Discover the Top 10 Nano Fish & Shrimp for Your Small Fish Tank

Small aquariums can be just as captivating as large ones. With the right nano fish and shrimp species, you can build a peaceful, colorful, thriving underwater world even in a compact tank.

What Are Nano Fish?

Nano fish are small, peaceful species, typically under 2 inches, that thrive in smaller tanks or planted aquascapes. They make good companions for shrimp, snails, and live plants because they produce minimal waste and display natural schooling or community behavior. They require less filtration, add color and movement without overcrowding, and suit desktop or nano-scale aquascapes especially well.

1. Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

Up to 1.5 inches, needs 10+ gallons. Peaceful schooling fish (keep groups of 6+) that pair well with Anubias Nana 'Pangolino' and fine-leaved plants like Ludwigia Palustris Super Red.

2. Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae)

0.8 inches, needs 5+ gallons. Peaceful and loves dense plant cover — pairs well with mosses like Willow Moss or Riccia fluitans.

3. Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus)

1 inch, needs 10+ gallons. Peaceful and shy, best in groups of 6 or more, and looks striking against low-growing plants like Staurogyne Repens.

4. Chili Rasbora (Boraras brigittae)

0.7 inches, needs 5+ gallons. Calm and ideal for nano shrimp tanks; pairs well with floating plants like Red Root Floater for shade and cover.

5. Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus)

1 inch, needs 10+ gallons. Peaceful bottom-dwellers best with a sand substrate and carpeting plants like Dwarf Baby Tears.

6. Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)

1.5 inches, needs 10–15 gallons. Gentle but males can be territorial, best solo or in pairs, and look great among broad-leaved plants like Anubias Butterfly.

7. Endler's Livebearer (Poecilia wingei)

1 inch, needs 5+ gallons. Peaceful and breeds readily; best planted with dense stems like Bacopa Myriophylloides or Limnophila aromatica Mini.

8. Otocinclus Catfish (Otocinclus affinis)

1.5 inches, needs 10+ gallons. A hardworking algae-eater that pairs beautifully with mosses, driftwood, and slow-growing plants like Bucephalandra Pink Malawi.

9. Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

1 inch, needs 5+ gallons. Bright, easy to breed, and available in red, yellow, blue, orange, and green. Best with dense cover from Willow Moss and Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green.

10. Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)

2 inches, needs 10+ gallons. A powerhouse algae-eater and natural tank cleaner; pairs well with gentle nano fish and plants like Ludwigia Super Red Mini.

Tips for a Happy Nano Aquarium

Keep schooling species in real groups, add live plants for hiding spots and nutrient balance, change 20–30% of the water weekly, feed sparingly since overfeeding hits water clarity fast in small volumes, and use gentle filtration like sponge filters to keep flow calm for small fish.

A Good Starting Point

Our Anubias Nana 'Pangolino' is compact enough for any nano tank and undemanding enough to thrive alongside all ten species on this list.

Keep Reading

• 10 Must-Have Freshwater Fishes & Shrimp for Your Planted Aquarium
• Cherry Shrimp Introduction