Best Soft Water Aquarium Fish
Edited by Ivan F.
Soft water suits many small tropical species, and it is often ideal for colorful schooling fish.
How we pick: Species whose sourced hardness range reaches down to 4 dGH or lower and whose pH range reaches 6.0 or lower.
Fitting the same tank size does not mean these species can live together. Check each species' tank mates before you buy.

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

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

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

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

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

Pristella Tetra
Pristella maxillaris
- Min tank
- 14 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- 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

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

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

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

Bolivian Ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
- Min tank
- 48 US gal
- Group
- 2+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful

Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
- Min tank
- 53 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.4
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful

Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus cirrhosus
- Min tank
- 64 US gal
- Group
- Single fish
- pH
- 5–7
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful

Siamese Algae Eater
Crossocheilus oblongus
- Min tank
- 80 US gal
- Group
- 6+ fish
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Swim zone
- Bottom
IntermediatePeaceful