These Southeast Asian fish are not true sharks, but their shark-like appearance and size make them quite an intriguing pet. Due to their peaceful nature, juvenile Bala sharks do well in a community aquarium. As they mature, however, they will eventually outgrow most tanks. An ideal tank size would be at least 150 gallons and 5 feet (1.5m) in length.

Koi is an informal name for the colored variants of the European common carp.  There are many varieties of ornamental koi, originating from breeding that began in  Japan in the early 19th century. Several varieties are recognized in Japan, distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, orange, yellow, blue, brown and cream. They can grow very large, so plan to move them to a pond and they will thrive for many decades.

Easily the most recognizable of the Barb family, Tigers are extremely popular for home aquariums. They also are well known for their tendency to nip fins, particularly those of slower moving and peaceful fish such as bettas, gouramis, angelfish and others with long flowing fins. For this reason, they are not suited to all community aquariums. They are best kept in groups of six or more. Tiger barbs do best in soft, slightly acidic water. The tank should be well lit with ample vegetation.