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.
It’s important to ensure that you get the right fish for your particular aquarium or your pets will not be happy and healthy.
And while the size of tank is only limited by your budget and availably space in your home, there are plenty of beautiful fish that will thrive in a small five litre tank.
So, here are 10 of the best species of schooling fish for aquarists (people who maintain aquariums) who only have room for a small tank.
9. Least Killifish
Used to living in stagnent, muddy water in their native North America, a clean five litre tank is positively luxurious fot the Least Killifish. There's no problem with space either - they are the seventh smallest breed of fish in the world. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. Neon Tetra
The Neon Tetra is the UK's (and probably the world's) most popular tropical fish and a great choice for a small tank. The tiny fish's bright red and blue colouring and ease of care are a winning combination for beginners. They originally come from backwater streams in the Amazon basin in South America. They are schooling fish so there should be a minimum of six in a tank - although with a small aquarium you'll not be wanting that many more. Photo: Canva/Getty Images