We have compiled a list of 20 Most Popular Freshwater Aquarium Fish that will enable you to pick a perfect fish for your aquarium.
Introduction to Most popular freshwater aquarium fish:
You’re going to be excited to jam your new aquarium with fish. As a beginner, you should inspect the fish that will be supreme for the surrounding temperature of the aquarium. Picking up your own fish can perceive as exciting as well as annoying with numerous varieties. It is difficult to cope with the stress of a thriving home aquarium. This improves sleep quality.
This article will help you find the fish to build a friendly aquarium for your living space. If you are a beginner, you’ll surely be going to enjoy this article.
Freshwater fishes are extremely popular among aquarists because their allurement helps magnify the living space and the aquarium environment. There is a dazzling selection of colorful and unique species of freshwater fish that gives your aquarium life.
Here is the list of the top 20 freshwater fish. Pick any of the below, and they’re all excellent choices for a beginner hobbyist.
1. Betta Fish
Betta Fish of size up to 3 inches known as the queen of the aquarium. Native to Southeast Asia, Betta is a marvelous creature with devastating and mesmerizing colors. Their temperature level is semi-aggressive that makes it easy to keep them. When placed into the home aquarium, lifespan is up to 3 years and can be extended in some cases. Compared with male Bettas, female Bettas are far better and peaceful, can be kept in one tank. Bettas love to eat live and flake foods and require an enormous amount of proteins.
Most aquarists prefer this fish for beginners. Bettas are from extreme areas, belongs to the Gourami family. They can keep body and soul together in temperature differences because of their stiffness. They used to be bred for fighting, well known as Siamese fighting fish.
2. Platy
A small peaceful yet active freshwater fish is mostly found aggressive in groups since it is not a habitual schooling fish. Platies love breeding. It belongs to the Poecilia family, which comes in mesmerizing vibrant colors. They carry eggs inside the body and prepare fully adapted teens to swim like them. Females are spotted larger than males.
Platies are omnivorous, but they require a herbal diet, a preferable protein mix, and a plant-based diet. They can populate with snails. That’s why it is the best choice for fish hobbyists.
3. Neon Tetra
The most popular freshwater aquarium fish of the characin family is called the gem of the fishing hobby. One of the most beautiful freshwater aquarium fish with its vivid and dazzling color and bright red tail, which makes it visible in the dark. They can have a lifespan of normally two to three years in an aquarium. Neon Tetra likes flake food, frozen food including worms, and also freeze-dried blood worms, which are not recommended for aquarium because of them stuck.
Neon Tetra activates and lengthen in the morning and grows 4cm. These are now accessible in a long-fin variety. Neon Tetra is found more active in groups of normally 8-12 or more. Neon Tetra ingests very little food that mitigates the aquarists to keep it as a pet.
4. Guppy
The Guppy, also known as rainbow fish, is one of the most widely distributed tropical fish globally, highly adaptable, and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions. Calling it the most well-liked and popular species of freshwater aquarium fish is not imprecise.
They go for hard-water aquariums with a temperature between 25.5 and 27.8 °C, which requires warm water. Guppies are schooling fish. Its most famous characteristic is its propensity for breeding, and it can breed in both freshwater and marine aquaria. Well-equipped tanks that obstruct adult guppies shelter newborns very well. Guppy is perfect for beginners who are looking for a friendly fish.
When it comes to their food, they like to eat mosquito larvae. While in captivity, they can eat any random fish meal or pellets. Guppies are not bouncers, so a simple diet goes well with them.
5. Goldfish ( The Peaceful Fish)
There is a common type of Goldfish that everyone knows, commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular freshwater fish. Goldfish were first introduced to North America around 1850 for some traditional purposes and soon became popular in the United States. Golden-orange and golden-yellow are the two most common colors seen in goldfish.
This fish can easily withstand changes in water conditions and survive the day without being fed, also considered feeder fish. A goldfish rarely harms another goldfish. The only danger faced is the competition for food. We can call goldfish a dirt species, as they produce a lot of waste.
When placed in small indoor aquariums, goldfish live about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. Goldfish can be large if they move into large fish tanks, but they usually do not grow more than 6 inches (15 cm).
6. Longfin Zebra Danio
The Zebra Longfin Deneuve is another freshwater fish, a long art created by selective breeding. The Zebra Longfin Danio shares the same features as the popular Zebra Danio but is enhanced with long, beautiful wings. They are active, fast, and hard to catch in a net. This type of Danio has either silver or gold with five uniform blue or purple stripes extended from the gill to the end of the tail.
This type is always in a constant motion of swimming. They never hurt the other fish. They are mostly found on the upper level of the aquarium.
In the home aquarium, this member of the Cyprian family prefers well-established aquariums with large and open areas. They are easy to recognize because of their zebra pattern stripes. You have to keep a small Zebra Longfin Dino for the best and friendly aquarium to make the environment peaceful. A freshwater fish, Longfin Zebra Danio, is omnivores, so it demands frozen food and flake.
7. Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) is a species of sea fish that lives in freshwater. This freshwater fish has strong facial features and has an aggressive nature as its name is linked with popular boxer Jack Dempsey. It is established as an introduced species in the US.
Jack Dempsey is a carnivore that eats worms, insects, and other fish. Jack Dempseys are known as attentive parents. However, it is common for them to eat their fry when they are overly anxious or when something goes wrong in their environment. The color changes as the fish turn from light grey or tan to faint turquoise to grey.
Their colors change under stress. This is a famous aquarium fish because of its appearance and manners. It is allowed to be established easily in the aquarium because it can get along in a well-populated tank. This fish is shy and aggressive to its mates at the same time that swims around its home.
8. Discus Fish
Symphysodon aequifasciatus, known as Discus, highly famous freshwater fish for its exclusive shape and evocative colors and patterns. Pompadour fish is their other identity. The sides of the fish are often tessellated in green, red, brown, and blue. Some more clearly marked variants are the result of aquaculture-selected breeding and do not exist in the wild. A considerable amount of plant material and detritus, worms, and small crustaceans are accepted readily.
It can grow up to 8-10 inches and live up to more than 10 years. They are considered difficult to keep for beginners due to a lack of high-quality water. Discuss fish needs to be kept in groups. They are marvelous in communicating their moods and can smoothly perceive your movements. In-home aquariums can eat anything according to their mouth size.
9. Cherry barb
Cherry barb is one of the most popular freshwater fish for its entertaining nature. They become more agile once they are settled. The cherry barb is a tropical freshwater fish that belongs to the Cyprinidae family, can grow up to 5 cm (2 inches) in length. The substance is green with a light glossy color on
the top. Its sides and belly are glistening with silver. The female is fawn-colored on top with a slight greenish sheen. Its sides and belly have gleaming silver highlights. Male cherry barb has a reddish color with a combination of brown. They can be found in the middle of the tank. They are omnivores with an average lifespan of 4 years. It is a schooling fish mostly kept in community tanks. It is mandatory to give them space for swimming.
10. White Cloud Mountain Minnow
The fish is a member of the carp family, bred in farms, and are readily available through the aquarium trade. White Cloud Minnow is examined good for beginners, as they are extremely forgiving in aquarium temperature and water quality. White cloud minnow eats Standard flake or pellet food. Male species are more vibrant, fascinating, and charming when compared to females.
This delicate and small fish of size 2.5-3 cm is not aggressive. They are made for cold water and need an appropriate temperature to endure. The better the care, the longer she will survive. These calm creatures demand pleasant company.
11. Corydoras Catfish
The corydoras catfish is a freshwater fish, likes to float in fast-flowing water. Small and pleasant fish, found increasingly active in the daytime, are effective feeders at the bottom, preventing debris from reaching the aquarium floor. They will eat anything that ends up on the floor of the tank. With the size of 1.5-2 inches, they have a lifespan of commonly 1-3 years.
Corydoras Catfish, with its serene nature, can effortlessly attract you with knotty patterns and colorful hues. The most reliable fish can survive in excessive temperature changes. Even a low amount of oxygen does not affect its survival. They get along well with guppies and neon tetras. You can feed Cory Catfish with shrimps, fish flakes, and pellets.
12. Angelfish
Angelfish is a freshwater aquarium fish native to Central America, praised for its uniqueness in color and shape. This fish is carnivores that love to eat flake and live food and are not arduous to feed. They grow up to 6 inches. They call for proper care to grow immensely fast. The fish tolerates only Clearwater to reach the size of 10 inches.
This fish gets along well with the rest of the community fish. They are distinct due to their long sophisticated fins and rounded bodies. The naturally occurring angel often has a transient stripe, a color that provides extra radiance. Always keep a munificent portion of food to keep the fish away from starvation.
13. Oscar Fish
Commonly known as Tiger Oscar, tropical freshwater aquarium fish with an enormous length of 35cm requires 30 gallons’ tank in the home aquarium. Their food is undemanding that mainly contains live food. Sometimes small peers fall prey to them. They prefer rock-side tanks. It can live up to 10 years with its aggressive nature. Warm temperature is their weakness.
Their beauty is out of this world when it comes to appearance. Its magnificent and astonishing features can catch fish hobbyist’s attention. Full pigmented skin with spots on the head is on everybody’s aquarium fish list. To keep their coloration, they necessitate live food with blood worms and shrimps.
14. Swordtails
With a variety of colorations, Swordtails are peaceful in nature. With a length of 4-5 inches, they can last for 3 years. Swordtail fish diets should be varied, including artificial, live, or frozen food, but should include fish meal flakes with vegetable supplements such as vegetarian food.
They are fairly easygoing when it comes to care and food. They liked swimming in loosely grouped schools. These beauties can surely cheer anyone up. Growing up in community tanks helps them breed readily.
15. Mollies
The most popular fish among fish hobbyists is Molly because of its amusing nature. Molly is a tiny and delicate creature that can last in both freshwater and saltwater for 1-2 years. Mollies are wonderful algae eaters that demand a tank with live plants. Change in the environment does not affect its endurance. Molly is observed as the finest companion to live with except the aggressive ones.
16. Killifish
Killifish is one of the most assorted freshwater aquarium fish that have vigorous colors and phenomenal patterns. It has its diverse splendid types. Vividly colored carnivores by nature have a lifespan of 3 months to five years, grow up to 5 inches in length, can be moderate willingly. Killifish is one of those fish whose size varies from species to species. For calm behavior, killifish prefer good community fish like tetras.
They are not an ordinary swimmer; their pike-shaped body makes them great swimmers. That’s why they favor a dark water environment. They are beneficial in an aquarium to control algae. Male killifish are more aggressive and vibrant than female killifish.
For beginners, it is the best option for the pet for small aquariums. Killifish isn’t a choosy eater. Most of their diet consists of insects, crustaceans, insects, mosquito larvae, crab, and blood worms.
17. Rainbowfish
The rainbowfish is a family of exquisite and colorful freshwater fish native to northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea. Another fascinating freshwater fish for a small tank is a rainbowfish. Perfect for beginners and those who run away from jumble must have this fish. They are omnivorous in nature. Most of their diet made up of food that they can consume in 2 minutes. They bear a variety of tank conditions. They can rapidly amplify the charm of the aquarium with a lifespan of 1-3 years.
18. Harlequin Rasbora (freshwater Aquarium Fish)
This fish is famous among aquarists for its small size, calm nature, good disposition, and on top of that, it is not demanding. Colorful body with a dark black spot has a life span of 3-4 years which is enough for it to grow 2 inches in length. They prefer much space to swim in a spacious tank and are quite peaceful in nature. They are easy to take care of as their food is simple, like bloodworms, pellets, flakes, and brine shrimps.
This fish is smart and amusing. They can easily cheer up the whole aquarium. This fish loves to hide and seek if there are any live plants in the aquarium.
19. Bolivian ram
Bolivian Ram is another famous freshwater fish that are easy to maintain. These calm and peaceful fish love the planted community. They are more aggressive, but they only enjoy to frighten tank mates. Their lifespan is about 3 years. They are omnivorous in nature and easy to maintain because they can eat all types of frozen food (like blood worms and artificial food) and also live food.
After choosing the best freshwater fish, it is important to take freshwater aquatic life to keep them long. Choosing the right aquarium and then setting up the water conditions will surely help to keep the freshwater fish for a longer time.
20. Polka Dot Stingray
Xingu river ray called Polka dot stingray is dangerous species of freshwater. It is sometimes kept in an aquarium. This Xingu river ray is popular for its deadly-poisonous nature and fascinating white blotched appearance. It reaches up to 40 cm in total length. The female stingray is nimbler and grows larger than the male. Mostly found in the depth of rivers, but also kept in aquariums. Except for stingrays, this freshwater sting is akin to shark and sawfish. They have an ability to disguise. They are also kept as a pet to enhance the home aquarium.
We hope we have provided you with enough suffiecient information so that you can set up your small aquarium.
I hope you enjoyed our popular freshwater fish list for home aquarium. All of these fish are easily available.
