marked with * are the most likely to be found.

[Sources: Kim M. Walther 2005: Registrations of Livebearers. Denmark.
English names from Fishbase and/or Master Index of Freshwater Fishes]
 
#26 ·
Ah, that's the real question! I compiled the list from a booklet that lists all livebearers and whether they are kept by some people. Those mentioned are kept, mostly by active livebearer hobbyists. I think most of them might be available only through the respective livebearer associations.

Yes, I might have just gone a bit overboard there, ;) I agree. Got a bit carried away while planning my pico and looking for suitable fish for it! :hihi:

I think I'll put a * before those that are most likely most easily available. That ok idea?
EDIT: Just did that..:)
 
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