How do I stop fin-nipping in a community tank?

Stock an honest group of one nippy species, give swim length (not just height), and keep them away from long fins — bettas, fancy guppies, angelfish, veil-fin fish. Under-grouped barbs redirect nipping onto neighbours.

Are fin-nippers always unsafe community fish?

No. Many calm down in a proper school with space. The same tiger barb alone in a short tank with a betta is a different risk than a school of six-plus in 100L. Read group rules on each profile.

Which species appear on this guide right now?

Examples currently matching include African freshwater butterflyfish, Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid, American Flagfish, Banded leporinus, plus 12 more. Counts change as the library grows.

Fin-nipping fish

Honest group size and swim length fix most nipping. Keep them away from long fins.

Nipping is mostly a group-size and layout problem, not a mystery bad fish. Six tiger barbs in a 100L with real swim length keep their attention on each other. Two of them in a 60L with a betta will shred the betta in a week. Stock the proper group of one species and skip long-finned mates: bettas, fancy guppies, angelfish, anything with veil fins.

16 species have the fin-nipper flag set.

Keeper decision notes

Nipping is usually fixable by the keeper. Run the recommended group of one species, give swim length rather than just height, and skip long-finned mates entirely (bettas, fancy guppies, angelfish, veil fins). A tiger barb in a school of eight in 100L is almost a different fish from the same barb alone in a 60L with a show betta.

Every row is a real profile. The list moves when a record changes. Shortlist names, then verify litres, water, and mates on each profile before you buy.

Fish on this list

Next steps

Shortlist a few names from this guide, then verify the real mix before you buy.

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Tank hubs: 80L · 100L · 120L · 160L

Other guides

Fin nippers — quick answers

What does the “Fin nippers” list include?: 16 species have the fin-nipper flag set.
How do I stop fin-nipping in a community tank?: Stock an honest group of one nippy species, give swim length (not just height), and keep them away from long fins — bettas, fancy guppies, angelfish, veil-fin fish. Under-grouped barbs redirect nipping onto neighbours.
Are fin-nippers always unsafe community fish?: No. Many calm down in a proper school with space. The same tiger barb alone in a short tank with a betta is a different risk than a school of six-plus in 100L. Read group rules on each profile.
Which species appear on this guide right now?: Examples currently matching include African freshwater butterflyfish, Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid, American Flagfish, Banded leporinus, plus 12 more. Counts change as the library grows.