Best Fish for a 40-Gallon Tank
Edited by Ivan F.
A 40-gallon opens up larger schools and bigger species, and it is far more forgiving of small mistakes.
How we pick: Species whose minimum tank size is within 10% of 40 US gallons or smaller. Group size still counts: always check how many fish a species needs.
Fitting the same tank size does not mean these species can live together. Check each species' tank mates before you buy.
New at this size

Boesemani Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
- Min tank
- 29 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 7–8
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
IntermediatePeaceful

Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
- Min tank
- 29 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
- Min tank
- 29 US gal
- Group
- 3+ fish
- pH
- 7–8
- Swim zone
- Top
IntermediateSemi-Aggressive
Also fits

Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
- Min tank
- 3.3 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 6.8–8
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
IntermediateTerritorial/Aggressive

African Dwarf Frog
Hymenochirus boettgeri
- Min tank
- 10 US gal
- Group
- 3+ fish
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Swim zone
- Bottom
EasyPeaceful

Apistogramma Borellii
Apistogramma borellii
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 5–8
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediateSemi-Aggressive

Betta
Betta splendens
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 6–8
- Swim zone
- Top
EasyTerritorial/Aggressive

Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 4–7
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
IntermediatePeaceful

Clown Killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 4–7
- Swim zone
- Top
IntermediatePeaceful

Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 5–7
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 3+ fish
- pH
- 7–8.5
- Swim zone
- Top
EasyPeaceful

Fancy Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 3+ fish
- pH
- 7–8.5
- Swim zone
- Top
EasyPeaceful

Otocinclus Catfish
Otocinclus macrospilus
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful

Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.4
- Swim zone
- Bottom
EasyPeaceful

Pygmy Corydoras
Corydoras pygmaeus
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6.4–7.4
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful

Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
- Min tank
- 11 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Top
EasyPeaceful

Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 3.5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–8
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6.8–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish
Pseudomugil furcatus
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 7–8
- Swim zone
- Top
IntermediatePeaceful

German Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 4–7
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful

Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Top
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful

Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 3.5–7
- Swim zone
- Bottom
EasyPeaceful

Lambchop Rasbora
Trigonostigma espei
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 4–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 3+ fish
- pH
- 7–8.2
- Swim zone
- Top
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful

Pristella Tetra
Pristella maxillaris
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 10+ fish
- pH
- 6–8.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Dwarf Gourami
Trichogaster lalius
- Min tank
- 15 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Top
IntermediateSemi-Aggressive

Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
- Min tank
- 18 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Hillstream Loach
Sewellia lineolata
- Min tank
- 18 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful

Peppered Corydoras
Corydoras paleatus
- Min tank
- 18 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7
- Swim zone
- Bottom
EasyPeaceful

Albino Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus (albino)
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–8
- Swim zone
- Bottom
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful

Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–8
- Swim zone
- Bottom
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful

Kribensis Cichlid
Pelvicachromis pulcher
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Bottom
EasyTerritorial/Aggressive

Lemon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 12+ fish
- pH
- 5–7.5
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasySemi-Aggressive

Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
- Min tank
- 19 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 5–8
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasySemi-Aggressive

Clown Pleco
Panaqolus maccus
- Min tank
- 20 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 6.8–7.6
- Swim zone
- Bottom
EasyPeaceful

Goldfish
Carassius auratus
- Min tank
- 20 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Swim zone
- All Levels
EasyPeaceful

Blue Gourami
Trichopodus trichopterus
- Min tank
- 21 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 5.5–8.5
- Swim zone
- Top
EasySemi-Aggressive

Gold Barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
- Min tank
- 21 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 6–8
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Molly
Poecilia sphenops
- Min tank
- 21 US gal
- Group
- 3+ fish
- pH
- 7–8.5
- Swim zone
- Top
EasyPeaceful

Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
- Min tank
- 21 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 5.5–8
- Swim zone
- Top
EasyPeaceful

Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
- Min tank
- 21 US gal
- Group
- 10+ fish
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
- Min tank
- 21 US gal
- Group
- 8+ fish
- pH
- 6–8
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful