Best Fish for a 40-Gallon Tank

156 species in our database are suited to a 40-gallon aquarium. Mix one schooling group with a centerpiece fish and a small cleanup crew, then verify the combination with the stocking calculator.

Schooling fish

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbWhite Cloud MinnowBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusKuhli LoachMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishZebra LoachHillstream LoachSiamese Algae EaterLeast KillifishRosy Red MinnowGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Centerpiece fish

Betta (male)AngelfishGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisConvict CichlidDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBristlenose PlecoHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiMoonlight GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidDemasoni CichlidAuratus CichlidMultifasciatusJulidochromisRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoFlying FoxDwarf PufferfishFigure-8 PufferAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishBamboo ShrimpRabbit SnailLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidBrichardiShell-DwellerLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Vampire ShrimpBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail Killifish

Cleanup crew

Bronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailGhost ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet Snail