17 Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish
By: Fish Enthusiast
Tags: Pet Fish, Freshwater Fish, Education, Aquarium, Fish

Education

17 Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish

Fish are friends, and maybe your next pet!

Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash

The number of house hold with fish as a pet is huge, they account for a large portion of pets owned across the globe, and it’s no surprise that they are the top choice of pet.

Most of the Freshwater Aquarium Fish species that we’ll consider here in this article will be easy to take care of. The main reason you should have a Freshwater Aquarium Fish in your home is that they bring beauty and color to your homes and they can make you mentally happy because it is very relaxing to sit back and watch them swimming.

Keeping freshwater fish also has many more advantages on the human health also, they helps us a lot to reduce our mental stress.

It is almost sure that if anyone starts to raise freshwater aquarium fish as a hobby, then they are more likely to hooked up into that.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at the most popular species available in the freshwater aquarium industry today.

1. Guppies

Guppies (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Guppies are one of the most colorful and lively fish, and guppies have a special ability to adapt to a variety of water conditions. That is the main reason why Guppies are so popular. Caring for Guppies is a lot more easier than any other fish. It is better to keep guppies in sets of threes, and a good tank size is 1 gallon of water per guppy.

Males Guppies are much more colorful and beautiful than females guppies, so if you’re not looking to breed, the best option is just to keep male guppies.

The ideal water temperature for guppies is (10–29)degree Celsius, but the most important factor is that the temperature should be kept consistent.

Guppies should be fed with a mixture of plant and animal based foods, you might even consider making your own — it’s easier than it sounds.

2. Mollies

Mollies (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Mollies are small, peaceful freshwater aquarium fish species that grow to around 3–4 inches, and adapt easily to almost all water conditions.

The ideal tank conditions for Mollies are: a minimum tank size of 20 gallons, and warm water with a pH between 7.0–7.8.

Mollies are omnivorous, and will require a diet of both plant and animal food.

One of the interesting fact is that Mollies are livebearers, meaning they give birth to their young live, rather than lay eggs. Mollies are very easy to care for, and they also breed very easily, so if you’re a beginner then mollies are a good option to consider.

3. Platies

Platy (photo y Fish Enthusiast)

Platies come in almost every color imaginable and they are very easy to care for — these are the main two reasons Platies became so popular.

Platies are a great community fish, they’re very peaceful and get along well with guppies and mollies.

Although small, platies are very active and love being in groups. A 10 gallon tank is large enough for 5 fish.

Platies are omnivorous, but they require much more herbivorous food, than meats. Ideally, they need a good mix of plant based food and proteins.

4. Swordtails

Sword Tails (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

The swordtail is a Freshwater Aquarium Fish which is similar in shape to platy and guppy fish, with a slightly bulkier body, and a sword shaped extension of its fin.

There are many different color variations available for Swordtails and they are quite hardy which makes them a perfect species for the beginner aquarist.

Swordtails are usually peaceful, and an active Freshwater Aquarium Fish. They thrive in community tanks, and like to swim in loosely grouped schools.

Swordtails can be breed easily, and if you do decide to breed them, you should keep them away from their parents; Swordtail parents will often eat their fry.

5. Bettas

Bettas (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Another extremely popular freshwater aquarium fish is the Betta. Main reason for the popularity of Betta fish is that; Bettas are vibrantly colored, and easy to care for.

Male Betta fish are very aggressive towards other males betta fishes. So only one male Betta fish should be kept in each aquarium. They can be housed with other peaceful fish.

Bettas has an omnivorous diet, of both plant and animal foods.

Betta fish grow to a maximum size of 3 inches. Although you often see Bettas in small ornamental tanks, it is better to house them in larger tanks.

6. Goldfish

Goldfish (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

When most people think of Goldfish, they think of small fish bowls with a fish that was won at the fair. This is not the correct way to house goldfish.

Few people know that Goldfish can actually grow up to 14 inches in the wild.

The minimum tank size for a goldfish is 20 gallons, you’ll also need a filter and to perform 10–15% weekly water changes.

There are many different varieties of goldfish, and its fine to mix them as long as they aren’t breeds that would compete with each other for food. For example, keep single tailed varieties together and normal eyed goldfish together. So they are a good option to accommodate in Freshwater Aquariums.

7. Angelfish

Angelfish (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Angelfish are a member of the Cichlid family, which also includes Discus, Oscars and Parrot fish, all common fish amongst freshwater aquarium keepers.

Angelfish can grow up to 6 inches in length, 8 inches tall, and they are available in a variety of colors and patterns.

Angelfish are omnivorous, so will need a balanced diet of meat and plant food. There are many different types of angelfish.

Their tank should be at least 20 gallons, and the water should be slightly soft and acidic.

As they mature, they can become aggressive, especially if your tank in overcrowded. In general though, angelfish are a good community fish for freshwater aquariums, just don’t keep them with very small fish or fin-nipping species.

8. Neon Tetra

Neon Tetra (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Neon Tetras are a small, easy to care for species of Freshwater Aquarium Fish. This popular aquarium species is often one of the first fish a beginner aquarist will buy.

Neon Tetra reach around 2.2cm in length, and like to be kept in groups. They are a great choice for small community Freshwater aquariums due to their peaceful temperament.

Neon Tetras come in bright colors, and have an iridescent blue horizontal strip across their body so it will be visible if freshwater Aquarium water is dark.

Neon Tetras require soft, acidic water with tropical temperatures, and will accept most foods. Neon Tetras are omnivores, so will feed on brine, shrimp, worms and insects as well as plants.

9. Oscar

Oscar (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Oscars are considered as one of the most intelligent freshwater aquarium fish available, and they can also be trained to do some tricks.

Oscars however are not a community fish, they should be kept in a species only tank, and they can grow very large, very quickly.

Oscar require a lot more maintenance than other freshwater aquarium fish, due to their carnivorous nature and the amount of waste they create.

On the other side, Oscar’s are one of the few species you can hand feed; they will often eat food from between your fingers. Oscars thrive when kept in pairs, or group of 5+, and should be housed together from a young age.

10. Zebra Danios

Zebra Danios (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

The Zebra Danios make the perfect beginner freshwater aquarium fish, they are very easy to care for and can grow up to 5–7cm.

Zebra Danios should be kept in at least a 10 gallon tank, in groups of at least 5. Danios are a schooling fish and will become stressed if their numbers are too lows.

They are not fussy eaters and will eat most foods; the healthiest diet for them would be lots of worms, insets and crustaceans.

Always remember to cover your tank else Zebra Danios will jump out of it.

11. Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gourami (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

The Pearl Gourami is a relatively large, but peaceful fish and one of the most easy to keep among the group of Gourami’s.

The minimum tank size for this species is a 30 gallon tank and provide them with a good number of hiding spots.

They can be housed with other fish of a similar size and temperament; however you should not house them with aggressive fish.

Pearl Gourami’s are omnivorous and should be fed algae-based foods and meaty foods.

They are well known for eating Hydra, a tiny pest that has tentacles with venom, so make a great solution if you have a hydra problem.

12. Killifish

Killifish (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Killifish come in a wide variety of bright colors. They are extremely hardy fish, and there are over 700 species — a breed to suit almost every tank condition.

Killifish are generally peaceful fish and do well in community freshwater aquarium tanks with other small, non-aggressive fish. It’s best to keep just one male to each tank though, because they can be aggressive towards each other.

Killifish are very easy to breed, and are either annual or non-annual breeders. In the wild, annual killifish lay their eggs in temporary bodies of water which dry up for months at a time. When they refill, the fry hatch.

Most Killifish are carnivores and therefore enjoy a diet of insect larvae, worms and crustaceans.

13. Rainbowfish

Rainbow Fish (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Rainbowfish originate from Australia and Southeast Asia. They are a peaceful schooling fish that can grow up to 6 inches long.

This is perhaps one of the least common fish that is mentioned in this article, perhaps because its colors only begin to show as they enter adulthood…

Rainbowfish get along well with other upper level schooling fish such as danios, bards and larger tetras

14. Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras Catfish (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Also known as Cory Cats, these fish are a staple in most freshwater tanks. They’re easy to care for, calm and peaceful yet active bottom dwellers.

They are very social, and whilst you can keep them individually, they thrive if kept in a group of two or more.

They get on well with most community freshwater fish tank as long as they are not aggressive.

15. Cherry Barb

Cherry Barb (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

The Cherry Barb got the name from the color the male turns when it is spawning.

Cherry Barb’s are a peaceful fish which will grow to around 2 inches in length, and they require a minimum tank size of 25 gallons. Cherry Barbs are omnivorous and will eat most types of food including live, fresh, frozen and flake foods.

They are easy to care for and can be kept in community freshwater aquarium with open space to swim, but also planted areas where they can hide.

16. Discus

Discus (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Discus are beautiful and can grow to a large size, so they require a larger freshwater aquarium with a minimum size of 25 gallons.

Discus are not generally recommended for beginners.

They can be housed with other fish that require the same water conditions, as long as they are not aggressive.

Discus will take a variety of foods but are carnivorous in nature. The best diet for them consists of beef heart and blood worms.

17. Plecostomus

Plecostomus (photo by Fish Enthusiast)

Plecostomus are a breed of catfish, they have heavy armored plates on their bodies, and sucker-shaped mouths to feed on the algae from freshwater aquarium.

Breeding Plecostomus is extremely difficult and you should be an experienced aquarists to breed them.

Plecostomus can live for 20 years, sometimes longer if cared for correctly.