Navigation
Site map
Every page published on handsoffmyhobby in English, grouped by section, so you can find a guide in a couple of clicks.
How the site is organised
The guides are grouped into a few main sections, each with its own overview page. If you are new to the hobby, start with the setup guides, then read about water care before choosing your fish. The full list of pages follows below.
New guides are added regularly and appear here automatically. Pages about the site itself, such as the editorial policy, the affiliate disclosure and the privacy policy, are listed at the end. Can’t find a topic? Suggest it through the contact page.
Looking for another language? The language menu at the top of every page takes you to the same guide in French, Spanish, German or Italian, each written for its own readers.
- Fish species and shrimp, snails and other invertebrates
- Tank mates and stocking ideas
- Plants and aquascaping
- Diseases, algae and water problems
- Buying guides and the blog
Home
Fish species
- Best freshwater fish: species guides for every tank
- Best beginner fish: 11 hardy, easy fish to keep in your first tank
- Nano fish: 10 tiny freshwater fish for small tanks
- Schooling fish: the best species, group sizes and tank setups
- Centerpiece fish for community tanks: best picks by tank size
- Colorful freshwater fish: the brightest species for every tank size
- Betta fish care guide: tank size, water, diet and tank mates
- Goldfish care guide: tank size, water, food and lifespan
- Guppy care guide: tank, water, tank mates and breeding
- Neon tetra care guide: tank, water, school size and tank mates
- Cardinal tetra care guide: tank, water, tank mates and neon comparison
- Ember tetra care guide: tank, water, school and tank mates
- Rummy nose tetra care guide: tank size, water, diet and tank mates
- Harlequin rasbora care guide: tank size, water, diet and tank mates
- Celestial pearl danio (galaxy rasbora) care: tank size, water and tank mates
- Angelfish care guide: tank size, water, diet and tank mates
- Discus fish care guide: water parameters, tank size and tank mates
- Oscar fish care guide: tank size, filtration, diet and tank mates
- German blue ram care guide: tank, water, tank mates and breeding
- Electric blue acara care guide: tank size, water, diet and tank mates
- Apistogramma care guide: the best dwarf cichlids for a planted tank
- Dwarf gourami care guide: tank size, water, tank mates and disease
- Pearl gourami care guide: tank size, water, tank mates and breeding
- Bristlenose pleco care guide: size, tank, diet, lifespan and breeding
- Corydoras catfish care guide: tank, water, diet and popular species
- Otocinclus care guide: tank, diet, water and tank mates
- Kuhli loach care guide: size, tank, water and tank mates
Tank mates
- Aquarium tank mates: which freshwater fish can live together
- Betta tank mates: the complete list of what fish can live with a betta
- Angelfish tank mates: compatible fish for a peaceful angelfish community
- Goldfish tank mates: what can live with goldfish (and what can't)
- Cichlid tank mates: African, mbuna and South American compatibility
- Guppy tank mates: what can live with guppies in a community tank
- Discus tank mates: compatible fish for a discus community tank
Shrimp & snails
- Freshwater shrimp and snails: aquarium invertebrates guide
- Cherry shrimp care guide: tank, water, food and breeding
- Amano shrimp care guide: size, diet, tank mates and algae control
- Mystery snail care guide: tank size, water, food and eggs
- Nerite snail care guide: algae eating, eggs, lifespan and tank setup
- Best snails for algae: 6 algae eating snails compared
- Shrimp tank mates: safe fish with shrimp and which to avoid
Care & water
- Aquarium maintenance and water care guide
- How to cycle a fish tank: the complete nitrogen cycle guide
- How to clean a fish tank: step-by-step routine and filter care
- Aquarium water change guide: how much, how often and how to do it
- Ideal fish tank temperature: ranges by species, heaters and safe fixes
- Aquarium water parameters cheat sheet: ideal ranges for pH, GH, KH and more
- How to lower pH in an aquarium safely and naturally
- How to raise pH in an aquarium safely and keep it stable
- How to lower nitrates in an aquarium and keep them down
- How to acclimate fish: float and drip acclimation step by step
- New tank syndrome: why fish die in a new tank and how to fix it
- How often to feed aquarium fish: a simple feeding schedule that works
- Indian almond leaves in the aquarium: benefits, dosing and how to use them
- Aquarium salt uses: when it helps freshwater fish and how to dose it safely
Setup & stocking
- How to set up an aquarium and stock it with the right fish
- Best fish for a 5 gallon tank: what really fits and how many
- Best fish for a 10 gallon tank: species, numbers and stocking ideas
- Best fish for a 20 gallon tank: stocking ideas that actually work
- Best fish for a 55 gallon tank: stocking plans for a real community
- Peaceful community fish: the best non-aggressive species to keep together
- Best fish for small tanks: 14 nano fish and invertebrates that actually fit
- Aquarium beginner guide: how to set up your first fish tank, step by step
Plants
- Aquarium plants: care guides for every planted tank
- Best aquarium plants for beginners: 15 easy live plants
- Low light aquarium plants: 15 species that grow without CO2
- Floating aquarium plants: the 10 best floaters and how to keep them
- Carpet aquarium plants: 12 ground cover plants, from easy to expert
- Java fern care guide: planting, propagation and common problems
- Anubias care guide: types, planting, light and propagation
- Amazon sword plant care: planting, fertilizer and propagation
- Dwarf hairgrass guide: how to grow a dense carpet
- Monte Carlo aquarium plant care: how to grow a dense carpet
- Aquarium CO2 guide: when you need it and how to set it up safely
- Aquarium fertilizer guide: liquids, root tabs and how to dose
Aquascaping
Diseases & algae
- Fish diseases and aquarium problems: identify, treat, prevent
- How to treat ich in fish: white spot disease, step by step
- Fin rot treatment: how to stop it and regrow healthy fins
- Swim bladder disease in fish: symptoms, causes and treatment
- Ammonia poisoning in fish: signs, emergency treatment and prevention
- Neon tetra disease (NTD): symptoms, look-alikes, treatment and prevention
- Dwarf gourami disease (DGIV): symptoms, causes and what you can do
- Black beard algae: how to identify, remove and prevent BBA
- Brown algae in fish tank: why diatoms appear and how to get rid of them
- Green water in fish tank: causes, fast fixes and prevention
- Fish tank cloudy water: why it happens and how to fix it
- Detritus worms in your aquarium: what they are and how to get rid of them
- Planaria worms in your aquarium: how to identify and get rid of them
- Anchor worm in fish: how to spot and treat Lernaea
- Gill flukes in fish: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Gear reviews
- Aquarium equipment reviews: the best fish tank gear compared
- Best aquarium filter: 7 top picks for every tank size
- Best canister filter for freshwater aquariums: 6 top picks compared
- Best hang on back filter: 6 HOB filters compared for 10–75 gallon tanks
- Best sponge filter for aquariums: 6 picks for shrimp, bettas and fry
- Best aquarium heater: 6 reliable fish tank heaters compared
- Best aquarium light: 6 LED fixtures for fish and planted tanks
- Best aquarium substrate: aquasoil, gravel and sand compared
- Best water conditioner for aquariums: 6 dechlorinators compared
- Best aquarium air pump: quiet picks for every tank size
- Best aquarium test kit: liquid kits, strips and monitors compared
- Best aquarium thermometer: glass, digital and smart options compared
- Best aquarium CO2 system: regulators, kits and diffusers compared
- Best protein skimmer for a freshwater tank? What actually works instead
- Best gravel vacuum for aquariums: 6 siphons and water changers compared
- Best 10 gallon aquarium kits: 5 starter tanks compared
- Best 20 gallon aquarium: kits and bare tanks compared
- Best 55 gallon aquarium: kits, bare tanks and upgrades compared
Blog
- Aquarium blog: answers to the questions fishkeepers ask most
- How long do betta fish live? Lifespan and how to extend it
- Do fish sleep? How aquarium fish rest at night
- What do goldfish eat? A complete goldfish diet and feeding guide
- How to breed guppies: from pregnant female to healthy fry
- How to breed cherry shrimp: a step-by-step guide to a thriving colony
