Fish for hard water

If your tap water is hard and alkaline (pH 7.5 or higher, high GH), these species prefer it, so there is no need to soften it.

112 species

Scroll sideways to see them all. All drawn at one scale, adult size: = 1 inch. Tap one to open its care page.
Guppy

Guppy

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 2.8 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 3+
Platy

Platy

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2.5 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 70–80 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.2
  • groups of 3+
Bronze corydoras

Bronze corydoras

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 2.75 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–80 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Zebra danio

Zebra danio

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 64–77 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Molly

Molly

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 3.9 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 3+
Fancy goldfish

Fancy goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 8 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 64–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Endler's livebearer

Endler's livebearer

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 1.8 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 3+
Tiger barb

Tiger barb

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 3 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 74–80 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Swordtail

Swordtail

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 5.5 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.4
  • groups of 3+
Pea puffer

Pea puffer

Aggressive · All levels · moderate care

  • 1.4 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.3
  • groups of 3+
Acei cichlid (yellow-tail acei)

Acei cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 74–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 6+
American flagfish

American flagfish

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 2.5 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 65–79 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8.5
  • alone or pair
Auratus cichlid

Auratus cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 4.3 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 73–82 °F
  • pH 7.6 to 8.6
  • groups of 4+
Bala shark

Bala shark

Peaceful · Middle · moderate care

  • 14 in adult
  • 125+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 5+
Banded gourami (striped gourami)

Banded gourami

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 4 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • alone or pair
Black moor

Black moor

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 64–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Black skirt tetra

Black skirt tetra

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 3 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Black-barred limia (humpbacked limia)

Black-barred limia

Peaceful · Middle · moderate care

  • 2 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 75–79 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.5
  • groups of 5+
Blind cave tetra

Blind cave tetra

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 4.7 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 68–77 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Bloodfin tetra

Bloodfin tetra

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 2.2 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 65–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Blue acara

Blue acara

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Blue dolphin cichlid

Blue dolphin cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 7.9 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 75–78 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 4+
Bolivian ram

Bolivian ram

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 3.2 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 72–80 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • alone or pair
Bubble eye goldfish

Bubble eye goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · demanding care

  • 4 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 65–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Buenos Aires tetra

Buenos Aires tetra

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 3 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 64–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Bumblebee cichlid (hornet cichlid)

Bumblebee cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 6.3 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 4+
Celebes rainbowfish

Celebes rainbowfish

Peaceful · Top · moderate care

  • 3 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 68–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Chinese algae eater

Chinese algae eater

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 11 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • alone or pair
Comet goldfish

Comet goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 10 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 50–75 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Common goldfish

Common goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 8.7 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 50–75 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Convict cichlid

Convict cichlid

Aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 4.7 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Convict julie

Convict julie

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 5.1 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 75–80 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 9
  • groups of 2+
Cuckoo catfish

Cuckoo catfish

Peaceful · Bottom · moderate care

  • 6 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 75–81 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 9
  • groups of 4+
Demasoni cichlid

Demasoni cichlid

Aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 3.9 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 12+
Dojo loach (weather loach)

Dojo loach

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 10 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 55–77 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 3+
Electric blue acara

Electric blue acara

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Electric blue hap

Electric blue hap

Semi-aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 4.5 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 3+
Emerald corydoras

Emerald corydoras

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 3 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 5.8 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Fahaka puffer (Nile puffer)

Fahaka puffer

Aggressive · All levels · demanding care

  • 17 in adult
  • 150+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • one per tank
Fairy cichlid (princess of Burundi)

Fairy cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 3.5 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 75–81 °F
  • pH 7.8 to 9
  • groups of 2+
Fantail goldfish

Fantail goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 8 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 64–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Featherfin squeaker

Featherfin squeaker

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 11.8 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 72–79 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Firemouth cichlid

Firemouth cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 75–84 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Flowerhorn cichlid

Flowerhorn cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 14 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 78–84 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • one per tank
Frontosa

Frontosa

Semi-aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 13 in adult
  • 125+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.8 to 9
  • alone or pair
Giant danio

Giant danio

Semi-aggressive · Top · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 72–79 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Giant gourami

Giant gourami

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 18 in adult
  • 300+ gal
  • 72–86 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
GloFish danio

GloFish danio

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 64–77 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 6+
GloFish tetra

GloFish tetra

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 3 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Gold barb

Gold barb

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2.8 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 64–75 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Green terror

Green terror

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 12 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 70–79 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Indian glassfish

Indian glassfish

Peaceful · Middle · moderate care

  • 3.1 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey

Aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 10 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Jaguar cichlid

Jaguar cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 26 in adult
  • 125+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.7
  • alone or pair
Jewel cichlid

Jewel cichlid

Aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Julii corydoras

Julii corydoras

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 2.5 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–79 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Kenyi cichlid

Kenyi cichlid

Aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 5 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 4+
Kissing gourami

Kissing gourami

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 12 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.8 to 8.5
  • alone or pair
Least killifish

Least killifish

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 1.2 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 64–80 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Lemon tetra

Lemon tetra

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 5.5 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Lionhead goldfish

Lionhead goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · moderate care

  • 6 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 64–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Mbu puffer

Mbu puffer

Aggressive · All levels · demanding care

  • 26 in adult
  • 500+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • one per tank
Medaka (rice fish)

Medaka

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 1.5 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 65–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Odessa barb

Odessa barb

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2.5 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 68–79 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Oranda

Oranda

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 8 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 64–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Oscar

Oscar

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 14 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 72–80 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • alone or pair
Paradise fish

Paradise fish

Semi-aggressive · Top · easy care

  • 3.5 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 61–79 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • one male per tank
Peacock cichlid

Peacock cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 6 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.6
  • one male per tank
Pearl danio

Pearl danio

Peaceful · Top · easy care

  • 2.6 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 68–77 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Pearlscale goldfish

Pearlscale goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · moderate care

  • 8 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 65–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Peppered corydoras

Peppered corydoras

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 2.8 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 64–77 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Petricola catfish (Synodontis petricola)

Petricola catfish

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 4.5 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 73–79 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 9
  • groups of 3+
Rainbow cichlid

Rainbow cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 72–84 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • alone or pair
Rainbow shiner

Rainbow shiner

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 3 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 60–75 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Ranchu goldfish

Ranchu goldfish

Peaceful · All levels · moderate care

  • 8 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 65–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Red devil cichlid

Red devil cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 12 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • one per tank
Red eye tetra

Red eye tetra

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2.8 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 73–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Red rainbowfish

Red rainbowfish

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 5.9 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 72–79 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Red zebra cichlid

Red zebra cichlid

Aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 5 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 3+
Rosy barb

Rosy barb

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 29+ gal
  • 64–77 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Rusty cichlid

Rusty cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 4.3 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 75–79 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 4+
Ryukin

Ryukin

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 8 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 64–74 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Sailfin molly

Sailfin molly

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 5.9 in adult
  • 30+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 3+
Salvini cichlid

Salvini cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 5.9 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 72–81 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • alone or pair
Saulosi cichlid

Saulosi cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 3.4 in adult
  • 40+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 6+
Shell-dweller cichlid

Shell-dweller cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 2 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 75–80 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 9
  • groups of 3+
Shubunkin

Shubunkin

Peaceful · All levels · easy care

  • 12 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 50–75 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Silvertip tetra

Silvertip tetra

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Texas cichlid

Texas cichlid

Aggressive · Middle · moderate care

  • 12 in adult
  • 75+ gal
  • 68–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • alone or pair
Variatus platy

Variatus platy

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 2.8 in adult
  • 15+ gal
  • 61–75 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.2
  • groups of 3+
Venustus cichlid (giraffe hap)

Venustus cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · moderate care

  • 9.8 in adult
  • 125+ gal
  • 76–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.6
  • groups of 3+
Wrestling halfbeak

Wrestling halfbeak

Peaceful · Top · moderate care

  • 2.8 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 3+
X-ray tetra

X-ray tetra

Peaceful · Middle · easy care

  • 1.8 in adult
  • 15+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 6 to 8
  • groups of 6+
Yellow lab cichlid

Yellow lab cichlid

Semi-aggressive · Middle · easy care

  • 6 in adult
  • 55+ gal
  • 72–82 °F
  • pH 7.5 to 8.5
  • groups of 4+
Zebra nerite snail

Zebra nerite snail

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 1 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 70–80 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.5
  • alone or pair
Mystery snail

Mystery snail

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 68–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • alone or pair
African dwarf frog

African dwarf frog

Peaceful · All levels · moderate care

  • 1.5 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 75–82 °F
  • pH 6.5 to 8
  • groups of 2+
Assassin snail

Assassin snail

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 1 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 72–80 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • alone or pair
Bladder snail

Bladder snail

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 0.6 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 64–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.5
  • alone or pair
Dwarf orange crayfish (CPO)

Dwarf orange crayfish

Semi-aggressive · Bottom · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 10+ gal
  • 60–77 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • alone or pair
Ghost shrimp

Ghost shrimp

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 2 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 65–80 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • groups of 3+
Horned nerite snail

Horned nerite snail

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 0.5 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 72–80 °F
  • pH 7 to 8.5
  • alone or pair

Rabbit snail

Peaceful · Bottom · moderate care

  • 3 in adult
  • 20+ gal
  • 76–84 °F
  • pH 7.3 to 8.5
  • alone or pair
Ramshorn snail

Ramshorn snail

Peaceful · Bottom · easy care

  • 1 in adult
  • 5+ gal
  • 64–82 °F
  • pH 7 to 8
  • alone or pair

More fish lists

Names, and adult sizes where the article gives one, are checked against Wikipedia; care ranges are common hobby guidance, and each species page says which is which. 99 of these 112 are fish. Photos are real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, credited below; the lineup is our own drawing at one scale.

Photo credits

Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.