10 Top Dwelling Fish for Your Aquarium

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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
0:00 - INTRO
0:23 - #1 BROWN TAIL PENCILFISH
1:36 - #2 SILVER HATCHETFISH
3:06 - #3 GOLDEN WONDER KILLIFISH
4:23 - #4 AFRICAN BUTTERFLY FISH
5:42 - #5 FURCATA RAINBOWFISH
7:04 - #6 BETTA FISH
8:20 - #7 COMMON DANIO
9:27 - #8 CLOWN KILLIFISH
11:00 - #9 ORANGE HATCHET DANIO
11:46 - #10 HALFBEAKS
13:22 - OUTRO
#Aquariumcoop #Aquariumfish #Fishtank

[@AquariumCoop]

Buy fish at geni.us/LiveFish from our preferred online retailers with the code _aquariumcoop_ to save 5%. (As an affiliate member, we earn a commission from this link.)

[@peekaboo9976]

What IS a dwelling fish

[@brenw3064]

What fish will work with electric blue crayfish,

[@joaquinriquelme5639]

@@brenw3064 Something with smaller fins, I think, because they like grabbing them. And not small fish like neon tetras.

[@brenw3064]

@@joaquinriquelme5639 yes neon tetras are a no no, had seven, now there's two, stays away from my snowball pleco and you say fins aren't a good idea, 3 angelfish and no fin damage in two months,

[@joaquinriquelme5639]

@@brenw3064 Oh, good that the angelfish are doing nice. How many gallons is your tank?

[@sashimiturtle]

I read this as Top 10 Dwelling Fish for the longest time and I couldn't figure out what a dwelling fish was to save my life.

[@billyvillacis9975]

Yuuuuuup me too lol

[@tommiddup398]

Same here dude 😂

[@KimThirion]

Guilty. Lol.

[@traveric3]

omg me too lol

[@amyboyd5760]

Me too!

[@andrewsmith3512]

Cory I can’t say how much I appreciate the more frequent post and the top 10 videos. It’s so enjoyable getting new ideas for tanks and being able to see new fish I might not of heard about or might of forgot about. Thank you!

[@kitfisto1827]

Fully recommend African Butterflyfish. Go well with just about anything that isnt a fin nipper. Will eat anything that floats. Never predatory. Have at least one corner will low flow and plant cover. Fascinating fish to watch feed. Very hardy, never had one get sick or die prematurely ( except for jumping out of the tank once).

[@muwuny]

The African butterfly fish is actually an arowana in terms of taxonomy too.

[@spongeman6559]

It’s related to them too

[@c_fletch9325]

Bomber Harris Awesome! I didn’t know that

[@jemoeder3103]

@@spongeman6559 no its not

[@lanternno8491]

@@jemoeder3103 it is, a sister clade to arowanas.

[@jemoeder3103]

@@lanternno8491 no it really is an other species of fish

[@TazawaTanks]

At first I misread the title of this video and thought that it read “Top 10 Shell Dwelling fish”! I was SUPER excited for a moment! 😂 Still, a great video and informative for people wanting ideas on fish to keep. 👍🏾

[@shellbrook3383]

I read it as dueling fish! 😆

[@ryanahayes]

Just started my first aquarium. Took your advice and went with a community tank in a 40 gallon breeder real good price at petco. Real helpful info. Alot of the questions i had you answered through many videos.

[@NebulaGuy2]

I love these videos. I really wish you showed a picture of the orange hatchet danio. I never have seen those. Never even heard of the halfbeaks. Super cool!

[@xdecker1179]

These top list videos are my favorite. I’m always looking for new ideas. Thank you

[@dorothyharrison2765]

Great video. Bought my first hatchetfish about three weeks ago, and sure enough, it had ick. First time dealing with that, too. Lesson learned about quarantine. Love watching your videos.

[@dmc4365]

Pencilfish and tetras are my favorite fish, i like schooling fish cause my 10 gal aquascape is kinda small so schooling fish makes it look more interesting. Soft spot for snails too.

[@butkusfan23]

I had a golden wonder killi in my 29 gallon heavily planted community tank. He showed a lot of green, with red trimming the edges of his fins. Beautiful fish. I had a few half grown guppies in there, and as I fed the tank one day, he waited a few inches below the surface as a couple of guppies came to get food. As they swam over his head, he came out of the plants and grabbed a guppy faster than I could blink. He absolutely timed his predatory strike perfectly. He knew what would happen. I was impressed by his patience and planning. Half the guppy stuck out of the end of his mouth. The guppy was only half grown, or the killi could not have grabbed him. I was sad for the guppy, but impressed by the killifish.

[@shesellsfish]

A really nice variety of top fish. Pretty much something for every tank. Nice. 👍💕👍

[@cosmoplakat9549]

I just saw African butterfly fish in person for the first time the other day at petco. They look AMAZING!! I never realized how big they are - seemed like they were 4" and take up a lot of room with their interesting finnage.

[@abethepunk]

I bought a pair of yellow wonder killies, I thought oh yeah I've had these before! My current tank was a peaceful community, they claimed the top as theirs. Not only did my endlers start to disappear, but I'm convinced that the larger one spooked my betta right out of the filter hole in the lid. Very cool little fish, it was neat to dangle blood worms above the water for them to catch. Just be careful who you house them with.

[@antonyraphy3167]

had been looking this up for a long time thanks

[@cuteaquarium8456]

Love all of the said fish !! And your advice is spot on !!

[@AquariumCoop]

*Looking for more stocking ideas? Check out our favorite fish lists: **geni.us/Top5Fish*

[@dixenk7172]

I love these kinds of videos great work man!!!

[@radsnukeman9972]

Thank you Cory for the spotlight on halfbeaks! I didn’t even know what they where until you mentioned them and now I absolutely have to have one 😂

[@pvegames3189]

Great video and very interesting selections and great information. Tnx!

[@ericjenkins7817]

Cory, thank you for this information. It seems like there is so little information about top-swimmers on the Internet.

[@jessicaw6930]

Thank you for taking the time to make these

[@tempestgrav]

"Get the Furc'ata here!" Lol Great list, thanks as always Corey!

[@johnjohnsten4158]

I used to have a bunch of fish years ago. I also liked growing water plants. For a floating plant I could recommend hornwart. It likes a little but like under water pine and it's fast growing. Live plants have the advantage that they absorb nitrates so that nitrate does not build so badly. I've had pencil fish and a group of them looks quite nice. I never had halfbeaks but wanted to try them.

[@RescueDogTreats]

Co-op continues great content!

[@thechosenwon4089]

Sadly that small hole your talking about my first golden wonder went flying. Found him in the morning sitting right below the tiny feeding hole in my lid that I really thought there was no way he was going to make it through. After a few years of experience with them they are really my favorite fish to keep in my smaller tanks. They have the mind and heart of snake heads with the body of a molly haha

[@pkj7760]

Nice information.... about fish hope some more videos on these type of topics

[@fayenestor6222]

Thank you this video was very informative. I'm looking to purchase some fish for my community tank. I think I like the pencilfish best. Gonna check them out.

[@nickrafuse984]

love my golden wonders, great to watch

[@nastydan12]

Enjoy your videos man ! Keep it up . 👌🏼

[@diii3135]

I love my Japanese ricefish they are always at the top or wherever they find something interesting they never stop moving like danios

[@NeonTetraAquarist]

I have three (I wish I could have gotten more!) But yes rice fish are so darn cute and active :)

[@roughivyrose9020]

Great information as always!

[@beardaquatics9163]

Love the videos, and all the great information. I am looking at doing a betta tank with some harlequin rasboras. Looking at floating or sinking some Indian almond leaves for the the bettas, but didn't know if this would be an issue for the harlequins.

[@craigmason]

I can recommend Norman's lampeyes killifish for a fish that swims at the top of the aquarium

[@RobertoGonzalez-my8um]

How much did they cost?

[@drkingslend]

What do u keep them with? I'm pretty sure my ctenopoma or butterflyfish would eat them, they look awesome and are also from west africa

[@pardeepgill688]

Great Choices. African Butterfllys love pupae from mealworms, as they wriggle enough to entice them. As well as crickets. Halfbeaks mine Devoured shredded cooked chicken breasts and would charge at it with speed. was a really good way to bulk up the females for breeding,. And yes their fry are minute and hard to spot.

[@mrfishman5145]

The top 10’s are back! YES

[@ellicottvilleaquatics3701]

great choices of fish!!

[@aloratalyn]

Oh man. A giant clown killi would be so amazing.

[@johncameron4194]

Thanks for this.

[@CalebsAquatics]

Love these fish!

[@justanopinionsincerelynoof3860]

I am learning a lot from your channel!

[@marwil8920]

Cory, this was a great video, thanks so much for the info. Marjorie

[@kehlyrath2040]

Great ideas!!

[@susanosman3643]

CORY! I ❤ Hatchetfish! I finally found some in Petco Dover, NH. 👍

[@benjaminelliott4112]

I was the 80th like...earliest I've ever been. Great info as always, Cory! I love these type of videos.

[@lindsayvara7430]

My son had a pair of golden wonder killifish and they are so cool. The smaller one jumped out three times through the little food trap door (we usually put something on top of it but my son kept forgetting) and it survived on the ground twice for who knows how long but the third time the dog got it.😫 The other one has gotten so big I call him baby gar. He’s a little beast. A great pick for a kid’s first tank.

[@bosniakedisniksic]

I love my topminnows! If you have cold water or want a native setup, get some!

[@JuffoWup78]

Another top-ish dweller is the Threadfin Rainbowfish. They are amazing.

[@chevyfish4028]

I really like these species spotlights. Check out the marbled hatchet fish at 2:15...their faces look like skulls...awesomely cool.

[@MrTheWaterbear]

I adore hatchet fish, as well as many other surface fish, but my #1 is definitely live-bearing dwarf halfbeaks

[@madturtle8826]

I have a school of red-eye tetras. Very entertaining fish to watch, especially at feeding time.. Always in the top third of my tank

[@lurklingX]

i have that bright green kilifish and i LOOOOVE him. he's so fekking cool. the mouth orientation and size is so unique as is the way he goes about eating. big ole trap door. they are skittish but mine calmed down after moving reeeeeeeally slow all the time and letting him SEE that it was my hand dropping food in. i would hold it like a crane, let a tiny bit drop (or else he'd run) and then more. also, having stuff on the surface like the katapa leaves and floating plants and stuff. lets them feel secure. 1000% recommend. got mine at petco. they are a lot more expensive at LFS. only saw them once and the petco ones (it was my first time seeing them) were more colored up and better shape. could be that they were older, also, hence the colors being brighter. i picked one that was kinda chill and wasn't the bully.

[@kaipocesar6415]

ur top fish are very very helpful

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

Bloodfin Tetras, I have a school of 10, they tend to school in the upper half of the tank, love to chase each other through tall plants. Not aggressive, I have them with my Angels. Very tolerant of water parameters but they do best in an Amazonian type tank, fairly soft water, 6.2-7.5 pH, 76-82F, planted with tall or floating plants with something sticking down that they can swim around and through. Not picky about food, they eat just about anything. Mine are in an open top tank, I have heard they can jump but I haven't seen it.

[@tyler19xx76]

I like this video idea!

[@mikeayers8951]

This video caused me to go out and get a dozen Pseudomugil, they're amazing!!

[@drkingslend]

Very true with Congos taking the food before butterflyfish get a chance, u have to distract the Congos with food on one end, feed the butterflyfish at the other end

[@tunnelaquatics4773]

Hello from the other side of the pond. Now they are some awesome lion heads in the background !!

[@Ricewater94]

I've been searching for wrestling halfbeaks at your store! Haven't found them yet but hopefully someone brings them in one day. Been wanting them

[@steventhompson5554]

Love my halfbeak. S/he came home with a few others but the rest disappeared on me. Such a cool fish. Also love my hatchetfish. My youngest son picked them out at a couple stores so I have a few silvers and a couple marbles

[@vatwormindustries2767]

fruit fly swims by got me laughing!🤣cool video👍

[@monagurl1973]

Thank you

[@carlheller6648]

Nice looking gold fish tank. I'm not big fan of gold fish but I like yours. You should do a update on 800 gallon sump

[@BigCharIes]

I have a golden wonder killifish and he has a hunchback, but he doesnt jump very often

[@RusticRusty]

I have a 24gal heavily planted with fast growing stem plants and 14 long finned zebra danio. I am wanting to add some more fish, what would you recommend to keep with my danios?

[@Koka2609]

A fix for killi jumping out? Adding tons of floating plants worked for me - and yeah, I still keep the lid, but not as tightly fit as I had before ;)

[@judmesusb8114]

nice video 😀

[@wellard1221]

I have some half beaks and I freaking looooove them. I didn’t know anything about them and seen them just sparkling in the water and said oh yes need some. Took me a couple weeks to find out that they looove blood worms. I have had so many trials of food and found they love the bug bites tropical as well. They look like glitter pens.

[@DanielGonzalez-gd3dx]

Hi cory very nice video.

[@brandonmaxfield1052]

Could you possibly do a video of you setting up and aquascaping a nano tank?

[@emily248]

I have had Silver hatchet fish, its one of my favorite top dwelling fish! They are very fun, but you will need a lid; they are jumpers!!

[@lazarrodin2952]

Bro the outro with heatphones all the way up is so lit 🔥🔥🔥

[@nickclashez]

New to aquarium fish other then having a common gold fish that I won at a state fair 7 years ago that just died this week . I purchased two Convict cichlids that are in a 55 gallon tank and was wondering if you could do a video on it

[@cosmictrout934]

Corey you should really do a Top 10 bottom dwelling fish

[@evanvanwormer6805]

I had a silver arowana that got to about 12in before he passed, but he would chase ping-pong balls in the tank. He was great, but not easy for sure!

[@benjamindewald3661]

Would a breeding pair of Mayan Halfbeaks be fine in a heavily planted(more than 75% water wisteria)10 gallon tank with 50% weekly water changes and still produce fry.

[@jennynovoa8586]

I was looking at the hatchetfish in a weird angle and could only see skulls lol in that footage ^^ 3 floating skulls, do they look like that from the front?

[@haileythompson1540]

What is the best medicine for ich? I hope I spelled it right. I want to keep the treatment on hand just incase something were to ever happen because I love my fish. Any suggestions?

[@artificialecosystems5874]

Live golden wonders, I have a breeding group of 20+, these guys are super awesome

[@joyjackson9196]

I have started a molly and platy tank. I'm trying to find the perfect kind of plants that they like. My tank is a 10 gallon and I don't want the plants to take over to much any suggestions.

[@ricky1656]

If you want an active top dwelling fish and you have a big enough tank I recommend archer fish

[@Pittigpiertje]

Hey Cory, will you ever make a video on Microphis Brachyurus?

[@watzegjemedaarnouvan]

I have an african butterfly fish in my 20 gallon it may be a bit small for it but i couldn't resist it and im getting a 64 gallon or something when my kitchen-is done.

[@zamamza7769]

Only get an African Butterfly Fish is you want another ornament for your tank. They do not move at all unless feeding in my experience

[@456sud9]

But watching them hunt crickets is amazing tbh

[@ELCAPITRUCH0]

I live in los angeles and it gets hot here so my digital thermometer is always showing the temp in my tank at about 79 -81 what can i do to lower it?

[@ryanrobinson255]

You're the best.

[@2574mcu]

Hatchetfish were my favorite when I was a kid.

[@emilyjewelle3301]

2:21 OMG 😂 They look like they have creepy little faces. I think I know what I'll be adding to my tank soon!

[@kittyhunter3595]

I love betta fish I one in each of my tanks they are my favorite fish next to corydoras and algae eaters

[@StratPIG]

I love the Co-op i learn so much about the hobby! I never stop having tank ideas! I have 2 Danios living with betta in a 10 gallon. They tease my betta all the time.

[@RohitTulsiyan]

Please suggest if the below combination will work for a 200 Ltrs low tech planted aquarium: Celestial Pearl Danio - 9 Peacock Gudgeon - 9 Kuhli loach - 4 Boesemani rainbow - 6

[@HeffboomKonijn]

Is there any particular Danio that might be hard to kill. Let me explain. Ive had zebra Danios for yrs in schools of 6-8. They are awesome but I swear to god they are like lemmings, ive found constantly in my filter. sometimes alive, alot times not. Maybe its just my luck but my experience with them is they just "go" Any suggestions?

[@hillhouseproduction1]

Dear Cory, I’ve learned a lot from your videos and appreciate you sharing with us. I had a question I wanted to give you lots of detail in so you could help give me your best educated answer; I’m seeking your mentorship on this one. 😁 Here’s the details first: I’m about to start my first planted tank, the plants I’m planning on using are Hornwort, Cryptocorye Wendtii, and I was thinking about Dwarf Sagittaria and down the road maybe some Jungle Val, but probably not yet for that. My tank is going to have Apostogtama Cacatuoides or South American Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlids along with some Emperor Tetras and Ember Tetras. I found out that these specific cichlids don’t prefer high pH levels, I’ve read they prefer between 6.0-7.0 and also read 6.5-7.5. The tetra I read a pH of between 5.0-8.0 and since that’s such a broad range I’m not too concerned. My tap water seems to have about what looks like 7.5-7.8 pH(though I haven’t had it professionally tested, just test kit) I’m writing you and here is my question: I’ve read that AquaSoils like ADA Amazonia will lower the pH and if this was an African Cichlid that preferred higher pH that probably wouldn’t be a good idea, but because this specific cichlid likes 6-7ish might be okay. I also was thinking about capping the soil with sand and I found one I liked called-Carib Sea Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate, but I can find much in the description about it so I’m not sure if it’s going to raise the pH which probably would not be good. I’m also not sure if I’m looking to spend $50/bag of ADA so I was thinking maybe I should go an alternate route but you see the problem I’m finding myself in. I want to find a good substrate that I can grow the plants in but most importantly keep good water parameters for my fish so they are happy and less stressed. I am also not certain if the plants I chose feed mostly from the water column or the substrate. I am fairly new to the hobby but I do try to do my research and learn but I also know that everyone on the internet has an opinion so I’d like to ask: given all these circumstances in mind, if you were in my position and looking to do this-What options would you find yourself going with? Thanks, Mike

[@AquariumCoop]

I would use normal substrate. The fish and plants will adapt just fine

[@gerardcoyne6083]

Hi Cory, I was watching one of your talks on guppies and you mentioned a device that you place between some rocks and it sucks the guppy fry out into another aquarium. I was just wondering what that device is called because i would find it really useful. thanks

[@AquariumCoop]

It’s a diy item, doesn’t have a name.

[@TheOnlyValken]

I love videos with lots of B-reel

[@tracys4161]

My butterfly fish loves small crickets. He even takes them from my hand.

[@aquariumhacksbymarcus5653]

You know your fish Corey even some that I have not heard of or seen

[@mckennaq6986]

Thank you for helping me identify my killifish! I absolutely adore him and his personality. His name is Willy in honor of Free Willy 🐋😂 I’m heading to the store to get a new thermostat to get my temperature down for him. Thank you so SO much!!

[@nathanielb7266]

Hi um not a related question to this video. But how do you do a water change for neon tetras do I just leave them in there and do the change or take them out because they are very hard to catch

[@AquariumCoop]

You would leave them in the aquarium.