Aggressive fish in your aquarium don’t have to be a problem. Many fish owners like the personalities of aggressive fish and have learned the art of balance when housing aggressive fish. However, if you want a community style tank, you may want to keep aggressive fish in check.

Before you begin your aquarium setup, you’ll want to research fish and their personalities. Spend time with a good beginner’s handbook on aquariums and aquatic life. Figure out your budget and know how much time you are willing to dedicate to your new pets. If you have younger children, they should be taken into consideration as well, since aggressive fish can kill more docile fish and kids can be adversely affected by the loss of a pet.

If you decide you want a community tank, look into mollies, platies, guppies, tetras, barbs, loaches, catfish, swordfins, and an occasional gourami are all good possibilities. You’ll have to be careful with the sizes of the fish based on your tank size and the numbers of each kind of fish you intend to have. Remember to keep schooling fish in groups of three or more. Larger fish tend to be more aggressive and larger fish in larger quantities can cause problems with aggression. Knowing how to stock your tank will keep this problem in check.

If you are looking into a more varied tank, check into gouramies and dwarf cichlids. You can introduce these varieties into a community tank in limited numbers without signs of aggression. Watch for problems already in the tank before you introduce any additional gouramies and cichlids. Too many fish and too many fish with tendencies toward aggression can be very damaging.

If you don’t mind more aggressive fish, cichlids are a great choice. Noted for their intelligence, cichlids can develop more of a relationship with their owners than other fish types. They are larger fish and come in an array of colors and breeds. These fish actually look after their eggs and the fry once they hatch. Other aquarium fish do not do this. It can be a great experience to watch them develop into true pets in front of your eyes.

If you have aggressive fish, know how to handle the situation ahead of time. Educate yourself as to the particulars of fish behavior. Fish are a lot like people and some are just nicer than others. Aggressive fish don’t have to be a problem.