From garden ponds filled with Koi Carp to the humble goldfish bowl – the UK is a nation of fish lovers.
And the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) say there are an incredible five million indoor fish tanks in Britain.
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to adding fish to (well prepared and correctly set up) home aquariums, with pet shops offering a bewildering range of colourful and interesting finned friends.
Schooling fish are particularly popular – fish that are only happy in a group of the same species, travelling around your tank in colourful packs.
As a general rule you should make sure to have at least six of these fish in your tank at any one time – and be aware that some species thrive when there’s a particular proportion of males to females (if there’s any doubt ask an expert at your local pet shop).
So, here are 10 of the best species of schooling fish for aquarists (people who maintain aquariums).
9. Cardinal Tetra
The final Tetra to add to the list of amazing tropical fish that hand out in schools - and maybe the flashiest - is the Cardinal Tetra. It's similar to the Neon Tetra, but with a distinctive red lower half of the body and an even more vibrant blue stripe. It's slightly less popular due to its high cost - on account of it being more difficult to breed in captivity. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. Pygmy Cory
If you want a school of fish to help with the cleaning of your tank then the Pygmy Cory is the species for you - hoovering up small particles of food left by other aquarium inhabitants. The tiny silvery bewhiskered fish can be seen as prey for larger fish though, so be careful what you mix them with. Photo: Canva/Getty Images