Fish for a 60-litre (16-gallon) aquarium
27 species from the AquaLog care guide · Updated
In short: A 60-litre tank suits small schooling fish such as rasboras, small tetras and danios, a pair or trio of small gouramis, livebearers such as platies, and small corydoras. Choose one or two schooling species plus a bottom-dweller, not one of everything.
Sixty litres (about 16 US gallons) is a popular first tank: big enough to stay stable, small enough for a desk or shelf. Every fish below has a minimum tank size of 60 litres or less in the AquaLog care guide.
How to stock a 60-litre tank
- Pick one main schooling species for the middle of the tank and keep the full group size shown.
- Add one bottom-dweller if their water ranges overlap.
- Optionally add one centrepiece, such as a honey gourami, checking it is peaceful with the rest.
- Make sure every species' temperature and pH ranges overlap. See how to choose compatible tank mates.
The species
| Species | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | Temperament | Group | Care level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BettaBetta splendens | 20 L (5 gal) | 24–30 °C | 6–7.5 | Aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Chili rasboraBoraras brigittae | 30 L (8 gal) | 23–28 °C | 4.5–7 | Peaceful | 10+ | Intermediate |
| EndlerPoecilia wingei | 30 L (8 gal) | 22–29 °C | 7–8.5 | Peaceful | 3+ | Beginner |
| Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumila | 35 L (9 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 3+ | Intermediate |
| Celestial pearl danioDanio margaritatus | 40 L (11 gal) | 20–26 °C | 6.5–7.5 | Peaceful | 8+ | Intermediate |
| Clown killifishEpiplatys annulatus | 40 L (11 gal) | 22–28 °C | 4.5–7 | Peaceful | 6+ | Intermediate |
| Dwarf emerald rasboraCelestichthys erythromicron | 40 L (11 gal) | 21–26 °C | 7–8 | Peaceful | 8+ | Intermediate |
| Ember tetraHyphessobrycon amandae | 40 L (11 gal) | 22–28 °C | 5.5–7.5 | Peaceful | 10+ | Beginner |
| GuppyPoecilia reticulata | 40 L (11 gal) | 22–28 °C | 7–8.5 | Peaceful | 3+ | Beginner |
| Licorice gouramiParosphromenus deissneri | 40 L (11 gal) | 24–28 °C | 4–5.5 | Peaceful | 2+ | Advanced |
| Neon green rasboraMicrodevario kubotai | 40 L (11 gal) | 22–27 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 10+ | Intermediate |
| Pea pufferCarinotetraodon travancoricus | 40 L (11 gal) | 24–28 °C | 6.8–8 | Aggressive | 1 | Advanced |
| Pygmy corydorasCorydoras pygmaeus | 40 L (11 gal) | 22–26 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| White cloud mountain minnowTanichthys albonubes | 45 L (12 gal) | 16–24 °C | 6–8 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna | 55 L (15 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 1 | Beginner |
| Cherry barbPuntius titteya | 60 L (16 gal) | 22–28 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner |
| Dwarf gouramiTrichogaster lalius | 60 L (16 gal) | 24–29 °C | 6–7.5 | Semi-aggressive | 1 | Beginner |
| Glowlight danioCelestichthys choprae | 60 L (16 gal) | 20–26 °C | 6.5–7.5 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| Glowlight tetraHemigrammus erythrozonus | 60 L (16 gal) | 22–28 °C | 5.8–7.5 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| Harlequin rasboraTrigonostigma heteromorpha | 60 L (16 gal) | 22–28 °C | 5.5–7.5 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| Hengel's rasboraTrigonostigma hengeli | 60 L (16 gal) | 23–28 °C | 5.5–7 | Peaceful | 8+ | Intermediate |
| Lambchop rasboraTrigonostigma espei | 60 L (16 gal) | 23–28 °C | 5.5–7.2 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi | 60 L (16 gal) | 21–27 °C | 5.5–7.5 | Peaceful | 8+ | Beginner |
| OtocinclusOtocinclus macrospilus | 60 L (16 gal) | 21–27 °C | 6–7.5 | Peaceful | 6+ | Intermediate |
| Panda corydorasCorydoras panda | 60 L (16 gal) | 20–25 °C | 6–7.4 | Peaceful | 6+ | Intermediate |
| PlatyXiphophorus maculatus | 60 L (16 gal) | 20–27 °C | 7–8.5 | Peaceful | 3+ | Beginner |
| Zebra danioDanio rerio | 60 L (16 gal) | 18–26 °C | 6–8 | Peaceful | 6+ | Beginner |
Why not more fish?
Minimum tank size assumes that species is the main occupant. Three species that each need 60 litres don't fit together in 60 litres. Add fish gradually, test ammonia and nitrite after each addition, and stop when water changes stop keeping nitrate down.