Easy

Garra Rufa

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Garra rufa

Complete Garra Rufa care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 20 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Garra Rufa

Quick Answer

Garra Rufa, also known as Doctor Fish, is a small cyprinid from the Middle East. It requires a minimum 20 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This omnivore occupies the bottom zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Garra Rufa, also known as Doctor Fish, is a small cyprinid from the Middle East. It is famous for nibbling dead skin in spa treatments, but in aquariums it is an active, peaceful algae eater.

Setup

A 20-gallon or larger tank with smooth rocks and moderate current. They need good oxygenation and clean water. Provide caves and open swimming areas.

Feeding

Omnivorous; eats algae, biofilm, sinking pellets, blanched vegetables, and frozen foods. They are not picky.

Compatibility

Peaceful and social. Keep in groups of 4+. Good with other peaceful community fish like barbs, danios, tetras, and loaches. Avoid large aggressive fish.

Fish Compatibility Calculator

Enter your details below for an instant recommendation.

Recommended Output

Pair status badge

--

Pair status desc

--

Temp pct val

--

Temp summary text

--

Ph pct val

--

Ph summary text

--

Space val

--

Space summary text

--

Layer emoji

--

Layer status text

--

Layer badge

--

Profile temp badge

--

Perfect list

--

Caution list

--

Incompatible list

--

Profile emoji

--

Profile name

--

Profile sci

--

Profile zone

--

Profile mintank

--

Profile temp

--

Profile ph

--

Profile note

--

Perfect count

--

Caution count

--

Incompatible count

--

Tank Position
Bottom
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Garra Rufa should be kept together?
Maintain a group of 5 to 8 individuals in a tank of at least 30 gallons (113 liters) with a footprint of 36x12 inches (90x30 cm). Garra rufa (Garra rufa), also known as doctor fish, are highly social shoalers; groups under 4 cause chronic stress, lethargy, and suppressed feeding. A school of 10+ displays natural grazing behavior on biofilm and glass. Provide smooth river rocks (2-3 inches diameter) and moderate water flow (8x turnover). Tank length must exceed 30 inches (75 cm) for their active swimming. Avoid with aggressive cichlids or large plecos that compete for algae.
What are the exact water parameters for Garra Rufa?
Target pH 6.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 8 - 15 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 6 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 150 - 400 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 300 - 800 μS/cm, and temperature 64°F - 82°F (18°C - 28°C). They are very adaptable to a wide range of standard water conditions and current flows. Maintain nitrates below 20 ppm with weekly 25% water changes. Use a canister filter or powerhead to create strong water movement (12x turnover). Provide smooth gravel or sand; sharp edges injure their barbels. High oxygenation is critical; use air stones. Avoid pH crashes below 6.0.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Garra Rufa?
They are omnivorous scavengers requiring 40% protein, 10% fat, 50% plant matter. They graze on biofilm, algae wafers, sinking community pellets, flakes, and frozen bloodworms. Feed twice daily; supplement with blanched zucchini and spirulina tabs. They also eat dead skin (in spa settings) but this should not be a primary diet. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) and formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt for 15 minutes treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for 7 days. They are hardy but can carry camallanus worms; treat with levamisole.
How to breed Garra Rufa in captivity?
Condition a group of 8-10 with high-protein foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp) for 4 weeks in cool water (68°F/20°C). Simulate spring: Raise temperature to 78°F (25.5°C) over 1 week, increase photoperiod to 14 hours, perform 30% water changes with slightly warmer water. Provide smooth flat rocks and gravel for egg deposition. They are egg-scatterers; female releases 300-500 adhesive eggs. Remove parents after spawning. Eggs hatch in 48-72 hours at 75°F (24°C). Fry feed on infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp. Grow-out requires strong water flow and biofilm-covered rocks.

Related Content

fish

African Butterflyfish

Complete African Butterflyfish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Advanced.

fish

African Cichlid

Complete African Cichlid care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Advanced.

fish

African Leaf Fish

Complete African Leaf Fish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

fish

African Red Eyed Tetra

Complete African Red Eyed Tetra care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

fish

Angelfish

Complete Angelfish care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

fish

Apistogramma

Complete Apistogramma care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 20 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.