Doctor Fish
Garra rufa
The Doctor Fish (Garra rufa) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons), water held at 57-68°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Doctor Fish Tank Setup
A tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 57-68°F with a pH around 6.5-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (Mid). They reach about 12 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Doctor Fish Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Doctor Fish Tank Mates
The Doctor Fish is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Doctor Fish Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Doctor Fish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Doctor Fish need?
Doctor Fish need a tank of at least 110 litres (29 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Doctor Fish need?
Keep them at 57-68°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Doctor Fish eat?
Doctor Fish are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Doctor Fish good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Doctor Fish to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Doctor Fish
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 110 litres (29 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Doctor Fish
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- AxolotlPredator - Axolotl will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Common GoldfishGoldfish - prefer cooler, harder water that tropical fish cannot tolerate
