8 Beautiful Freshwater Fishes- Looking for a tiny addition to your new or current freshwater aquarium? We offer the greatest tiny aquarium fish species for your tank. The majority of these fish grow to be less than 3 inches long, although many of them thrive in small schools of three to five individuals.
Before introducing new fish species, conduct extensive study to ensure that the new fish species’ environmental characteristics meet the current conditions in your aquarium and that all of the fish are compatible. All new fish should be isolated in a separate tank with separate equipment for four to six weeks to prevent disease transmission.
8 Beautiful Freshwater Fishes
There are a few lists you should review before beginning your new aquarium pastime. You should begin with a few starter fishes, checking compatibility, hardiness, maintenance (whether they are easy to care for), if they will fit in your tank, and their personality, i.e., whether they will be quiet and get along with other fishes. Selecting the first fish for an aquarium might be a difficult undertaking.
There are so many great fish to choose from that it can be difficult to select the correct ones. All too frequently, a new fish hobbyist will choose a fish with specialised care needs that they are unable to meet, or they will choose fish that grow too large for their tank. Another difficulty that may occur is selecting fish that are ill or not socially compatible with the other fish that they desire.
Mickey Mouse Platy
Platys are colourful fish that are ideal for beginners. Hobbyists often begin with a small number of livebearing fish, but this can quickly grow to a large number. The Mickey Mouse platy is named from a distinct colour pattern on the tail peduncle. The minimum tank size for this species is ten gallons.
Other platys include red wagtail, wagtail, and others.
Species Overviews
- Common Names:Golden moon platy, Mickey Mouse platy, moonfish
- Scientific Name:Xiphophorus maculatus
- Adult Size:1 1/2 to 2 inches (3 1/2 to 5 centimeters)
- Life Span: 5 years
Guppy
Guppies are a staple of the small fish tank hobby. Guppy tanks, another livebearing species, are typically overrun with young as a result of frequent breeding. The most important skill every guppy owner can learn is how to distinguish between males and females in order to keep populations from exploding. Male fish are smaller and more colourful, but larger females may have a colourful tail fin but a plain body with a large white belly.
The more guppies you have, the larger your tank should be. For example, if you have a 30-gallon tank, you can retain approximately 15 guppies, whereas a 10-gallon tank can only hold about five.
Species Overviews
- Common Name: Guppy
- Scientific Name:Poecilia reticulata
- Adult Size:2 inches (5 centimeters)
- Life Span:3 to 5 years
Zebra Danio (Zebrafish)
These little, striped fish are among the few aquarium species that do not require warm tropical conditions. Zebrafish are friendly community members who enjoy schooling in groups of five or more fish. Danios come in many colours and markings. Zebra danio comes in a long fin variant, as well as glow colours created by inserting fluorescent genes into the fish. You’ll need at least a 10-gallon tank for them.
Species Overviews
- Common Names: Striped danio, zebra danio, zebrafish
- Scientific Name:Danio rerio
- Adult Size:2 inches (5 centimeters)
- Life Span:5 years
Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are one of the most prevalent little freshwater aquarium species. These fish are recognised for their vibrant red and blue stripes. They are excellent communal fish, schooling together in a bright wave.
The cardinal tetra is a fairly similar species. They differ from the typical neon tetra by having a longer red belly band that runs all the way to the head. The black neon tetra resembles the red and blue neon tetra but has black and gold bars instead. Depending on the type of tetra you obtain, a 10- or 20-gallon tank is required at minimum.
Species Overviews
- Common Names: Neon tetra, neon fish
- Scientific Name:Paracheirodon innesi
- Adult Size:1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters)
- Life Span:5 years
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
The white cloud mountain minnow is another type of small community fish that does not require warm tropical temperatures. These fish thrive in temperate aquariums with zebrafish and goldfish, providing they are not snack size. These fish are widely used in aquascape settings, in which the emphasis is on the plants rather than the fish, and only one type of fish is introduced into the aquarium. The minimum tank size for these fish is ten gallons.
Species Overviews
- Common Names: Canton danio, Chinese danio, white cloud, white cloud mountain fish, white cloud mountain minnow
- Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
- Adult Size:1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters)
- Life Span:3 to 5 years
Harlequin Rasbora
The harlequin rasbora is a small, schooling fish with a vivid ruby coloration and a black marking on the back half of the body, giving it a two-toned “harlequin” look. These tranquil fish give a vibrant splash of colour to planted or aquascaped aquariums. Rasbora species, like as the scissortail, can thrive in community aquariums due to their small size. A 20-gallon tank can contain up to ten harlequin rasboras.
Species Overviews
- Common Name: Harlequin rasbora, red rasbora
- Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
- Adult Size:1 3/4 inches (4 1/2 centimeters)
- Life Span:6 years
Serpae Tetra
The serpae tetra is a tiny fish with a strong personality. These brilliant red schooling fish with black patches on their bodies and fins add colour to natural aquascapes with abundant aquatic vegetation. These fish are quite energetic and have a propensity of biting the fins of their pals and tankmates. There is a longfin variation of this fish species that is occasionally accessible at fish stores. These fish need a minimum tank size of 20 gallons.
Species Overviews
- Common Names: Blood characin, callistus tetra, jewel tetra, red minor tetra, red serpae, serpae tetra
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon eques
- Adult Size:1 3/4 inches (4 1/2 centimeters)
- Life Span:5 years
Panda Corydoras
The panda corydoras is a popular corydoras species found in the pet trade. These catfish have a white or translucent body with contrasting black dots on the head and tail base, giving them a panda-like appearance. The minimum tank size for these fish is ten gallons.
Corydoras catfish have similar peaceful temperaments across different species. The fundamental distinction between these species is their coloration and patterns. Corydoras are all little, tranquil fish that live on the bottom and are active at night.
Species Overviews
- Common Names: Panda catfish, panda cory, panda corydoras
- Scientific Name: Corydoras panda
- Adult Size:2 inches (5 centimeters)
- Life Span:10 years
Conclusion
Looking for a small addition to your freshwater aquarium? Consider tiny fish species, most of which grow to under 3 inches and thrive in schools of three to five. Ensure that their environmental needs match your tank’s conditions, and quarantine new fish for 4-6 weeks to prevent disease transmission.
8 Beautiful Freshwater Fishes FAQ’S
What is the most beautiful freshwater fish?
Discus are among the most beautiful freshwater fish in the aquarium trade, earning the nickname “the king of the aquarium.” They appear in many different colours, including dazzling turquoise, pigeon blood, albino yellow, and wild variants.
How long can tropical fish survive in cold water?
Tropical fish may survive at temperatures as low as 15°C, which can occur when an aquarium heater fails or is left off accidently overnight.
How big is the biggest freshwater fish?
The beluga sturgeon in Russia is the world’s largest freshwater fish. White sturgeons are the largest freshwater fish in North America. White sturgeon can grow up to 15-20 feet long and weigh over a tonne.
Is freshwater fish better?
Freshwater fish are a healthful option for lunch or dinner due to their low fat and high protein content, albeit lacking in omega-3 fatty acids.