Top 10 Indian Native Fishes (for Real-World Planted Tanks)

A rapid-fire tour with Beta Mahatvaraj a.k.a Meenkaran on hardy classics, subtle stunners, and a few divas from India you should only keep if you’ll meet their needs.

By Amar Salvi, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist

Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes

Why this list matters

India’s waters hold an insane range of aquarium-ready species—many you’ve probably kept without realising they’re local. Beta and I finally sat down to rank ten favourites by a mix of beauty, behaviour, availability, and how well they fit real planted tanks (not just biotope showpieces).

“Give the fish the right environment and they’ll reward you—often by breeding on their own.”

1) Zebra Danio (Danio rerio)

What we love: Practically bulletproof; electric blue bars and gold highlights glow in planted scapes.

Tank role: Top-level activity; peaceful schooling.

Why it’s #1: Beginner-proof, adaptable to flow and temperature, readily breeds, doesn’t harass plants or shrimp (shrimplets still risk).

Tips: Tight lids help—occasional jumpers. Large groups = best color and behavior.

2) Indian Ricefish (Oryzias dancena)

What we love: Translucent pearl body with “blue” eyes; males show elegant fin extensions.

Tank role: Upper/mid; calm, subtle movement.

Party trick: Females carry eggs externally like glassy grape clusters before depositing them.

Tips: Hardy across fresh to slightly brackish (if wild from estuaries). Acclimate slowly.

3) Scarlet Badis (Dario dario)

What we love: Micro-predator beauty; males display like living embers.

Tank role: Lower/mid ambush hunter; nano scapes shine with them.

Caveat: Often refuse dry food—plan on live/frozen (baby shrimp are fair game).

Ethics note: Trade is male-skewed; don’t impulse-buy a “gang of guys.”

4) Purple Hatchetfish (Neochela dadiburjori)

What we love: Sleek surface cruiser with surprising adaptability.

Tank role: Top; will use flow, but doesn’t need hillstream torrents.

Bonus: Spawns readily under the right conditions.

Watch-outs: Jumpers until settled; cover the tank.

5) Canius Barb (Pethia canius)

What we love: Glowing mids that tie a community together.

Tank role: Midwater in loose schools; color up beautifully once settled.

Notes: Canius appear mixed in trade; expect subtle pattern differences.

Tankmates: Plays nice with most small, peaceful fish; may nibble shrimplets.

6) Stone Catfish (Erethistes jerdoni)

What we love: Tiny, leaf-like cat that “vanishes” among plants.

Tank role: Bottom sitter; mostly nocturnal.

Feeding: Needs live/frozen and a feeding spot routine or gets outcompeted.

Payoff: Magical in fine-leaf carpets (think dwarf hairgrass).

7) Glowlight Rasbora (Horadandia spp.)

What we love: Schools like a soft-lit cloud; translucent body with a permanent “sad smile” jawline.

Tank role: Midwater shimmer; excels in wild, bushy plantings.

Care: Easy, peaceful, great in numbers (20–50 look incredible).

8) Common Spiny Loach (Lepidocephalichthes)

What we love: The cutest sand-sifter you’ll ever own.

Tank role: Bottom; burrows, stirs, and snacks on leftovers.

Substrate: Needs fine sand to thrive.

Params: Comfortable warm (26–30°C+). Shrimp-safe.

9) High-Fin Glassy Perchlet (Parambassis lala)

What we love: Transparent body, ruby males—gorgeous in groups.

Tank role: Mid/upper; delicate presence.

Caveat: Can be fussy eaters—plan on live/frozen at first; they’re slim and lose weight fast if underfed.

Best home: Warm, low-tech planted tanks (crypts, floating cover).

10) Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster fasciata)

What we love: Classic Indian showstopper; bubble-nest builder under floating plants.

Tank role: Mid/upper; centerpiece for calmer communities.

Notes: Often male-heavy in shops; quarantine & deworm (internal parasites are common).

Fun fact: Some will spit at dangling morsels—try a worm on tweezers!

Stocking & care notes (read this before you buy)

• Quarantine wild-caught fish. Beta’s go-tos: Praziquantel (e.g., PraziPro) for internal worms; for external parasites use methylene blue or malachite green + formalin. Copper (e.g., cupramine) only in bare hospital tanks—never with inverts/plants/biomedia.

• Match energy levels. Fast tops (danios/hatchets) + calm mids (glowlights/barbs) + focused bottoms (loaches/cats) = balanced tank.

• Feed for the fish in front of you. Dario, stone cats, glassy perchlets may need live/frozen or careful weaning.

• Covers save lives. Hatchetfish and danios are athletic.

“I don’t obsess over strict biotopes—I obsess over needs: swim space, cover, flow, diet, and stable water.”

Watch & read the full story

Watch the full podcast episode: Beta and I go deeper on habitats, collection quirks, quarantine protocols, and how to compose a truly Indian community tank.👉 Watch on YouTube — Top 10 Indian Native Fishes

Read the feature in the magazine: Species IDs at a glance and starter setups for each fish.👉 Read it in The Weekend Aquarist Magazine

Got your own Indian-native lineup? Drop it in the YouTube comments or write to us at editor@weekendaquarist.com.