Over 12.5 million households preserve freshwater fish within the US, they account for the biggest proportion of pets owned throughout America, and it’s no shock that they’re the best choice of pet.
Many of the species that we’ll take a look at listed here are simple to take care of, they bring about magnificence and coloration to your properties and they’re very stress-free to observe.
Conserving freshwater fish additionally has many well being advantages equivalent to lowering stress and reducing your blood strain and coronary heart price.
With all that mentioned, most individuals who begin off within the fishkeeping interest, get hooked in a short time primarily as a result of fish are so stunning to observe and lots of have traits and personalities all of their own.
On this article, we’re going to check out the preferred species out there within the freshwater aquarium business right now.
1. Neon Tetra
Swarm of Neon TetrasNeon Tetras are a small, simple to take care of species. This fashionable aquarium species is usually one of many first fish a newbie aquarist will purchase.
They attain round 2.2cm in size, and prefer to be stored in teams. They’re an important selection for small neighborhood aquariums attributable to their peaceable temperament.
Neon Tetras are available in vivid colours, and have an iridescent blue horizontal strip throughout their physique (so they’re seen in darkish waters).
They require mushy, acidic water with tropical temperatures, and can settle for most meals. They’re omnivores, so will feed on brine, shrimp, worms and bugs in addition to crops.
Do you know: Over 1.5 million Neon Tetras are imported to the US, every month!
2. Guppies
This colourful and vigorous fish is ready to adapt to quite a lot of water conditions which is among the causes they’re so fashionable. They’re additionally very simple to take care of. It’s best to preserve guppies in units of threes, and a great information for the tank dimension, is 1 gallon of water per guppy.
Males are far more colourful and vibrant than females, so in case you’re not trying to breed, it’s possible you’ll wish to simply preserve males.
The perfect water temperature for guppies is 50OF – 84 OF (10-29OC), however a very powerful issue is that the temperature is stored constant.
Guppies must be fed a combination of plant and animal based mostly meals, you would possibly even contemplate making your personal – it’s simpler than it sounds.
3. Oscar
Oscars are considered one of the vital clever aquarium fish out there, and are one of many few species that may be skilled to do tips.
Oscars nonetheless should not a neighborhood fish, they need to be stored in a species solely tank, and so they can develop very massive, in a short time.
They require much more upkeep than different fish, attributable to their carnivorous nature and the quantity of waste they create.
On the optimistic aspect, they’re one of many few species you possibly can hand feed; they may usually eat meals from between your fingers. Oscars thrive when stored in pairs, or group of 5+, and must be housed collectively from a younger age.
4. Mollies
This small, peaceable species develop to round 3-4 inches, and adapt nicely to quite a lot of water circumstances.
The perfect tank circumstances are: a minimal tank dimension of 20 gallons, and heat water with a pH between 7.0-7.8.
Mollies are omnivorous, and would require a weight loss program of each plant and animal meals.
Apparently, they’re livebearers, which means they provide start to their younger stay, slightly than lay eggs. Mollies are very simple to take care of, however in addition they breed very simply, so in case you’re a newbie you would possibly wish to preserve only a single intercourse.
5. Zebra Danios
The Zebra Danios make the right newbie fish, they’re very simple to take care of and may develop as much as 5-7cm.
They need to be stored in not less than a ten gallon tank, in teams of not less than 5. Danios are a schooling fish and can turn out to be confused if their numbers are too lows.
They don’t seem to be fussy eaters and can eat most meals; the healthiest choice for them could be a lot of worms, insets and crustaceans to imitate their pure weight loss program, nonetheless a great high quality flake may even work with a complement of frozen or stay meals.
Danios are additionally identified to leap so it’s possible you’ll wish to preserve your tank lined!
6. Platies
Sunburst PlatyPlaties are available in virtually each coloration conceivable and they’re very simple to take care of – simply two of the the reason why they’re so fashionable.
They’re an important neighborhood fish, they’re very peaceable and get alongside nicely with guppies and mollies.
Though small, platies are very lively and love being in teams. A ten gallon tank is massive sufficient for five fish.
While they’re omnivorous, they do require far more herbivorous meals, than meats. Ideally, they want a great mixture of plant based mostly meals and proteins.
7. Cherry Barb
The Cherry Barb will get its identify from the colour the male turns when it’s spawning. Often, they’re silver/black with a golden lateral line.
They’re a peaceable fish which can develop to round 2 inches in size, and so they require a minimal tank dimension of 25 gallons. Cherry Barbs are omnivorous and can eat most sorts of meals together with stay, recent, frozen and flake meals.
They’re simple to take care of and will be stored in neighborhood tanks with open house to swim, but additionally planted areas the place they’ll conceal.
8. Pearl Gourami
The Pearl Gourami is a comparatively massive, however peaceable fish and one of the vital simple to maintain Gouramis.
The minimal tank dimension for this species is a 30 gallon tank with loads of hiding locations, darkish substrate and low lighting.
They are often housed with different fish of an identical dimension and temperament; nonetheless you shouldn’t home them with aggressive fish.
Pearl Gourami’s are omnivorous and must be fed algae-based meals and meaty meals.
They’re well-known for consuming Hydra, a tiny pest that has tentacles with venom, so make an important resolution if in case you have a hydra downside.
9. Swordtails
The swordtail is analogous in form to platy and guppy fish, with a barely bulkier physique, and a sword formed extension of its fin.
There are lots of totally different coloration variations out there and they’re fairly hardy which makes them an ideal species for the newbie aquarist.
Swordtails are normally peaceable, but vigorous. They thrive in neighborhood tanks, and prefer to swim in loosely grouped colleges.
They breed simply, and in case you do resolve to breed them, it’s best to preserve them away from their dad and mom; Swordtail dad and mom will usually eat their fry.
10. Discus
These stunning and sleek fish can develop to be fairly massive, and subsequently require a bigger tank, a minimal dimension of 25 gallons.
Discus should not really helpful for newcomers, and as a substitute ought to solely be stored by skilled aquarists.
They are often housed with different fish that require the identical water circumstances, so long as they don’t seem to be aggressive.
Discus will take quite a lot of meals however are carnivorous in nature. The very best weight loss program for them consists of beef coronary heart and blood worms supplemented with flakes to supply nutritional vitamins and minerals.
11. Killifish
The Blue Lyretail KillifishKillifish are available in all kinds of vivid colours. They’re extraordinarily hardy fish, and there are over 700 species – a breed to go well with virtually each tank situation.
They’re usually peaceable fish and do nicely in neighborhood tanks with different small, non-aggressive fish. It’s greatest to maintain only one male to every tank although, as a result of they are often aggressive in the direction of one another.
Killifish are very simple to breed, and are both annual or non-annual breeders. Within the wild, annual killifish lay their eggs in non permanent our bodies of water which dry up for months at a time. Once they refill, the fry hatch.
Most Killifish are carnivores and subsequently get pleasure from a weight loss program of insect larvae, worms and crustaceans.
12. Bettas
One other extraordinarily fashionable freshwater fish is the Betta. It’s not stunning why; Bettas are vibrantly coloured, and simple to take care of.
Male Bettas are notoriously aggressive in the direction of different males. Due to this fact just one male Betta must be stored in every aquarium. They are often housed with different peaceable fish.
Bettas require an omnivorous weight loss program, of each plant and animal meals.
They develop to a most dimension of three inches. Though you usually see Bettas in small decorative tanks, they need to be housed in bigger tanks.
Do you know: Bettas are capable of breathe air outdoors of the water attributable to their labyrinth.
13. Plecostomus
Sailfin PlecoPlecs are a breed of catfish, they’ve heavy armored plates on their our bodies, and sucker-shaped mouths to feed on the algae in your tank.
While some species are completely happy consuming algae, wafers and flakes, others will want meaty meals equivalent to frozen brine shrimp.
Breeding Plecs is extraordinarily tough and solely a small variety of aquarists have managed to breed them.
Plecos can stay for 20 years, typically longer if cared for appropriately. It’s additionally price figuring out that they’ll bounce too – so preserve a lid in your tank.
They are often housed with many various species, however keep away from maintaining them with fats/flat bodied fish equivalent to goldfish as they could suck on them.
14. Rainbowfish
Boeseman’s RainbowfishRainbowfish originate from Australia and Southeast Asia. They’re a peaceable education fish that may develop as much as 6 inches lengthy.
That is maybe one of many least frequent fish that we’re that includes right here, maybe as a result of its colours solely start to indicate as they enter maturity…
Nonetheless, if given the correct care, in simply a few years they’ll show beautiful and vibrant colours.
Rainbowfish get alongside nicely with different higher degree education fish equivalent to danios, bards and bigger tetras.
15. Corydoras Catfish
Also referred to as Cory Cats, these fish are a staple in most freshwater tanks. They’re simple to take care of, calm and peaceable but lively backside dwellers.
They’re very social, and while you possibly can preserve them individually, they thrive if stored in a bunch of two or extra.
They take to each other with most neighborhood tank fish so long as they don’t seem to be aggressive.
Corydoras develop as much as 2.5 inches in size, and are wonderful tank cleaners. They’ll decide up left over meals from the gravel but additionally require different meals equivalent to flakes and backside feeder tablets.
16. Goldfish
When most individuals consider Goldfish, they consider small fish bowls with a fish that was gained on the honest. This isn’t the right strategy to home goldfish.
Few folks know that they’ll really develop as much as 14 inches within the wild.
The minimal tank dimension for a goldfish is 20 gallons, you’ll additionally want a filter and to carry out 10-15% weekly water modifications.
There are lots of totally different styles of goldfish, and its high-quality to combine them so long as they aren’t breeds that will compete with one another for meals. For instance, preserve single tailed varieties collectively and regular eyed goldfish collectively.
17. Angelfish
Angelfish are a member of the Cichlid family, which additionally consists of Discus, Oscars and Parrot fish, all frequent fish amongst aquarium keepers.
They’ll develop as much as 6 inches in size, 8 inches tall, and are available in quite a lot of colours and patterns.
They’re omnivorous, so will want a balanced weight loss program of meat and plant meals. There are lots of totally different types of angelfish.
Their tank must be not less than 20 gallons, and the water must be barely mushy and acidic.
As they mature, they’ll turn out to be aggressive, particularly in case your tank in overcrowded. Generally although, they’re a great neighborhood fish, simply don’t preserve them with very small fish or fin-nipping species.
Abstract
Freshwater fish are available in an enormous number of shapes, colours and sizes. The preferred fish are normally vivid, colourful and simple to take care of.
If you happen to’re new to fishkeeping, I like to recommend beginning slowing and including only a few fish at anyone time. This gives you likelihood to get to know and perceive the way to take care of every species of fish earlier than you add one other.
Ensure you at all times analysis the species you wish to purchase to make sure you may give them the time and care that they require. This text ought to solely serve for instance of the favored sorts of freshwater fish, slightly than a information on the way to take care of each. For guides go to our breed care guides right here.
Do you already preserve fish, or are you simply beginning out? Which one would you say is the preferred species?
