PetsA community tank of small tropical fish, such as guppies, platies, mollies and tetras, is a living picture in the home. The secret is patience at the start: prepare the water first, add fish slowly, and do not crowd them. After that, a small routine each week keeps it healthy.
This is a care guide, not veterinary advice. It covers housing, food, routine and safety. It does not diagnose or treat illness. If your pet seems unwell, is hurt or behaves differently, take it to a qualified veterinarian without delay.
At a glance
- Lives
- Commonly 2 to 5 years for small community fish, depending on the kind
- Time each day
- 5 to 10 minutes, plus a weekly water change
- Space
- A tank of 60 litres or more is easier to keep steady than a small one
- Cost
- Medium at the start, low afterwards
- Good with children
- Yes, with an adult in charge of the water
Is a tropical fish tank right for you?
A good choice if
- You enjoy setting things up carefully
- You can do a small water change every week
- You want pets that need no walks or handling
- You have a strong, level stand away from the sun
Think again if
- You want fish the same day you buy the tank
- You want as many fish as possible
- Power cuts are long and frequent and you have no backup
- Nobody will keep the weekly routine
What you need before the first day
- A glass tank with a lid and light
- A filter
- A heater and thermometer where rooms get cool
- Water conditioner and a test kit
- Gravel or sand, plants and hiding places
- Tropical fish food
- A net, bucket and siphon kept for the tank
- A second small tank or tub for new or unwell fish
The right home
Set up the tank, switch on the filter and let it cycle for a few weeks until tests show no ammonia or nitrite. Then add a few fish, wait, and add more. Choose kinds that suit each other in size, temper and water needs: ask before you buy. Schooling fish such as tetras should be kept in a group of six or more of their own kind. Plants and hiding places make fish feel safe and show better colour.
Food and water
Feed small pinches once or twice a day, only what the fish finish in about two minutes. Vary the diet with different prepared foods. Uneaten food is the main cause of dirty water.
Never feed
- Adding many fish at once
- Mixing fin-nipping or large fish with small, gentle ones
- Overfeeding
- Washing the filter under the tap
- Releasing fish or plants into ponds, lakes or drains
Care routine
Every day
Every week
Every month
Handling and behaviour
Fish are for watching. Learn how each kind normally behaves so that you notice changes early. Keep new fish in a separate tub for a couple of weeks before adding them to the main tank, so that any problem does not spread.
When to see a vet
Do not wait and watch if you notice any of these. Go to a qualified vet:
- Fish gasping at the surface
- White spots, fuzzy patches or clamped fins
- Several deaths close together
- Test the water and change part of it first, then ask an aquarist or a vet who treats fish
Find a vet before you need one, and keep the phone number where everyone at home can see it. Follow the vaccination and parasite-control schedule your vet gives you.
In India: climate and rules
Summer heat and power cuts are the two local problems. Shade the tank, raise the lid a little and use a fan across the surface in hot weather. A small battery air pump is a cheap safeguard for long power cuts. Use a conditioner for chlorinated tap water.
More guides
Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Guinea pig, Hamster, Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Goldfish, Betta fish. Also: the first week with a new pet, foods pets must never eat, summer care.
Written in November 2026. Life spans and sizes are the ranges commonly given for well-kept pets. Individual animals differ.