Quick answer: Neon tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) are tiny, peaceful schooling fish from the Amazon basin, famous for their glowing blue stripe and red tail. They grow to about 1.5 inches (4 cm), and with good care they can live 5 years or more, though many only reach 2 to 3 Read more
Quick answer: Silver dollar fish are peaceful, disc-shaped South American schooling fish, related to pacu and piranhas but completely gentle. The common silver dollar (Metynnis argenteus) and the spotted silver dollar (Metynnis lippincottianus) grow to about 6 inches (15 cm), while the red hook silver dollar gets much bigger. They Read more
Quick answer: Bladder snails (Physella acuta, also called Physa acuta) are tiny freshwater snails with a thin, see-through, teardrop-shaped shell that opens on the left side. They grow to about 0.4 to 0.6 inches (1 to 1.5 cm), live a few months to about a year, and lay small, clear Read more
Quick answer: Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi, also called red cherry shrimp or RCS) are small, hardy freshwater shrimp that grow to about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) and live 1 to 2 years. They do best in a cycled, planted tank of 5 gallons or more, at Read more
Quick answer: Malaysian trumpet snails (Melanoides tuberculata, also called red-rimmed melania or MTS) are small, cone-shaped freshwater snails that grow to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in aquariums and live roughly 1 to 2 years. They spend the day buried in the substrate, eat leftover food, detritus and algae, and Read more
Quick answer: Cherry barbs (Rohanella titteya, formerly Puntius titteya) are small, peaceful barbs from Sri Lanka that grow to about 2 inches (5 cm) and live 4 to 6 years. Keep a group of at least 6 in a planted tank of 20 gallons or more, at 73 to 81 Read more
Quick answer: Assassin snails (Anentome helena, often sold as Clea helena) are small, striped freshwater snails that hunt and eat other snails. They grow to about 0.75 to 1 inch (2 to 2.5 cm), live 2 to 3 years, and do best at 72 to 82 F with pH 7 Read more
Quick answer: Shrimp molting is when a shrimp sheds its old hard shell (exoskeleton) so it can grow. Yes, all shrimp molt, and it’s a good sign. Young cherry shrimp molt about every 1 to 2 weeks and adults every 3 to 6 weeks, while Amano and ghost shrimp molt Read more
Quick answer: Mystery snails (Pomacea diffusa) are peaceful freshwater apple snails that grow to about 2 inches (5 cm), live around 1 to 2 years, and do best at 68 to 82 F with pH 7.5 or higher and hard water for a strong shell. One snail needs about 5 Read more
Quick answer: Ramshorn snails are small, flat-coiled freshwater snails, usually under 1 inch (2.5 cm), that eat algae, leftover food and dying plant leaves. They live about 1 to 2 years, handle 64 to 80 F, need hard water with pH 7 to 8 for healthy shells, and come in Read more