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.
. Fish
Some of the fish that are happy to live in a small aquarium. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
. Betta Fish
The Betta Fish is one of the best species to keep in a small aquarium as in their native Southeast Asia they live in the shallow muddy water of paddy fields - this is not a fish used to expansive clear waters. They are also very colourful but can be aggressive to other types of fish so are best kept by themselves. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
5. Endler’s Livebearer
A couple of the pretty Endler’s Livebearer fish can be kept in a five litre tank. They come in a range of colours, from the silver females to the bright different hues of the male. Originally from Venezuela, they were once thought to be extict. If you go for this breed it's best to keep the ratio of males to females at 1:1 to endure a happy environment. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. Sparkling Gourami
More than living up to its name is the half inch-long Sparkling Gourami, with a rainbow of colours glinting from its glitterball body. They are fine in a five litre tank, although make sure you have some live vegetation for them to enjoy zipping between. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. White Cloud Mountain Minnow
The evocatively-named White Cloud Mountain Minnow gets its moniker from where the originate - the picturesque White Cloud Mountain region in China. They school similarly to the Tetras but are a slightly more unusual aquarium resident and enjoy living in slightly cooler waters. They tend to swim near the surface of the water so don't need any great depth of tank. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Scarlet Badis
Another tiny nano fish, female Scarlet Badis barely reaches a single centimetre in length, with males only a little bigger, meaning a smaller tank will not be a problem. They can be fairly sensitive to changes in acidity, so regular ph tests are a must. Photo: Canva/Getty Images