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5 Tips for Increasing Aquarium Fish Compatibility

by Kenneth Wingerter

You purchased only the very best aquarium filtration equipment. You tested the water every other day. You feed top-shelf foods. You did everything right… only to experience livestock loss because your fishes have killed each other! Fish compatibility can be pretty frustrating, right? Just understand that this isn’t happening because your fish are “mean.” In the wild, they’ve evolved to aggressively protect themselves and their territory, since reefs are naturally crowded environments with very limited resources. Thankfully, there are a few steps one can take to minimize these losses as much as possible in your fish tank. Here are a few.

1. Create lots of hiding spots

It is highly advisable when building the aquascape to focus on home-building. Nothing makes a reef fish feel more secure than having its own shelter. Sure, it may get booted from a preferred spot by a dominant tankmate, but so long as it can easily find another, it will be just fine. In order to accomplish this, avoid packing live rock together when constructing the hard scape (especially the reef base). It helps with overall fish compatibility to place small rocks first (like feet) and then put progressively larger rocks on top of them. This leaves a vast network of caves and crevasses that create ample space for fish and other reef animals to hide in.

2. Strategize your stocking list for fish Compatibility

A sure way to create compatibility issues with your aquarium fish is to haphazardly add specimens according to your whims. Sure, reef aquaria aren’t always easy to plan, especially into the far future; there are just too many variables and uncertainties. But a commonsense approach to fish stocking can go a long way to prevent some squabbles between tankmates. So you need a strategy. We all keep lists of “dream fish,” right? Well, turn that list into a plan. Here’s the plan: Rearrange everything on your list so that you begin stocking with the least aggressive species and end with the most aggressive. When unsure about two species with similar levels of aggression, place the smaller one ahead of the larger one on the list. The idea is that the weaker/more timid species will have time to establish themselves in the tank and be able to assert themselves as the progressively tougher, more bullish species are introduced.

3. Keep fish density low

One of the most common mistakes of beginning and veteran aquarists alike is overstocking. Not only does overstocking fish compromise water quality (leading to algal blooms, poor coral health, etc.), but it also increases the likelihood of aggression between competing specimens. Particularly if you’ve followed the previous two steps, you’ll know exactly when the fish “community” is about to collapse into violent chaos–and be able to prevent it by halting further additions. Forget those nonsensical inch-per-gallon rules and listen to your fish; if some of your specimens are getting bullied now, what do you suppose will happen if you add an ever more aggressive species to the mix?

4. Stick to captive-bred

While much of the fish behavior we observe is truly instinctual, it can be a bit surprising how much fish learn. For sure, much of their social behavior is shaped by their environment, both past and present. This is why there is such a marked difference in levels of aggression between wild and captive-bred individuals of the same species. Whereas on the reef (where only the strong survive) a blenny might display considerable aggression (particularly against its own kind), the same blenny might be quite docile in a fish hatchery where food is dispensed liberally. Plus, cultured fish are often heavily crowded in specialized high-density grow-out systems from the time they hatch until they are sold. The result is a very mellow, tolerant, highly “socialized” specimen.

5. Consider conspecific compatibility

This brings us to the issue of conspecific (i.e. same-species)  fish compatibility. You’d think that animals of the same species would look out for each other. Wouldn’t that benefit the species as a whole? Not really. Problem is, because they require the exact same type of hiding spaces, foods, etc., conspecifics engage in the most intense sort of competition. Add the extra aggression exhibited between males for mates and you’ve got some serious animosity. A common mistake aquarists make is to buy animals in pairs believing that “just one would get lonely.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Particularly within the limited confines of an aquarium, territorial disputes can result in mortalities. For this reason, stick to only one individual specimen per species. In the case of sexual pairs or harems (clownfish, anthias, etc.), acquire only established pairs/groups. When stocking “schooling” species such as firefish, add as many individuals as possible; in this way, inevitable quarrels between schoolmates will be diluted throughout the larger group.

Conclusion

Fish will be fish. Sometimes the cutest list goby or damsel can turn out to be a huge nightmare for the other aquarium inhabitants. You can never really be 100% sure about how the complicated interactions of a fish community will play out in reef tank!

That being said, your stocking habits will ultimately have a significant influence on the levels, and outcomes, of these aggressions. Maybe your tank will never quite be a place of harmonious tranquility. But by following the above suggestions, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll lose fewer (if any) specimens to fighting. And your fish will be much happier for it!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  19. Lindsay Marino says

    Too many people talk about maxing out their bio load when they should be talking about if the fish have enough personal space! Great article

    Reply

  20. Derrick Lambert says

    Awesome post! I do tons of research before I buy any fish to see if they will work with my current fish!

    Reply

  24. jeff.hershner says

    The more the reefing community practices these simple but effective guidelines, the more species will be available for all of us. If you keep buying the same species and you keep loosing it, there’s a good chance something in your tank is stressing it out. Always consider compatibility before buying that next fish.

    Reply

  27. Jessica Turner says

    Great article. I always had a tough time with clown fish. Never could get a pair to be nice to each other.

    Reply

  42. Kevin Johnson says

    Great ideas. I have had a yellow tang kill a coral beauty before because I didn’t take all the issues into consideration.

    Reply

  61. Matt H says

    Wish I would have read this earlier…
    Was worried about shrimp’s getting along… didn’t think I had to worry about my melanarus wrasse going after a cleaner shrimp

    Reply

  72. JessU says

    Captive bred are very successful in the home reef. This information is useful and resourceful. Hiding spaces are a must in case fish feel stressed they need a place that’s calm and out of sight- I learned my lesson on this with Starburst anthias!

    Reply

  76. Joshua Vaisman says

    This is exactly the kind of advice that helped me build up a happy, healthy community in my tank. Thanks Algaebarn!

    Reply

  92. Tim Brown says

    This is why you shouldn’t buy fish without doing your own research. Too many people trust Petco associates to give them the information they need.

    Reply

  108. scotty8284 says

    I lost all my fish to a velvet outbreak, so this time I’m being much more focused on these steps. I guess that’s the good side of a ‘do-over’. Plus, ONLY pre-quarantined fish this time!!!!!

    Reply

  109. Casey says

    This is something every beginner should read. There are a lot of reef bullies out there that if you want them, need to be added small and last. Watching fish for aggression is a big one and so is adding hiding spots to prevent aggression. If each fish has a hiding spot then they’ll have their own home and not be around each other’s territory as much. I’ve just reached that limit on my Biocube and am wishing I’d added more hide-a-ways in my scape. I’ll do better next time so I can create a larger community!

    Reply

  111. Jessica Murray says

    People don’t place an emphasis on captive bred fish as much as they should. This is like parrot husbandry before CITES and all the surrounding import restrictions that made captive breeding the ONLY way to legally produce most species, which put more pressure for avian veterinary medicine to come out of the dark ages, which caused more study into developing better nutrition and husbandry.

    Reply

  137. Tom Harbin says

    Having enough hiding places is probably the most overlooked aspect of aquascaping today. Enough hiding places really reduces the fighting in a tank.

    Reply

  138. mattsingledad says

    Always remember what works for some does not always work for otheres. Every fish is different and has its very own personaliity.

    Reply

  141. Deva (dan) says

    so glad ppl are talking about the stocking process now and coming up with strategies that work.
    alot has changed over the 10+ years in reefing.

    Reply

  181. Kim Eberhart says

    Good info and I agree with it yet in practice I’m not as good as I wish! It’s so hard when you see a gosh you want to save, or it’s just the right size or…..insert any excuse

    Reply

  192. Deej says

    Useful information! A Dottyback would be a good example of a species that you want to ensure is compatible with your tank mates. Otherwise they are major bullies in my experience.

    Reply

  226. RowenH says

    Interesting post! I agree it’s important to understand fish compatibility within a system to avoid losses. Doing a lot of research before purchasing your fish and making a list based on your interest is important. Secondly it’s important to keep water volume in mind when deciding what fish you want to add into your tank.

    Reply

  234. Jason Williams says

    This is all definitely what I’ve experienced, thanks for writing it. Other than Algae Barn what other good sources for captive-bred marine fish are there?

    Reply

  236. Jennifer Van Camp says

    My citrine clown goby “kissy face” is supposed to be peaceful, I role my eyes because he is a bit territorial. But I love his little kissy shaped face!

    Reply

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