Knowing the types of fish that can survive in a freshwater tank is crucial.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the most popular freshwater fish species, tropical and freshwater. It includes their preferred environments, diet, and unique traits.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
Freshwater Tropical Fish
Here are 44 freshwater tropical fish that you can keep in your aquarium.
Betta
The Siamese fighting fish, also known as the betta, is a popular fish from Asia that people have bred for many years to have long, colorful fins.
Bettas eat both plant and animal matter and they swim all over the tank. They like food that floats on the water’s surface, like freeze-dried bloodworms. However, they’re not very active, so they don’t eat a lot compared to other fish.
If you’re trying to breed them, it’s important to keep their water temperature between 76°F and 83°F.
Male bettas are known to be quite aggressive toward each other, so it’s best to only have one male in a tank.
What’s unique about bettas is that they have a special organ in their head, called the labyrinth organ, that allows them to breathe oxygen from the air above the water’s surface.
If you’re considering other fish to put in the tank with your betta, good choices would be angelfish, cories, danios, schools of harlequin rasbora, and kuhli loaches.
Paradise Fish
The paradise fish is a beautiful fish with stripes and specks. This fish is native China and South Korea.
Paradise fish are meat-eaters and they swim all around the tank. They usually grow to around 3 to 4 inches long and like their water to be around 75°F.
Something important to know about these fish is that they can be quite aggressive. Because of this, it’s best to keep them grouped with other paradise fish or other hardy fish that are around the same size.
However, be careful with male paradise fish as they can often get into fights with each other.
An interesting fact about paradise fish is that they create bubble nests when they’re ready to have babies. This fish is also known to change color, especially when it gets scared – it tends to lose its vibrant color quickly.
Some good companions for the paradise fish are gouramis, tiger barbs, danios, loaches, and red-tailed sharks. These are all types of fish that cohabitate well with the paradise fish.
Climbing Perch
The climbing perch is a really interesting fish. It can live for several days without being in water and it’s even been known to move across land in the wild, hopping from one pond to another.
You should keep your climbing perch in water that’s around 80°F. It’s also important to give them places to hide, like rock caves.
The climbing perch can grow up to 10 inches long, and is a meat-eater. It swims everywhere in the tank, not just at the top or bottom.
Because of its size and the space it needs, you’ll need a big tank – at least 125 gallons.
This isn’t the easiest fish to take care of, so it might be a good choice after you’ve had some experience with simpler species.
A climbing perch prefers to be around other climbing perch, so it’s a good idea to have more than one in your tank.
Guppy
Guppy is a small, colorful fish that’s very popular for home aquariums. These fish come in many different colors and their tails can have different shapes.
Many people who are new to keeping fish start with guppies because they’re easy to care for and very active.
These little fish eat both plants and small animals, and they swim at different depths in the tank. And they aren’t expensive either.
Guppies need warm water, about 78°F to 82°F. They do well if you add a tablespoon of aquarium salt to every 5 gallons of water, but this isn’t absolutely necessary.
They eat regular flake food, but they really like getting frozen brine shrimp once in a while as a special treat.
It’s best to keep one male guppy for every three female guppies in a tank that has lots of plants.
Over time, the anal fin of male guppies has evolved into a special body part named a ‘gonopodium’. This is a bit like a rod sticking out. The male guppy uses this to fertilize the female guppy’s eggs.
Guppies get along well with other fish like swordtails, as well as with cories, white clouds, glassfish, and ghost shrimp.
Platy
Platies are beautiful freshwater fish that come in a wide variety of colors. They’re originally from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.
These fish are known for being peaceful and easy to breed, making them a great choice for community aquariums.
Platies eat both plants and small animals (they’re omnivores) and they swim at all levels of the tank. They’re also easy to breed, which is great for new fish keepers.
Platies like their water to be warm, between 78°F to 82°F. And you can add a tablespoon of aquarium salt to every 5 gallons of water. These fish can grow up to 3 inches and can live for several years.
There are many types of platies, like the Calico Platy, Marigold Platy, Painted Platy, Mickey Mouse Platy, Sunburst Platy, Wag Tail Platy, etc.
Platies can share their tank with other fish like angelfish, cories, mollies, plecos, and swordtails.
Swordtail
Swordtails are vibrant, colorful fish that are native to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. They’re great for any community aquarium because they add a pop of color.
Their name comes from the fact that male swordtails have an elongated caudal fin that looks like a sword.
Swordtails are very active fish and they like water that’s a bit hard, meaning it has high levels of minerals like magnesium, calcium, and sulfates.
The water in their tank should be kept at a warm temperature, between 78°F and 82°F and they benefit from having a bit of aquarium salt in their water. For every 5 gallons of water in the tank, you should add one tablespoon of aquarium salt.
These fish eat pretty much anything (making them ‘omnivorous’) and they swim all over the tank, not just at the top or bottom. And they appreciate tanks with lots of aquatic plants.
If you want to breed swordtails, the best approach is to have three females for every male fish. This ensures the females aren’t stressed by constant attention from the male, which can make them sick or can even be fatal.
Swordtails are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Male swordtails have a special organ called a ‘gonopodium’, similar to guppies, that they use for mating.
In terms of size, swordtails can grow up to 5 inches long when kept in fish tanks. They can live for three to five years if they’re kept in good water conditions.
Killifish
Killifish are a type of fish that usually like living in water that is soft and slightly acidic. However, there are some types of killifish that can live happily in a common fish tank with other species.
These fish usually swim near the top or in the middle of the tank. They eat other small creatures, meaning they’re carnivores.
It’s also important to note that killifish like to live in groups, so it’s best to have at least three of them together in your tank.
Sailfin Molly
The sailfin molly is a lovely fish that comes from the United States and Mexico where it lives mainly in waters that are a mix of fresh and salt water.
The males have a special dorsal fin that can stand up and look like a sail on a boat.
Mollies like their water to be a bit salty, so you can add a teaspoon of salt for every 5 gallons of water in their tank. Make sure that the other fish in the tank can handle it. If they can’t, that’s okay – mollies can also do just fine without the extra salt.
Mollies like the water temperature to be between 78°F and 82°F and an aquarium filled with plants
These fish eat all kinds of food and swim at every level of the tank. They usually grow to be around 4 inches long and live for about three to five years.
Something really amazing about mollies is that they come in different colors and patterns, like marble, metallic, tricolors, etc.
While mollies can be a bit mean to smaller fish, they generally get along well with other fish in a shared tank. They do well with fish such as angelfish, cories, red serapae tetras, swordtails, and platies.
Striped Panchax
The panchax is a type of fish that is perfect for a community aquarium, meaning it gets along well with other fish.
However, it’s known to jump out of the tank, so you need to ensure that your aquarium has a secure lid to prevent this.
This fish lays eggs and uses plants for protection and for their breeding process. Therefore, it’s important to have many plants in your tank.
The panchax is carnivorous and prefers to eat live food. You’ll usually see it swimming near the top of the tank.
Cory Catfish
Cory catfish are a popular choice for home aquariums because of their variety in patterns, affordability, and their ability to clean tank debris like fallen food and dead plant leaves.
A notable type of cory is the blackfin cory from South America, which is an omnivore, meaning it eats both plants and meat. These fish tend to swim near the bottom of the tank.
It’s recommended to have at least three cories in your tank because they like to live in groups. They’re also relatively easy to breed, with females being identifiable by their larger and rounder bodies.
Cories are always on the lookout for food, so it’s important to provide them with food that sinks to the bottom of the tank, like algae wafers.
These fish can grow to be 2 to 3 inches long in a home tank and can live up to ten years.
For their comfort, keep the tank water temperature between 72°F and 78°F. They get along well with several types of fish, such as angelfish, danios, tetras, barbs, rasboras, gouramis, rainbowfish, and plecos.
Bristlenose Catfish
The bristlenose catfish is a unique and ancient-looking type of fish that belongs to the Loricariidae family.
Bristlenose catfish is originally from South America and is a plant-eater. They usually stay at the bottom of a fish tank and are known for being calm and peaceful.
The male bristlenose catfish are known for having two rows of whisker-like bristles on their noses, while the females only have one row.
These fish have a special mouth that’s shaped like a suction cup, which they use to eat algae.
Suckermouth Catfish (Pleco)
The suckermouth catfish, also known as the pleco, is a popular type of catfish that many people like to keep in their aquariums.
It’s known for its unique leopard-like spots and can grow to be pretty large – over a foot long! So you’ll need a big enough tank for it to comfortably live and grow in.
The pleco prefers water temperature that ranges from 69°F to 79°F and can handle most normal aquarium environments.
Plecos are plant-eaters, they especially love to eat algae from your tank, and typically swim around the bottom and middle parts of the tank. They’re always looking for food and might damage any plants in your tank as they search around for it.
These fish can be a bit territorial, so it’s a good idea to pair them with other fish that can stand their ground, like larger cichlids.
Glass Catfish
The glass catfish is a really unique fish that’s actually see-through! You can look right through its body and see its backbone and what’s inside it, even the food it’s eaten.
These fish come from Southeast Asia and like to live in groups, so you should have at least three of them together.
They’re carnivorous and they like swimming around the middle and bottom parts of the tank. They also love plants in their tank, especially Java fern.
It’s super important to keep their water clean because they can get sick easily and they don’t react well to most medications. Prevention is the best way to keep them healthy.
The water in their tank should be between 75°F and 79°F and have a pH level between 6.2 and 7.0. In the wild, they eat insects, so you should feed them live foods like daphnia.
And remember, they like to be with their own kind. They get really shy and inactive if they’re alone, so don’t keep one without other glass catfish.
They get along well with most non-aggressive fish like guppies, so they’re a good choice for a community tank.
Chinese Algae Eater
Even though the Chinese Algae Eater is often called a catfish, it isn’t really one. It’s actually from a different fish family, the Cypriniformes, and it comes from Southeast Asia.
It has a mouth that works like a sucker, which it uses to hold onto things. In the wild, it likes places where the water moves quickly, so if you keep it in a fish tank, it’ll prefer one where the water is moving.
It also likes its water to be between 65°F and 85°F. So, if you’re thinking of getting one, make sure your fish tank can stay in this temperature range.
This fish eats mostly algae in its natural habitat, which means if you have one, you’ll need to feed it food made for fish that eat plants.
The Chinese Algae Eater can get really big if you keep it in a home fish tank, and it can also get pretty bossy as it gets older.
So, it’s a good idea to keep it with fish that are either bigger or can swim faster, like tiger barbs, danios, or clown loaches.
Upside-down Catfish
The upside-down catfish is a unique type of fish from tropical Africa that swims with its belly facing upward, unlike most other fish that swim upright.
This fish can change its body color depending on its position in the water.
Upside-down catfish are peaceful and eat meat. They swim all around the aquarium, not just at the top or bottom.
Their backs, which face downward when they swim, are lighter in color. This is opposite to most other fish that swim upright and is meant to help them hide. These fish often have a beautiful pattern on their bodies in earthy colors.
The ideal water temperature for them to live in is between 72°F and 79°F. They can live for over five years and grow up to 3 to 4 inches long.
The upside-down catfish has a split tail and three sets of whisker-like features called barbels. It’s best to keep them in small groups.
To keep your upside-down catfish healthy, the aquarium should be decorated with plenty of plants, rocks, and other items. This is because they love to explore and search for food on these surfaces.
They should be fed insect larvae and algae discs, which they like to munch on.
Neon Tetra
The neon tetra is a very popular and easily identifiable aquarium fish.
This friendly little fish has a shiny blue-green stripe along its body and a pretty red stripe beneath that. Male neon tetras are usually slimmer than the females.
The neon tetra eats both plant and animal matter, likes to swim in the middle area of the tank, and prefers to be in a group of at least six to eight fish.
In an aquarium, these fish can grow up to an inch and a half. They can live up to ten years.
Neon tetras should be kept in a tank with water temperature between 70°F and 78°F, and the tank should have plenty of plants. These fish don’t like bright light, so try to keep the tank lighting soft and subdued.
Breeding these in an aquarium is quite challenging.
Be careful with the other fish you put in the tank with neon tetras. Bigger fish might eat them.
So, it’s best to keep them with peaceful fish of similar size. Some good choices are the guppies, cardinal tetras, mollies, and glowlight tetras.
Cardinal Tetra
The cardinal tetra is a type of fish that looks quite similar to another fish called the neon tetra. The main difference between them is that the cardinal tetra has a bigger area of red on its belly.
This fish is very peaceful and likes to live in soft waters that are slightly acidic (with a pH level below 6.8).
It eats just about anything and is omnivorous – it can eat plants and meat. So it’s easy to feed the cardinal tetra as it eats almost any type of fish food, like flake food, live food, and frozen food.
This fish likes to swim everywhere in the tank, from top to bottom, and it prefers to be in a group of at least six to eight other cardinal tetras.
It’s important not to put this fish with larger, aggressive fish because they might harm it.
Serpae Tetra
The serpae tetra is named because of its vibrant colors that look like a large Mexican shawl (serape).
It’s a peaceful fish that prefers to swim in the middle level of an aquarium. It eats a variety of foods and grows to be one of the larger species of the tetra fish family.
This fish can get cold easily, so you should keep the water in the aquarium between 78°F and 80°F. And with proper care, this fish can live for around five to six years.
However, it can be slightly aggressive toward smaller fish, so it’s best to keep it with at least five other fish of its own kind.
The serpae tetra can live well with mollies, cories, swordtails, and plecos.
Glowlight Tetra
The glowlight tetra is a small, unique fish from South America known for its glowing stripe that runs from its eye to its tail.
This glow is especially noticeable when the tank’s lights are dim, and you can see a lovely red stripe on its side. It also has a small adipose fin behind the dorsal fin.
This fish is calm but active, and it likes living in water that’s a little acidic, soft, and kept between 75°F and 80°F.
It eats both plants and meat and swims at all levels of the tank. If the fish gets too stressed, its colors can fade.
Once it’s fully grown, it will be about 1.5 to 2 inches long. If you take good care of it, it could live up to ten years.
It’s important to note that the glowlight tetra likes being in a group, specifically with its own kind. So, if you want to keep it, you should have at least five of them in your tank.
This fish gets along well with other small fish like other types of tetras, angelfish, danios, small gouramis, small catfish, and livebearers. So, if you’re planning to add more fish to the tank, these would be good choices.
Bleeding Heart Tetra
The bleeding heart tetra is a type of fish that’s known for its unique appearance. It’s a silver-colored fish with a distinct red spot on its side, which is why it’s called the “bleeding heart.”
This fish can be a bit nervous and needs a lot of space to swim around. It’s semi-peaceful, meaning it’s generally calm but can sometimes be aggressive toward smaller fish.
The bleeding heart tetra usually swims around the middle level of the tank. It grows up to 3 inches long and prefers water temperatures between 72°F and 82°F.
The bleeding heart tetra enjoys being around plants, so make sure you have plenty of them in your aquarium.
Like many other types of tetras, it prefers being in a group with others of its kind because it makes them feel safer.
Bleeding heart tetra is omnivorous, meaning it eats both plants and other animals. This fish isn’t picky when it comes to food. It likes a variety of things like brine shrimp, bloodworms, frozen foods, and flakes.
When you first bring these fish home, they might look a little pale. That’s normal and it can happen with most fish species. It’s just because they’re adjusting to a new environment.
But don’t worry, once they’ve settled in, they’ll regain their vibrant colors.
Rummy-nose Tetra
The rummy-nose tetra is a friendly type of fish that prefers to live with other small fish of the same size. It’s called “rummy-nose” because it has a unique red mark near its nose and eyes.
This fish isn’t picky about its food – it will eat just about anything you give it.
As for its living conditions, it likes water that’s a bit warm – between 72°F and 79°F. It also prefers water that is slightly acidic, with a pH level from 6 to 6.8.
Silver Dollar
Silver dollar fish are interesting pets that look like silver coins, hence their name.
They’re mostly peaceful, but a few can become aggressive when they grow big. To keep these fish happy and healthy, they should be kept in a group of five to eight in a tank by themselves.
They need a lot of room to swim around, so their tank should be larger than 55 gallons. They also prefer warm water, with temperatures between 78°F and 82°F.
These fish are herbivorous, so you should feed them food that floats on the water’s surface like flakes. They might also damage any plants in your aquarium.
Other fish that get along well with silver dollars are mollies, angelfish, plecos, and giant danios, because these fish won’t be easily pushed around.
Silver Hatchetfish
The silver hatchetfish is a type of fish that looks like the blade of a large axe. It’s a calm fish from South America.
This fish is very active and needs clean water with plenty of oxygen to stay healthy. It can’t live well in dirty water with low oxygen levels.
You should keep the water temperature in the tank between 72°F and 79°F, and the pH level between 6 and 7.
It prefers to be in groups of at least three and likes to stay near the top of the fish tank.
The fish also needs a lot of room to swim and it likes when the water is moving, which you can create with certain equipment.
The silver hatchetfish also doesn’t harm plants in the tank, so you can add as many as you want. You should feed them plenty of frozen foods, especially insect larvae, which they eat in the wild.
One thing to be aware of is that the silver hatchetfish can jump out of the tank using their fin that looks like wings. To prevent this from happening, make sure to keep a secure lid on your tank.
Other fish that get along well with the silver hatchetfish are angelfish, tetras, rasboras, loaches, and livebearers.
Three-lined Pencilfish
The three-lined pencilfish is a very unique fish from South America. It’s named this way because it resembles a pencil, especially due to the dark line that runs from its nose to its tail.
This species is known to eat both plants and small animals, and it’s generally a peaceful creature.
To keep it comfortable, your aquarium should have lots of plants, particularly ones that float on the surface, and dark-colored gravel. This setup will help to spread out the light and make the fish feel safer.
The water temperature should be kept between 72°F and 81°F, and the water’s acidity level, or pH, should be between 6.5 and 6.9.
As these fish grow older, the males tend to become darker than the females. The males also tend to fight with each other, but these fights rarely result in serious harm.
This fish might not be readily available in pet stores, but you can usually place a special order for it.
Pacu
Pacus are a type of fish that can grow quite large, even in a home aquarium. They’re related to piranhas, but unlike piranhas who are carnivorous, pacus are her herbivorous.
Pacus need a lot of space to grow, so your aquarium should be at least 55 gallons. They also like warm water, between 78°F and 82°F. They usually swim in the middle of the aquarium.
Their diet should consist of pellet food, but you can also give them a bit of fresh vegetables.
Despite their size, which can be as big as a medium-sized car, they can get scared easily and might crash into the aquarium glass.
So, it’s good to have some plants or rocks in the aquarium where they can hide if they feel threatened.
However, just because they’re primarily plant-eaters doesn’t mean they won’t eat other fish, especially smaller ones! So, it’s better to keep them with bigger fish like plecos, oscars, knife fish, and tinfoil barbs.
Blind Cave Fish
The blind cave fish is a unique type of fish that doesn’t have eyes. Even though it can’t see, it’s able to find its way around in complete darkness using its lateral line.
The lateral line helps this fish navigate by detecting changes in water pressure and movement.
Despite its unusual nature, it can be a great addition to a home aquarium, provided it’s kept with other species it can get along with.
The blind cave fish has a pink-colored body with a red area around its gills. In a home aquarium, this fish typically grows up to 3 inches long.
It lays eggs, and having a group (or ‘school’) of five of these fish can make your aquarium quite interesting.
This fish eats both plants and animals, thus is classified as omnivorous. It prefers water that’s around 72°F, and slightly alkaline with a pH level of 7.4.
If you’re considering getting blind cave fish for your aquarium, remember that they’ll need some small caves where they can hide and feel safe.
You can make these out of rocks or buy pre-made ones from pet stores.
Clown Loach
The Indonesian clown loach doesn’t have scales. This means that you need to be careful when adding any medications into their tank. Only use ones that specifically say they’re safe for fish without scales.
These loaches have stripes like a tiger and they usually stay at the bottom of the tank, peacefully searching for food. They eat meat and do best when they’re kept with three to five of their kind.
Sometimes, you might see them lying on their sides or backs when they’re resting. This is normal for them, so don’t worry.
Clown loaches can live up to 20 years in a home aquarium. Keep in mind that as they age, they can grow to be longer than a foot.
Their tank should have low light and a strong water current. The bottom of the tank should be covered with fine gravel or sand, and there should be rock caves to mimic their natural habitat in streams.
The water temperature should be between 72°F and 85°F.
As for food, clown loaches aren’t picky. They’ll eat almost anything, but they especially like sinking tablet foods, brine shrimp, worms, and tubifex worms. These can be given as treats.
Clown loaches get along well with cories, danios, rainbowfish, small gouramis, and livebearers. But try to avoid keeping them with slow-moving fish because the loaches’ quick movements can stress these fish out.
Zebra Loach
The zebra loach is quite attractive, with black stripes and a bit of a greenish color.
The way you take care of a zebra loach in terms of the water it lives in, the set up of the tank, and the food it eats, is pretty much the same as how you would care for clown loaches.
So if you know how to take care of clown loaches, you’ll be able to look after zebra loaches as well.
Zebra loaches are most active during the night, which means they’re nocturnal.
When it comes to what other fish it can live with in an aquarium, it can cohabit with various types including rainbowfish, barbs, danios, small cichlids, gouramis, and livebearers.
Orange-finned Loach
The orange-finned loach has a blue-gray body and bright orange fins. It’s a bit different from other fish because it has tiny spikes on its eyes.
This fish is a bit shy and prefers to hide during the day. It likes to swim at the bottom of the tank and is carnivorous.
An interesting fact about this fish is that it makes clicking sounds to get the attention of potential partners.
orange-finned loach needs the same conditions as the clown loach to live well in a tank. This means it needs specific water conditions, a certain way the tank is set up, and a certain type of food.
Discus
Discus is highly valued for its stunning colors and peaceful demeanor. They have a flat, disc-like shape, which is how they got their name.
However, they require more care and attention compared to other fish as they tend to be fragile and more prone to sickness.
Discus are carnivorous fish and they like being around other discus, so it’s best to have at least three to five of them together.
They eat food like frozen shrimp, special fish flakes, and insect larvae. They can grow bigger than 5 inches when kept in a home fish tank.
When it comes to their living conditions, each discus fish needs at least 10 gallons of water.
The water temperature should be between 80°F and 86°F and the pH level, which is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is, should be between 4.5 and 6.0. This means the water should be soft and slightly acidic.
Some fish owners use reverse osmosis (RO) units to make tap water more like the natural waters discus live in. This process removes many contaminants but also essential minerals, so you’ll need to add those back using special products from the pet store.
While discus fish can be quite pricey, many people find them worth the extra cost because of their beauty.
Angelfish
Angelfish are a type of fish that belong to the cichlid family, even though they look quite different from their relatives.
They have long fins on their back and bottom which help them balance while swimming. They also have many different color patterns like white, marble, and stripes.
People find them very attractive, which is why they’re popular among aquarium enthusiasts.
If you want to keep an angelfish, you’ll need a large and deep fish tank. They like warm water, so you should keep the water temperature between 78°F and 82°F.
Their diet consists of flake food and they enjoy brine shrimp as a special treat.
Angelfish are capable of laying eggs and can be bred easily in your home aquarium. However, you should be careful not to keep them with other fish that might bite their fins.
Oscar
Oscars are large fish from the Amazon that can grow longer than 12 inches in a home aquarium.
This means they need a lot of space, so you should have at least a 70-gallon tank if you want to keep one or two of them.
Oscars prefer their water to be between 72°F and 78°F. They like having a sandy bottom in their tank and rocks to hide among. But be careful with plants, as oscars have a habit of tearing them up.
If you decide to use artificial plants, be ready to fix them up every day. And if you use live plants, don’t expect them to last long.
Oscars are carnivorous, meaning they eat meat, and will eat anything that fits into their big mouths. Eventually, you’ll need to feed them a special type of food called cichlid pellet food.
These fish like to swim around the middle of the tank and can be quite entertaining to watch.
When it comes to their social behavior, oscars can be a bit tricky. They tend to fight with each other when kept in small groups, so it’s best to keep them in groups of eight or more.
But since you would need an extremely large tank to keep that many, you’re probably better off just keeping one or two who might squabble a bit.
One of the best things about oscars is that they can live a long time, with some even living more than 25 years in captivity. Plus, you can train an oscar to take food directly from your hand, which is pretty cool.
Oscars can share their tank with large fish like large plecos, knifefish, tinfoil barbs, and other cichlids of the same size.
Convict Cichlid
The convict cichlid is a tough and resilient species. The name ‘convict’ comes from the black and white stripes on its body, which look like the prison uniforms. There is also a beautiful variety called pink convicts.
Convict cichlids can get quite big, with females growing up to 4-5 inches and males up to 6-7 inches. Therefore, you should keep them in a large tank, preferably at least 55 gallons, to ensure they stay healthy.
The water temperature should be kept between 68°F to 75°F. And their tank should have lots of caves for them to breed and hide. They like to stay in the middle or lower parts of the aquarium
Convict cichlids are carnivorous and aren’t picky eaters. They will eat any fish food you give them.
They’re also known for their high breeding potential, even in challenging conditions. And they’re known for its parental care since both parents look after their offspring.
However, it’s an aggressive species. So it’s best to keep it in a tank that only houses the same species. You should only keep this species with other fish that are similar in size and have the same aggressive behavior.
Keyhole Cichlid
The keyhole cichlid is light in color and has a calm nature. It has a special mark on its side that looks like a black keyhole and a dark stripe passing through its eyes.
When setting up its tank, it’s best to have plenty of plants in it since as this fish likes a lot of greenery.
It’s also an omnivore, meaning it eats both plants and meat, and it usually hunts for food at the bottom of the tank.
When kept in an aquarium, it typically grows to be about 3 to 5 inches long.
The keyhole cichlid gets along with other fish that are also friendly and not aggressive. Some examples of such fish are gouramis, danios, barbs, loaches, and catfish.
Jewel Cichlid
The jewel cichlid is a beautiful fish that has a golden color. It also has a distinct dark band that goes across the length of its body.
This fish prefers to live in a specific water temperature, between 72°F and 82°F. So, you have to make sure the aquarium’s water is within this range.
You’ll need to feed it food made for African cichlids, which is vegetable-based. Also, it likes to eat insect larvae.
It would be best if you put plants and rocks in the aquarium. The jewel cichlid likes these because they help it feel safe and secure.
So, the aquarium should be decorated to mimic its natural habitat. This will make the fish more comfortable.
Blue Johanni Cichlid
The blue johanni is a type of fish with a stunning blue body and slightly darker fins. The males are particularly colorful.
These fish need to be fed with vegetable products for a healthy diet.
They also require a specific living environment to thrive. This includes a tank where the water temperature is consistently kept between 72°F and 82°F.
To make the fish feel at home and safe, please make sure to add plants and rocks in the tank for them to hide and play around.
Electric Yellow Cichlid
The electric yellow cichlid is known for its striking bright yellow color and black-marked fins, which give it an appearance similar to a slender lemon.
Although cichlids are generally known for their aggressive nature, this particular species is relatively less hostile. However, finding this specific species might be a bit challenging.
Setting up the tank for this species is similar to that for the blue johanni cichlid described above.
As for its diet, it requires a mix of vegetables and meat. The meat content can include items like bloodworms and brine shrimp, which are commonly fed to aquarium fish.
Kribensis Cichlid
The kribensis cichlid is a type of fish from West Africa. It’s known for its peaceful nature and beautiful rainbow colors.
This fish likes to stay near the bottom of the tank and will eat both plants and small creatures.
However, it’s important to note that during breeding season, this fish can become quite aggressive. Because of this, it’s best to only keep them with other African cichlids and catfish of similar size to prevent conflicts.
When it comes to feeding, these cichlids prefer a diet based on vegetables, so special African cichlid food would be suitable.
If you’re thinking of keeping a pair, the tank conditions should be similar to those suitable for a blue johanni cichlid described above.
Tiger Barb
The tiger barb is orange and black in color and originates from Southeast Asia. You would usually find it swimming in the middle and lower parts of the fish tank.
Tiger barbs claim their own space, so the bigger the tank, the happier they will be. They like their water to be between 70°F and 74°F.
It’s also a good idea to have lots of plants and decorations in the tank. This not only makes the tank look nicer, but also gives them places to hide when they start bothering each other.
Tiger barbs are omnivorous but not picky eaters. They will eat almost anything you give them. So you can feed them a mix of meat-based and plant-based fish food.
These fish can be pretty feisty and should only be placed in a tank with other tiger barbs or fish that are about the same size and have similar behaviors.
Other fish that could be good tank mates for them are rainbowfish, barbs, plecos, and loaches.
Cherry Barb
The cherry barb has a shiny light red color, similar to a cherry, and its body shape is a bit like a diamond. It even has diamond-like patterns on its sides.
This fish prefers to live in a tank that has plants and it likes to be with other cherry barbs. It’s usually calm and a bit shy when there are other types of fish around.
The conditions it needs in its tank are very much the same as tiger barbs.
Zebra Danio
The zebra danio is quite popular in community fish tanks. It’s a small, fast-moving fish that makes your tank lively.
It’s a beautiful fish – gold in color with blue stripes, and it’s also quite tough.
Zebra danios can survive in water temperatures between 64°F and 78°F, and they’re very hardy. So, if you’re new to keeping fish, danios could be a good choice for you.
It’s best to keep multiple danios together, around five to seven, in a tank filled with lots of plants where they can lay eggs. Without other danios around, they can get sad and die, so it’s important to keep them in a group.
The zebra danio is also known as a ‘dither fish.’ This means it’s a peaceful and active fish that’s kept in a tank with slower moving fish to encourage those slower fish to become more active.
One thing to note is that zebra danios are very eager eaters – they’ll eat almost anything the second it hits the water. So, you need to ensure that other fish in the tank are getting enough food as well.
Harlequin Rasbora
The harlequin rasbora comes from Southeast Asia. It’s easy to spot because of its unique color pattern.
It has a gold-green body with a dark blue patch that looks like a triangle on each side. It’s quite small and only grows to about 2 inches long.
Harlequin rasboras like tanks that have lots of plants and water temperatures between 73°F and 77°F.
The pH level of the water, which is a measure of how acidic or alkaline it is, should be between 6.0 and 6.5. This is slightly on the acidic side, but it’s what this fish prefers.
The harlequin rasbora is best kept in groups and it swims everywhere in the tank, not just at the top or bottom.
It gets along well with several types of fish such as angelfish, danios, tetras, catfish, gouramis, and livebearers. So it’s a good choice for a community tank.
Green Barb
The green barb is named after its bright green color, which resembles emerald. Sometimes, this fish can become a bit feisty and may nip or bite at the fins of other fish.
When it comes to its living conditions in an aquarium, it needs similar things to tiger barbs. This means that they both need the same type of environment and can live with similar types of fish.
Giant Danio
The giant danio is a larger type of fish that is known for its peaceful nature, making it a great choice for community fish tanks.
However, one important thing to note is that it tends to jump, so you’ll need to provide it with ample space to swim around.
Moreover, the water temperature in its tank should be kept between 72°F to 75°F for this fish to thrive.
Freshwater Coldwater Fish
Now let’s take a look at the popular freshwater coldwater fish species that you can keep in your aquarium.
Goldfish
Goldfish have been around for a long time and are often kept in aquariums. They were originally bred from another type of fish called carp because of their beauty.
Unlike other fish, all types of goldfish belong to the same species, called Carassius auratus.
There are four main types of goldfish.
The first one is the Common goldfish which looks similar to carp but has more color variations.
The second type is the Dragon-eye goldfish; their eyes stick out like a telescope or bubbles.
The third type is the Egg goldfish which have an egg shape, double tails, and no dorsal fin (the fin on their back).
The fourth type is the Wen goldfish, they have a fancy looking tail and a dorsal fin.
There are also Fancy goldfish which have been bred to have special characteristics like bubble eyes, split tails, long fins, and unusual growths on their heads.
These types of goldfish can live in a coldwater aquarium or a pond. Regardless of where they live, they’re omnivores (they eat both plants and meat) and need a good filtration system and lots of plants.
Goldfish shouldn’t eat too much protein – it should only make up 25% to 30% of their diet. The best food for them is the food specifically made for goldfish.
Goldfish are hardy creatures, partly because they belong to the carp family. They like to dig around in the gravel and can damage delicate plants.
If you put some smooth river rocks in their tank, they will have fun flipping them over. The water in their tank should be kept between 65°F and 70°F.
They can share their tank with other goldfish or scavenging catfish like the pleco.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
The White Cloud Mountain Minnow was once thought to be extinct in 1980, but has since been brought back through breeding in fish tanks by enthusiasts. This goes to show that even hobbies can have important impacts.
This fish is one of the most beautiful ones out there, especially when placed in a tank that mimics a fast-moving river.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow has a silver-green body and a reddish tail. It’s quite small, growing to a length of about 1.5 inches.
This fish prefers cooler water temperatures, between 64°F and 72°F.
An important thing to remember when keeping these fish is that they’re social animals and prefer to live in groups.
Therefore, if you’re planning on having them in your tank, it’s best to have at least six of them together.
Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies, 3rd Edition
Recommended Further Reading: 10 Remarkable Freshwater Invertebrates to Keep in Your Aquarium
Koi
Koi look a lot like a goldfish but are much more colorful.
They grow really big, like up to 3 feet long, which means they can’t live inside a typical fish tank at your home. The ideal place to keep them is in an outdoor pond.
They’re shaped like a torpedo and need clean water and plenty of plants around them for food and to hide from the sun. Some types of koi are really beautiful and can cost a lot of money.
Koi fish can’t handle water that’s too acidic. The measure of acidity, called pH, needs to be between 7.0 and 9.0 for koi to be happy.
To make sure they stay cool all year round, they should live in ponds that maintain a cool temperature.
Koi are known for eating pretty much anything, including plants.
The picture of the Angelfish looks like a saltwater angel.
Ah! Sorry about that. It was an oversight. It’s fixed now.