Expert advice from an experienced UK fishkeeper. Every guide is backed by cited sources, including peer-reviewed papers, FishBase, IUCN, SeriouslyFish and trusted expert videos, so the page helps customers choose with confidence before they buy.
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Best starting points
These guides help customers understand cycling, water testing and plant basics before they pick fish for the tank.
Setting up your first tropical aquarium is exciting — and doing it right from the start saves you from the mistakes we see every week at the shop. This guide walks you through the shopping list, fishless cycling, first stocking, and the first 30 days of maintenance.
Water quality is the single biggest factor in fishkeeping success — more important than tank size, lighting, or filtration. This guide explains every parameter that matters (pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, TDS, temperature), the UK regional water map, and why stable beats perfect every time.
Live plants transform a fish tank from a box of water into a working ecosystem — they oxygenate, absorb nitrates, provide shelter, reduce algae, and lower fish stress. This guide covers the easiest plants for beginners, planting technique, lighting, and how plants make every fish you buy from us thrive.
Expert Care, Cited Sources
Every guide is backed by FishBase, peer-reviewed papers, and real-world experience
11 guides
Peaceful shoals, livebearers and centrepiece fish for mixed tanks.
Add vivid blue and red colour to your aquarium with Neon Tetra. Peaceful shoaling tropical fish ideal for community tanks. Order now for UK delivery.
Cardinal tetras bring the deepest red-and-blue colour of any small community fish — a schooling centrepiece for soft, warm, planted aquariums. UK delivery available.
Ember tetras are tiny jewels of the planted aquarium. At just 2 cm, these fiery orange nano fish are perfect for small tanks and shrimp-safe communities.
Harlequin rasboras are stunning copper-orange shoaling fish with a distinctive black triangle marking. Peaceful, hardy, and perfect for planted community tanks.
Celestial pearl danios — also called galaxy rasboras — are one of the most beautiful nano fish in the hobby. Stunning spotted pattern, easy care, shrimp-safe.
Bright, hardy, and well suited to UK tap water — guppies are classic livebearers for planted community tanks, with careful UK dispatch available.
Endler guppies are tiny, brilliantly coloured livebearers that breed freely in community tanks. Hardy, peaceful, and stunning in planted nano setups.
Platies are one of the best beginner fish — hardy, colourful, peaceful, and available in dozens of colour varieties. Perfect for community tanks of all sizes.
Lively, colourful livebearers for hard UK water, including black, dalmatian, sailfin and lyretail varieties with careful UK dispatch available.
The honey gourami is a peaceful, colourful labyrinth fish perfect for small community tanks. Hardy, gentle, and stunning golden colour. UK delivery available.
The betta fish is one of the most popular and most misunderstood freshwater species. This guide covers everything from proper tank size to the truth about tank mates.
5 guides
Catfish, loaches and grazing species that need the right setup.
Corydoras catfish are the perfect bottom-dwelling cleanup crew for any community tank. Peaceful, hardy, and endlessly entertaining to watch. Order for UK delivery.
The kuhli loach is a peaceful, eel-like bottom dweller for soft-water community tanks. Honest UK care guide covering tank size, sand substrate, hiding behaviour and group size.
The only true algae specialist in the hobby. Peaceful, tiny, perfect for mature planted tanks — but demanding about tank maturity. Order now for UK delivery.
Peaceful algae-grazing catfish ideal for UK community tanks. Stays small (12-15 cm), loves driftwood, easy to breed. Sent by licensed live-animal courier with Live Arrival Guarantee.
Plecos are the ultimate algae-eating catfish for freshwater aquariums. From the tiny bristlenose to the massive common pleco, there's a pleco for every tank size.
4 guides
Invertebrate guides for planted tanks and clean-up crews.
Freshwater shrimp are the most rewarding invertebrates you can keep — low-bioload, colourful, and genuinely active. This guide covers the three main shrimp groups (Neocaridina, Caridina, Amano), UK water compatibility, and the copper warning every keeper needs to know.
Add vibrant red colour and natural algae control to your aquarium with Cherry Shrimp. Peaceful, hardy Neocaridina ideal for planted nano tanks. Order today for UK delivery.
Add the hobby's best algae-eating shrimp to your aquarium with Amano Shrimp. Peaceful, hardy, and larger than cherries — ideal for planted community tanks. Order now for UK delivery.
Nerite snails are the ultimate algae-eating machine. They devour green algae, diatoms, and biofilm without eating your plants — and they can't breed in freshwater.
3 guides
Higher-care species where tank size and water stability matter.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
The graceful freshwater angelfish is a centrepiece fish for mid-to-large community tanks. Striking finnage, easy to moderate care. UK delivery available.
Keep the king of the aquarium — Discus Fish are striking South American cichlids for experienced keepers. Soft warm water, group living, and patience required. UK delivery available.
