Save the Little Fish

Planted neon tankDemo
Photo: Skvarlih, CC BY 3.0, via source

Planted neon tank

Save the Little Fish demo · Small, about 20 gal · calm, like a pond or swamp · running 1004 days · shared October 2026

A classic 20-gallon planted tank. Cool-tolerant fish, gentle filter, and shrimp cleaning up.

Workable with care

The fish

Print the cards

× 12

A dozen is the minimum; they look far better in a bigger school.

× 6

Otocinclus

Otocinclus ≈

Catfish · OtocinclusStaple

Streams across South America

Otocinclus

Otocinclus vittatus

Streams across South America · stream

Temperature
21–27°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in · 4 cm
Flow
Gentle
Swims
Bottom and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
6+
Typical price
$4–7
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Chle assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0

× 6

Fed algae wafers until the tank grew enough biofilm.

Cherry shrimp

Cherry shrimp ≈

Shrimp & snails · NeocaridinaStaple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China

Cherry shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Streams of Taiwan and eastern China · stream

Temperature
18–26°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
1 in · 2.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Grazer
Group
10+
Typical price
$2–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Invertebrate. Many fish will eat it, so choose tank mates with care.

Photo: TonyZimbinski, CC BY-SA 4.0

× 10

The colony has tripled.

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