Filled with live plants, substrates, and glimmering schools of fish, a perfectly curated aquarium is an awe-inspiring art form. But the best aquarium pets that aren’t fish prove that our finned friends aren't the only additions that can thrive in a tank.
From African Dwarf frogs and Red-clawed Crabs to Male Painted Turtles and Fire-bellied Toads. There’s a whole host of animals out there to get up close and personal with behind a glass screen.
Maybe you’ve invested in one of the best small fish tanks and you’re looking for some more water-loving pals to add to your tiny tribe. Or perhaps you’re looking for aquarium additions you can keep in a one-species-only tank? Either way, we've done all the research and found a number of semi and fully aquatic animals you’ll want to add to your tank — and there’s not a fin in sight!
32 best aquarium pets that aren't fish
1. Freshwater Snail
Freshwater Snails are a great addition to most aquatic ecosystems. That’s because these algae-loving, waste-clearing ‘janitors’ glide from side to side, clearing unwanted debris from your tank as they go.
They’ll devour extra fish food, hoover up dead organisms, and clear away decaying plants. Living for up to two to three years, freshwater snails are compatible with most colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.
2. Red-Clawed Crabs
Small, colorful, and a lover of habitats with sandy substrates, Red-clawed Crabs are some of the best aquarium pets that aren’t fish.
Also known as Mangrove Crabs or Red Crabs, these clawed cleaners will fertilize the soil with their droppings, consume plants, and clear up leaf litter. So not only are they fascinating to watch, but they’ll earn their keep!
Just know that Red-clawed Crabs aren’t fully aquatic. So they’ll need an area where they can climb out of water, along with plenty of sloping rocks.
3. Palaemon Paludosus
Also referred to as the Ghost Shrimp, these translucent invertebrates thrive in freshwater aquariums and are a great addition to your under-the-water world for more reasons than one.
For starters, they’ll hoover up food left by fish with no additional feeding required. And if there’s no other alternative, they’ll also eat algae. Plus, Ghost Shrimp aren’t too picky about pH levels or alkalinity. Meaning? These little beauties are easy to keep alive.
4. Painted Turtles
How cute are these little shell-clad sensations? If you’re after something other than a finned friend for your aquarium, Painted Turtles could be the captivating creature you’ve been searching for.
Belonging to the group of reptiles known as Chelonians (also called Testudines), these turtles need some TLC when it comes to making them feel at home. Along with a basking spot out of the water, to watch their water-based world go by, they’ll need UVB lighting to help them survive and water temperatures should be maintained at 75-80F. Interested in finding out more about what do pet turtles eat? Be sure to check out an expert-approved pet turtle care guide.
5. African Dwarf frogs
Known for being one of the best small pets for compact homes, African Dwarf Frogs make for a great pet that isn’t a cat, dog, or fish.
Mixing just as well with similar-sized fish as they do with their own species, these fully aquatic additions can reach up to 6.4 cm in size and live for five to seven years on average. These tiny jumpers are social creatures, so do best in groups of two or more.
6. Freshwater Crayfish
Despite having ‘fish’ in their name, Freshwater Crayfish are a type of crustacean, related to lobsters, crabs, and shrimp.
Especially active at night, these midnight foragers will live in harmony with common Goldfish, Neon Tetras, Swordtails, and Mollies. Food-wise, they’ll eat water weeds, roots, and leaves and they can live for up to four years.
7. Red-eared Slider Turtle
Just like Painted Turtles, Red-eared Slider Turtles are another type of semi-aquatic reptile that is worth opening your home (and heart) for.
These strong swimmers are the most popular pet turtles in the US and like their hard-shelled counterparts, they’ll need a basking spot in their aquarium so they can dry off and enjoy life with their four feet firmly on the ground. Another amazing turtle fact? When cared for properly, Red-eared Sliders can live for more than 30 years.
8. Fire-Bellied Toad
These stand-out jumpers do best in a semi-aquatic environment. This means one-half of the tank should be filled with water, deep enough for these beautifully colored amphibians to swim in. The other half should be shallow enough so they can climb out and dry off.
9. Sea Monkey
Another great small pet, Sea Monkeys, or Brine Shrimp, grows to half an inch to 3/4 of an inch in length and these cute little creations can thrive in aquariums for up to five years. It’s true, these small swimmers are low-maintenance pets to keep. But as is the case with any aquatic animal, you’ll need to keep the water clean and well-oxygenated.
10. Chinese Fire-Bellied newt
Native to Japan and China, as their name suggests, Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts, have a bright red or orange belly with a dark upper body and they require just a small enclosure to double up as their natural semi-aquatic habitat. These little beauties can make good pets, especially for beginners because they’re hardy, active and relatively easy to care for.
11. Octopus
If you have enough space, time and TLC to give, then an Octopus could be the marvelous marine creature your aquarium has been missing. However, these sea animals, with their rounded bodies and big, beautiful eyes aren’t the easiest to look after.
To really care for these fascinating eight-legged marine mollusks, you’ll need to ensure they’ve got enough space to swim, lots of live rock, a bed of sand, good quality water and live food.
12. Vampire Crabs
Captivating to look at, semi-terrestrial Vampire Crabs appreciate access to land and water. Whether it’s rocks or gravel you provide or sand and pebbles, these omnivores will spend sitting, hiding under rocks, or emerging to eat when the light fades.
Just be aware: to prevent fights from occurring, experts say Vampire Crabs should be kept in species-only tanks.
13. Cherry Shrimp
A popular choice for beginner aquarists, Cherry Shrimp are easy to breed, will devour algae (so this means less cleaning for you) and they’ll tolerate a huge range of water parameters.
These peaceful, sociable, and plant-loving crustaceans are best kept with small fish, as larger aquarium additions will consider them food.
14. Assassin Snails
More formally referred to as Clea Helena, Assassin Snails go by their ‘hit-snail’ status because of their ability to help control pest snails (like pond snails) without the use of chemicals.
Relatively low maintenance, these under-the-water gastropod mollusks will work harder than you do, eating uneaten food and other debris.
15. Bamboo Shrimp
Bamboo Shrimp aren’t the easiest of shrimps to breed, so if space is tight in your aquarium, these crustaceans are well worth considering.
Bamboo Shrimp need stable water conditions, and they do best in well-established aquariums, like one of the best tropical fish tanks, that have lots of plants and places to hide.
16. Mystery Snails
More informally known as an Apple Snail, or Gold Inca Snails, these healthy diners will feed on ordinary fish food and waste, making these algae eaters a popular choice in many aquariums.
These peaceful tank pals can live for up to four years and are known (and loved) for their bright-colored golden-clad shells.
17. Hermit Crabs
Living up to the grand old age of 15, Hermit Crabs will help you stay on top of growing algae levels in your tank.
While their constant shuffling and crawling will help debris and dirt get sucked up into your filtration system. Despite their name, Hermit Crabs are social creatures and in the wild, they live in colonies of 100 or more.
18. Pom-Pom Crab
Along with sandy substrates, plants and a warm water temperature, these aquatic animals are fully-fledged members of the clean-up crew.
They love a clean and stable environment and will do their utmost to keep their tank tidy. Whether it’s plant debris, algae or frozen food, these little shufflers will be happy.
19. Pistol Shrimp
Requiring a tank with at least 10 gallons of water, Pistol Shrimp like to live in clusters for protection. These chatty crustaceans take the crown when it comes to being one of the loudest animals in the ocean.
Often called Snapping Shrimp, they’re famed for their ability to stun prey with air bubbles and to generate sounds of up to 218 decibels — which is louder than a gunshot. They can also regrow limbs. So, if you ask us, they’ll make for an interesting addition to at-home aquariums.
20. Water Snakes
Often overlooked, non-venomous Water Snakes can be a fascinating pet for at-home aquariums due to the captivating behaviors they exhibit. Feeding on frogs, seeking out salamanders, and munching on Minnows, Water Snakes are more commonly found in the wild in Texas, Florida Ontario, and Quebec in Canada.
Ensure this reptile has the right temperature, humidity, and lighting, along with a large enough enclosure to explore, hide, and exercise, and they can live for 10 years or more.
21. Fiddler Crabs
Fiddler Crabs are another semi-aquatic crustacean to add to your tank. To help mimic their natural habitat, you’ll need to ensure there is some dry land, preferably sand, and one of the best filters and heaters to keep the water clean and at a stable temperature between 74 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
22. Serpent Starfish
Adding interest to any at-home saltwater aquarium, the Serpent Starfish will need plenty of nooks and crannies so they can hide during the day and come out to play at night. These hardy creatures are speedy scavengers and love a diet of decaying matter.
23. Harlequin Shrimp
Water quality and a decent amount of hiding spots are very important when it comes to looking after Harlequin Shrimps. Living up to seven years, these beautifully decorated shellfish are mild-tempered and shy. Usually found in pairs, these night owls prefer to hide during the day and feed at night.
24. Ramshorn Snails
If you’re after another algae eater, look no further than a Ramshorn Snail. These aquatic animals are around one inch in diameter so will thrive in any size aquarium, big or small. But here’s a head’s up: these underwater creatures can multiply readily, laying around a dozen eggs at a time.
25. Clams
Falling into the shellfish category, clams aren’t there just to be eaten! They can be very beneficial to aquariums because some species can live for more than 30 years and they can help to clear your tank, through the process of natural filtration.
26. Stinkpot Musk Turtles
If you couldn’t tell already, we’re big fans of turtles. These hard-shelled beauties are relatively small, as they grow no bigger than five inches, meaning they’re easy to keep compared to their larger counterparts. Another reason for their popularity is the fact Common Musk Turtles can thrive in captivity for up to 50 years.
27. Coral
Despite what you might have thought, Coral is considered to be a live animal — yes, really! Adding coral to your aquarium can help beautify your space along with providing shelter for fish and maintaining water quality.
28. Amano Shrimp
Now you might be thinking the Amano Shrimp looks very similar to a Ghost Shrimp. And on the surface, they do have many similarities. But once you dig a bit deeper, there are also a handful of differences.
For starters, the Amano Shrimp isn’t completely transparent. Secondly, Amano Shrimp are larger in size, reaching up to two inches long. Plus, an Amano Shrimp can change color based on the food they eat.
29. Bladder Snail
Peaceful and often used as scavengers, the humble Bladder Snail (nicknamed after its air-filled bubble which it fills up with air for long underwater dives) will prosper if they’re provided with adequate filtration and enough space so they can glide to their heart’s content.
30. Malaysian trumpet snails
Staying under two inches, if well looked after, a Malaysian Trumpet Snail can flourish in freshwater tanks for up to 20 years! Keep them in tanks with non-aggressive tank mates and these harmless critters will go about their day peacefully.
31. Nerite Snails
Commonly called the Zebra Nerite or the Spotted Nerite, this freshwater snail joins our list for its super algae-eating qualities and love for decaying matter.
Living for up to two years, these spiral-shaped snails, which sometimes have black spots, will feel right at home in hard water, with a pH level between 6.5 and 8.5 and a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
32. Axolotl
At first glance, you might be wondering: what is an Axolotl and do they make good pets? And it’s a good question. These amphibians are illegal to own in some US states, including California, Maine, New Jersey, and Washington D.C, for one main reason: the threat they pose to the already struggling native salamander species.
But that said, these generally calm creatures are easy to care for. Provide them with the right tank mates, temperature, and water conditions and they can have a 15-year lifespan.
Keen to expand your knowledge about reptiles? Discover the best toys for pet lizards the best Bearded Dragon care tips.
