SAIA FishSelector 2.0

We are constantly encountering the topic of oversized fish being kept in tanks that are too small, whether in public aquaria, in discussions on web forums or amongst hobbyists. Such discussions are quite often emotional but rarely effective. Included in our commitments is an undertaking to provide guidance on size-related organism selection and the encouragement of appropriate customer advice by retailers. The FishSelectors aims to sensitise the aquarium hobbyist and retailer to an ethical and sustainable way of selecting organisms and stocking a tank, thus avoiding impulse buying. An alternative approach would be to ban unsuitable species from the trade, minimising the pressure on natural resources. Therefore SAIA complements the FishSelector with a list of unsuitable wild caught species. Criteria for unsuitability include: size (organisms growing too big for the average hobbyist tank), feeding (obligate feeders) or sensitivity to transport conditions. We believe that making information available to trade and hobbyists will help reduce the demand for unsuitable species. Please note that the FishSelector is under ongoing development- we welcome your comments and thoughts and hope for a lively discussion. 

How does the FishSelector work?
A minimum tank size is provided for each fish listed along with its space requirement. The minimum tank size is equal to the net water volume (Note: the volume of water available for swimming is not the tank capacity!). The need of space is the partial volume of water each fish requires to thrive. Both parameters take into account behaviour and the average maximum size (including caudal fin) of the fish. More swimming space is allocated to active swimmers than to more sessile fish, a larger tank size to territorial than to non-territorial species. 

But tank size is not the only criterium. Rather, an appropriate decoration plays an equally important role. The decorating with dry an live rock often takes up more than 20% of the total volume of swimming space. When setting up and stocking a tank you should also keep in mind the growth of corals from the beginning. Less is often more! 

The indicated values are based on the experience and research of hobbyists, retailers and livestock importers. The FishSelector enables the calculation of the maximum stocking density for a given aquarium based on a particular selection of fishes. By making the FishSelector freely available we hope to put an end to overstocked aquaria. 

For the calculation of the available swimming space, 7% of height (waterlevel) and 10% of the water volume (decoration) will be deducted from the net volume (LxWxH). 
Why only 10%? In our experience, many smaller fish thrive in caves and holes between the rocks. For them decoration is vital and they balance with their reduced swimming space the needs of other, more active swimmers, Thus a reduced decoration proportion is considered in the claculation. We know, these calculations will not apply to every aquarium, but we are confident to match the average tank and thus the majority of cases. 

Limitations of the FishSelector
The FishSelector is intended as a tool to help the aquarist stock his tank in a responsible manner. It does not release him/her from the full responsibility of seeking additional advice on fish compatibility and the behaviour of the selected organisms. A useful resource can be found at: Liveaquaria.com Compatibility Chart. Furthermore, the aquarist should also research each species' nutritional requirements and its preferred environment in terms of aquascaping. This information can be found on resources such as Reeflex and Fishbase. 

National regulations and laws on animal welfare override recommendations by the FishSelector and need to be respected by the aquarist.

The FishSelector is not exhaustive. We will continuously review and expand the database. If there is a species missing that you would like to see added or if you would like to contribute with additional information, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  with your critics and suggestions.

Enjoy creating different stocking scenarios using the FishSelector!