🎾Toys and enrichment for your fish

Boredom is the leading cause of behaviour problems in any fish. Toys, occupation and environmental enrichment are not luxuries: they are needs. Our guides compare durability, safety and real-world interest — the kind your animal will still care about in a month.

The key point : A tank’s enrichment is its plants, wood and hiding places: thoughtful hardscape reduces stress and aggression.

Our dedicated guides

• Best easy aquarium plants without CO2 for beginners

  Which aquarium plants can you choose without CO2 injection? A selection of hardy, easy plants for a beginner's planted tank.

• Floating aquarium plants: which ones to choose and why?

  Water lettuce, duckweed, salvinia: which floating plants should you choose for your aquarium, and what benefits do they bring?

• Hiding Spots and Enrichment for Shy or Stressed Fish

  How do you reduce stress in a shy fish? Hiding spots, broken sightlines and a stable layout: the basics of aquarium enrichment.

• Fertilizer and CO2 for aquarium plants: start simple, skip the lab setup

  Do aquarium plants need fertilizer and CO2? The simple starter method: liquid fertilizer, easy plants, and when injected CO2 actually becomes worthwhile.

• Driftwood and rocks for aquariums: which ones are safe for your fish?

  Which driftwood and rocks are safe in an aquarium? Tannin-releasing woods, limestone rocks to avoid, the vinegar test and preparation: the complete guide.

• Sand or fine gravel for the aquarium: which substrate to choose?

  Sand or fine gravel for your aquarium? Sand suits bottom-sifting fish, gravel makes maintenance easier. Complete comparison with prices per litre.

• Low-tech aquarium: the method to save money without shortchanging the fish

  The low-tech aquarium bets on plants rather than technology: no CO2, sometimes no heater, reduced maintenance. Budget, suitable species and setup method.

• The Goldfish's Three-Second Memory: A Persistent Myth

  No, a goldfish doesn't forget everything in three seconds. Science shows a far more developed memory, with real implications for enrichment.

• Boldness and Shyness in Guppies: A Real Personality

  Some guppies explore without hesitation, others stay tucked behind a plant. Science confirms a stable personality in this popular fish.

• Can Fish Count? What a Study on Numerical Discrimination Shows

  A behavioral study reveals that some fish instinctively distinguish the larger group, a reflex tied to survival against predators.

• Can an Archerfish Really Recognize a Human Face?

  A study shows archerfish can distinguish human faces they have never seen before, a cognitive skill that informs tank enrichment.

• Can a Fish Learn Tricks? What Cognitive Training Studies Show

  A rainbow trout study shows an enriched environment improves learning ability, an argument for stimulating your fish.

• 3D-Printed Aquarium Decor: Which Plastics Are Safe for Fish?

  A 3D-printed cave, tower or reef: not all plastics are equal in an aquarium. Here's what's safe and what to avoid.

• The Cleaner Wrasse and Its Cleaning Station: A Case Study in Cooperation

  On the reef, some fish clean others of their parasites in exchange for food: an example of cooperation closely studied by scientists.

• Feeding Enrichment Devices: What the Science Says About Foraging in Fish

  Delivering food in a way that requires a bit of searching stimulates a fish far more than food dropped into the tank all at once.

• Decor, plants, rocks: what research says about structural enrichment

  Hiding spots, plants and relief are not just decoration: a scientific review looks at what structural enrichment actually changes for fish welfare.

• Should you regularly change the aquarium's decor?

  Rotating rocks, plants or hiding spots can stimulate fish used to a fixed layout — but a poorly handled change can also destabilise an established territory. How to tell the difference.

• Easy aquascaping: putting together a natural decor with no experience

  Beginner aquascaping: three viewing planes, one focal point and a hierarchy of sizes are enough for a harmonious natural decor, no fancy gear or budget needed.

• Mirror for a betta: useful stimulation or needless stress?

  A mirror shown to a betta triggers an impressive display, but this stimulation must stay brief and rare to avoid tipping into chronic stress.

• Toys and enrichment for goldfish: what can you safely offer?

  Floating rings, target training, varied decor: how to enrich a goldfish's daily life without risking ingestion or injury.

• Live or Artificial Plants: What Should You Choose to Decorate Your Aquarium?

  Real or artificial plants in an aquarium? Benefits, maintenance, easy species and budget: our comparison for a tank that is beautiful, healthy and enriching.

Toys & enrichment by breed or species

• Goldfish
• Betta
• Guppy
• Neon tetra
• Platy
• Molly
• Swordtail
• Corydoras
• Angelfish
• Discus
• Danio
• Gourami
• Bristlenose pleco
• Killifish
• Cherry shrimp
• Axolotl