Best freshwater fish for a 55 gallon tank

A 55 gallon freshwater tank is the first size here for angelfish, which list a 53 gallon (200 liter) minimum. It also opens up Bolivian rams, yoyo loaches and scissortail rasboras. Every fish here is widely sold, rated for community tanks and lists a minimum tank of 55 gallons or less.

Keeping a saltwater tank? Saltwater fish for a 55 gallon tank →

Tank size: 7–55 gal; 7 gal (25 L) to 55 gal (210 L); half the list needs 20 gal (75 L) or more
Temperature: 72–81°F; 22–27°C, most of the list
pH: 6.0–7.5; Most of the list
Difficulty: 78 easy; 69 medium · 4 difficult
Temperament: 109 peaceful; 42 mostly peaceful

151 species

New at this size

What a 55 gallon adds over a 40

Angelfish list 53 gallons (200 liters), grow to 5.9 inches (15 cm) and are marked easy. The Bolivian ram is a 3.1 inch (8 cm) dwarf cichlid for 45 gallons (170 liters), marked medium. Yoyo loaches grow to 6.3 inches (16 cm) and list 42 gallons (160 liters). The blue acara reaches 5.9 inches (15 cm) on the same minimum. Scissortail rasboras are a 5.5 inch (14 cm) schooler for 45 gallons (170 liters). The redline torpedo barb lists 53 gallons (200 liters) at 4.3 inches (11 cm).

Stocking plans

Three ways to stock a 55 gallon tank

Each plan below ran through the stocking calculator, which reads every fish at its adult size against its minimum tank. Open one to change the counts or swap in your own fish.

An angelfish pair with congo tetras
Full
LightComfortableFullHeavyOverstocked
These species overlap at 75–79°F (24–26°C), pH 6.5–7.5.
Open this plan in the stocking calculator
Two rainbowfish schools
Comfortable
LightComfortableFullHeavyOverstocked
These species overlap at 73–79°F (23–26°C), pH 6.5–7.5.
Open this plan in the stocking calculator
A cooler community of barbs and danios
Comfortable
LightComfortableFullHeavyOverstocked
These species overlap at 70–75°F (21–24°C), pH 6.0–7.5.
Open this plan in the stocking calculator

By the numbers

Smallest

Largest

Easiest to keep

Most peaceful

Fits a 20 gallon tank

Fits a 30 gallon tank

FAQ

Common questions

How many fish can go in a 55 gallon tank?

A 55 gallon holds an angelfish pair over a school and a cory group, as the first plan above shows. A rainbowfish community and a cooler barb and danio tank fit too. Count by adult size and check the mix in the stocking calculator.

Can angelfish live with neon tetras?

Neon tetras grow to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) against 5.9 inches (15 cm) for an angelfish, small enough to be eaten. The plans here pair angelfish with congo tetras at 3.1 inches (8 cm) instead.

Which loaches fit a 55 gallon tank?

Yoyo loaches list 42 gallons (160 liters) and zebra loaches 37 gallons (140 liters). Clown loaches grow to 11.8 inches (30 cm) and list 75 gallons (285 liters), so they start on the 75 gallon page.

Can a 55 gallon tank stay unheated?

Rosy barbs, zebra danios and bronze cories share 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C). The third plan above can run without a heater in a room that stays in that range. The angelfish and rainbowfish plans need one.

Index