Structured décor in aquariums: a study compares how two species actually use it
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
A "bare" tank with just gravel and a filter is still common among beginners wary of aquascaping. Our décor and enrichment guidance is gathered in the fish toys and enrichment section.
Contents · 5 sections
What a choice-test study actually measured
Kistler, Hegglin, Würbel and König published a study in 2011, in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, testing the preference of two aquarium species for a structured environment: zebrafish (Danio rerio) and checker barbs (Puntius oligolepis) (see the study). The setup divided a large tank into three zones with semi-transparent partitions: an empty compartment, a middle compartment where food was provided, and a structured compartment furnished with plants and clay pots. Fish could move freely between zones, and time spent in each was tracked.
A quantified result, but a different one per species
In zebrafish, average time use split into 21% for the empty zone, 35% for the middle zone and 44% for the structured zone: a clear, measurable preference for décor. Checker barbs also favored the structured compartment, but with a notable difference in how they used it: they explored it more evenly across its whole height, whereas in the empty compartment they stayed confined to the lower and middle zones. Both species value complex décor, but not in exactly the same way.
Why this nuance matters for a community tank
The most useful takeaway here is not just "fish prefer décor," which was already widely accepted, but the fact that two species close in size and often kept together do not make the same use of the same décor. An aquascape built for zebrafish, which mainly seek a dense refuge zone, will not necessarily serve checker barbs the same way, since they are more inclined to occupy the whole available volume once it is structured. Our guides on aquascaping for beginners and hiding spots for stressed fish detail how to distribute plants, rockwork and open zones according to the species actually kept.
What this study does not show
- It measures compartment preference over a limited test period, not a demonstrated effect on growth or longevity.
- Behavioral diversity did not differ significantly between the empty and structured compartments in either species: preferring a place is not the same as behaving more variably there.
- Only two species were tested; the authors themselves recommend husbandry guidance tailored to each species rather than a universal rule.
Frequently asked questions
Does every species in a community tank need identical décor?
No, but aiming for a mix of structures (dense planting, open zones, low and high hiding spots) lets species with different preferences each find their own use of the space.
Does artificial décor have the same effect as natural décor?
This study used plants and clay pots and did not compare against artificial décor. What seems to matter is the structure and number of hiding spots rather than the exact material. All our guides are on the aquarium hub.
See it in the Planète Pets shop: Tall artificial aquarium plant, 45 to 49 cm, weighted base (€23.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Fishkeeping universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.