A lot of people think that it takes a special marine (saltwater) or reef aquarium to be able to house a community of fish that will take your breath away.
This is most certainly not the case!
Sure, there is a wealth of color in the oceanic environment, and we certainly can’t knock coral reefs for their outstanding reputation for being the ultimate habitat for bright and colorful specimens of the aquatic variety.
But you would be wrong to assume that this means freshwater fish are the poor relations when it comes to keeping fish as a hobby.
Many folks fail to realize that there is a whole tropical world of freshwater fish out there where a lot of color play and display is evident for the freshwater brethren. You might be forgiven for assuming that a lot of these species were ocean-going creatures that would look right at home on a reef.
This article will take a look at the most popular freshwater fish in the hobby. Whether it’s for their good looks, best behaviors, personalities, or their sheer size and gravitas, this is the shortlist for what to look out for if you’re going to have a freshwater tank.
Think of this list as the bottom line for what makes a great freshwater tank setup and the species you should ignore at your peril. There is never a dull moment in the world of freshwater fishkeeping!
You should also use this list if you have developed hobbyist ‘ennui’ (that’s boredom for those of you who don’t speak French). It’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut and not switch up the species you are catering to, Sometimes a fresh new face that you haven’t experienced before is all it takes to get you back into first gear and rev up the passion.
1. Guppies
With a bewildering array of color combinations and flowing caudal fin shapes, Guppies rank high on the must-have list for freshwater hobbyists. They are so adaptable and easy to care for; they are surely one of the most kept species out there for that reason.
They also breed easily and are livebearers, so they not only make it easy to care for them due to their hardiness and wide range of parameters for water conditions, but they breed without any encouragement from their keepers. Livebearers are one of the great things a keeper can witness in their community, and freshwater hobbyists are lucky to have quite a few in this category of fish at their disposal.
2. Neon Tetras
The little electric stunners of the hobby should not be missed! If you’ve ever wanted to witness schooling action in your home tank, these are the guys to do it for you with gusto.
Energetic and lively, with a rather long lifespan for such a small fish, Neon Tetras are a bunch of groupies you should definitely include in your setup at one time or another. A peaceful fish that will work well with other smaller freshwater species that will be mentioned in this list, including Guppies, Platies, and Mollies.
3. Mollies
Another livebearer, Molly Fish: The Complete Care And Breeding GuideMollies, have fantastic rounded-shaped flowing caudal fins and are very easy to care for. They’re another case of small freshwater fish that breed like crazy (yes, Guppies and Tetras, we’re looking at you).
Slightly larger than the aforementioned, Mollies can get a little larger at up to 4 inches for females, but they too are adaptable and easy to care for. Another great starter fish!
4. Discus
A single Discus fish will set you back about 25 gallons of space, but they are gorgeous creatures that are worth investigating if you want something graceful and on the larger side in your setup. They have a large, flat body shape, as the name implies, and make a real impact in a tank.
They aren’t aggressive, but they are not for novices, so you should be sure to have experience before taking one of these guys on. They enjoy a diet of protein only and prefer live or frozen foods as opposed to flakes and pellets, so they can be more challenging to feed adequately.
5. Killifish
With over 700 types of Killifish out there, there is surely something for everyone. Colorful and hardy little fish, Killifish are peaceful and come in a wide range of shades.
They have an amazing ability for their eggs to survive complete desiccation of the water body they were laid in, but as long as there is some residual moisture, they will hatch once water returns to their habitat, like after a monsoon.
If you’re keen on having Killifish, there is a type to suit whatever tank conditions you already have for your existing community. With a little homework and the right sourcing from suppliers, you should be able to find one that fits in.
6. Bettas
The first, but certainly not last, fish in our list that possesses a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe air Bettas are colorful and yet another fish that is easy to handle.
They are among the most gorgeous freshwater fish out there, not least for their elaborate and frilled fins that envelop the full perimeter of the body bar, the top section before the dorsal fin, and under the chin before the pectoral fins emerge.
While males can be really aggressive with one another, you can keep them with other friendly fish and just keep a single male with females for an easy life. Around 3 inches in length, they are small to moderately sized fish that owes their popularity to their beautiful good looks.
7. Rainbowfish
If you’re looking for a project fish that will show off your own keeping skills, look no further than a Rainbowfish.
They may not look like much as juveniles. But when immaculately kept, they will reward you with outstanding coloring as adults. At 6 inches long at maturity, Rainbowfish are peaceful and will look outstanding if you have kept them well. They truly are a barometer of how well their setup has been maintained, how well they have been fed, and how great their water conditions have been.
If you want bragging rights, the Rainbowfish is an announcement to the world about how good you are as a hobbyist. They only look good if you keep them immaculately.
8. Angelfish
The glory of owning an Angelfish is second to none. It’s our first Cichlid on the list here, and with good reason. They are one of the most recognizable fish on the planet, and they are graceful, beautiful creatures that are relaxing to watch.
They can squabble amongst themselves if they don’t have enough space, so you need to ensure they have plenty of turf to call their own.
At up to 6 inches long and 8 inches tall, they need room to move and openly swim. Long flowing fins are their trademark, so you need to avoid fin-nipping species if you want an easy life.
There are many different varieties of Angelfish, so you should be able to find something that suits you if you do your research.
9. Corydoras Catfish
If you need a tank cleaner or something for the bottom layer of your tank, you can’t really go wrong with taking on a Corydoras Catfish.
Small in size at only 2.5 inches in length, these guys will thoroughly clean your tank while being dynamic and interesting to watch. They get along really well with others too and enjoy being in a group of 2 – 3 more of their own.
Supplementation of other foods along with the naturally occurring algae is ideal for the fish with the trademark barbels on their mouths.
10. Plecostomus (Plecos)
The second type of catfish on our list is the Pleco or suckerfish. These will also clean your tank as well as eat flaked algae and other sources of protein.
They have plates on their bodies and can live for up to 20 years, so buy one if you know you’re into the hobby for the long haul!
They can occasionally be naughty and latch onto other flatter fish like Discus and Angelfish and suck on their slime layers, but for the most part, they are peaceful and don’t get into too much trouble.
11. Zebra Danios
Zebra Danios are silvery fish with black striping that, you guessed it, make them resemble the pattern of zebra striping.
Small fish that are easy to care for and peaceful are hardy, create a lot of activity in the tank, and have no special diet requirements that will make them tricky to keep.
They’re a great starter fish and are easily kept with other like-sized fish who can handle similar parameters.
12. Kuhli Loaches
Loaches are fascinating fish in general, but by far, one of the most interesting is the Kuhli loach. Loaches are bottom feeders, so they are great to add interest to this lower stratum of your tank if you find Corys or Plecos a bit on the bland side.
It looks pretty amazing as it’s shaped like an eel and is sure to elicit a lot of interest from visitors to your home. They do like a group to be happy, though, so a minimum of three is best. Their non-aggressive nature, despite their snake-like appearance, makes them both interesting and adaptable to an existing community.
They have a black base color and then vibrant orange vertical striping that blocks them into sections. A fascinating species to keep!
13. Gourami Fish
There are a lot of Gourami out there, but there is a fair amount of variety in size. If you have less space on offer, choose a Dwarf Gourami. If you have a supersized tank, you can take on some of the larger types that can grow up to 10 inches in length.
These fish enjoy a lot of vegetation to satisfy their habitat needs, so ensure you have a heavily planted setup. There is a beautiful array of colors available with this type of fish, and the Sparkling Gourami is a particularly beautiful variety.
Males should not be kept together in a single tank. It’s strictly a one-man show if you decide to keep Gourami but have multiple females to distribute the harassment!
14. Swordtails
This is another large fish family with a wide range of colors within the group to choose from.
These guys stand out for their asymmetrical caudal fin, which looks like a normal rounded fin on the top three quarters, but at the very bottom stretches out like a long sharp sword point.
These are very active fish that like a lot of room for open swimming, but beware if you buy any. These fish are excellent jumpers and will need a lid to keep them from escaping the tank!
15. Dwarf Puffer Fish
If you ever wanted a puppy that could swim and live in your tank, this is the fish for you. These fish don’t normally like to get along with others, and they are an amazing species to have in a single species tank if this is something you would like to aim for.
Personality comes by the bucketload with these fish. They can recognize their owners over time and are quite engaged with what is happening outside the tank glass too.
They only reach around 2.5 cm in length, so you can have a decent-sized group of these fish in even smaller tanks. They like to school, so you should always aim for a minimum of 5 or 6 of these guys if you decide to take on the dog of the fish world.
Other Awesome Freshwater Species
If we had more time, we would add in the following species as also-rans to this list because there are just so many great freshwater species to care for in this hobby:
- Bristlenose Plecos
- Oscar Fish
- Goldfish
- Clown Loaches
- Ram Cichlids
- Otocinclus
- Rasboras
We could go all day!
One thing is certain. You won’t run out of new species to try caring for just because you have a freshwater tank.
Freshwater fish have an arsenal of colors, varieties, and personalities that will mean you never tire of the hobby.
Who needs a marine coral reef?
