The 25 Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish for Beginners in 2023 (2023)

Keeping freshwater fish as pet is a very refreshing choice to decorate your home aquarium and also fill the void. They are not fastidious like dogs or cats, and there is no fear that they will fly away like birds. Pisces are very lovable and can easily be an important part of your life. However, keeping them happy and healthy requires a lot of information on various aspects of their livelihoods. This is akin to finding the best supplements such as:Keto Advanced 1500in terms of keeping our body healthy.

Related: Aquarium Decorating Ideas

Do you want to create a unique display on the outside of the tank? Show your fishing side and show your pride for fish with thecustom die-cut stickers. A good choice for people who want to place their own design on aquariums. The stickers can be personalized by adding them
Names, patterns and any text! The unique sticker shape freshwater aquarium fish will be sticked on you and your friend's tank stand, laptop, car and water bottle. Also practical for children who like to play with their water, the sticker is also the perfect tool for this
teach about different fish!

Above all, there are many aspects forany kind of freshwater fishsuch as tank size, water sources and quantity, water treatment, aquarium water pH, water filtration, water temperature, live plants, cleaning the tank frequently, internal environment of the tank as well as environment, proper food and feeding and tank mate.

If you're ready to love these loving pets, then it's your turn to choose from hundreds of freshwater aquarium fish species available on the market to add to your aquarium(for example to aversatile 20 gallon aquarium). As a beginner, you should look for the species that suits the ambient temperature of your location, is peaceful in nature, is undemanding, requires fewer water changes, and of course, is easy to care for.

Here is the list ofThe 25 best freshwater aquarium fishto help you.

1. Langflossen-Zebrabärbling (Danio Rerio)

This member ofCyprinidaeFamilylives up to 5 years and grows up to 3 inches in the home aquarium. Longfin Zebra Danio is available in blue, purple, white and yellow. Native to the Ganges region of eastern India, longfin zebra fish like a well-planted home aquarium with open, large swimming areas.

Longfin zebrafish typically have a peaceful temperament, making them a popular choice among aquarists. Therefore, it would be best for them to keep them in small schools with like-minded fish. Being omnivores by nature, they will eat just about anything from high-quality cereal to frozen foods and other diets.

Male longfin zebrafish generally come in more torpedo shapes than females, with a more massive belly.

2. Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata)

It is a large freshwater aquarium fish with striking appearance and attractive demeanor from the cichlid family. Jack Dempsey lifespan is 5-7 years and grows up to 8 inches tall. It is native to Guatemala and Honduras.

Jack Dempsey is an aggressive territorial fish with strong features compared to the famous 1920's boxer Jack Dempsey. It could prove destructive in the aquarium. It is therefore advisable to set up many hiding places, to have a clay pot or a cave-like structure ready or to use itTop reels for freshwater fishingput it on its side as it prefers and that also works well with this fish.

This hearty eater will normally accept flakes, plant foods, and a wide range of lifelike eating worms, insects, crustaceans, and other fish.

3. Neonsalmler (Paracheirodon innesi)

This small freshwater fish is known for its iridescent colors and energetic demeanor.Grüner Neonsalmleris considered the most popular fish among fish farmers. The neon tetra is easy to care for and is often recommended to aquarists as one of the first fish. Native to South America, the neon tetra belongs to the Characidae family.

This peaceful community fish is best kept in a small school of 3 to 6 members. Its size is approximately 1 to 1.5 inches and can live up to 10 years. This omnivore will accept most foods such as worms, shrimp, brine, insects and even plants.

4. Fighting Fish (Bettasplendens)

The majority of novice aquarists choose this viral, colorful freshwater fish for its ease of care and its aquarium does not even need filters or heaters. They are easy to care for and can be kept in small aquariums with other fish species without hesitation. Bettas belong to the Gourami family and are very territorial.

Betta normally live 2-3 years, but in some cases it can be longer. They grow to the max. 3 inches tall. It requires an omnivorous diet high in protein and fiber, consisting of artemia, dried bloodworms, or daphnia. Male Bettas are very notorious fighters; Therefore, only a single male Betta should be kept in each tank.

5. Discus fish(Symphysodon aequifasciatus)

It is a well-known, hardy and social fish of the Cichlidae family, often referred to as the king of freshwater aquariums. This graceful fish requires a minimum 25 gallon tank size. It can grow up to 8-10 inches and live up to 10 years or more.

The most exciting thing about Discus is that it interacts with you, showing its moods and personalities, and even watching your movements.

Some say Discus is not for novices, but once you have a thorough understanding of their behavior and habitat conditions, it's not an expensive endeavor. In aquariums, discus fish require a high-protein diet such as flake food, bloodworms, pellets, beef heart, and blackworms.

6. Panzerwelse (Corydoras)

Corydoras Catfish, popularly known as Cory Cats, is a hardy fish that is ideal for beginners. They have a variety of types and come in a variety of sizes and colors. This freshwater aquarium fish is a common feature in any community tank. Although Cory cats are active bottom dwellers, they are calm and peaceful species and are easy to take care of.

Their size ranges from 1 to 2.5 inches in length. The lifespan of this fish can be 5 years or more depending on the right conditions.

In terms of diet, you can feed armored catfish fish flakes and pellets. They have a habit of digging the bottom of the tank for scraps of food, but that's not enough for their diet. Normally, Cory cats do best in a school size of two or more, preferably with similar peers.

7. Oscar-Fisch (Astronotus ocellatus)

It is the inexpensive tropical aquarium fish from the cichlid family for domestic aquaristics. Measuring about 14 inches in length, this large fish requires a tank that is at least 30 gallons in size for better care. The uncomplicated Oscar care also requires clean water with a temperature between 74°C and 81°C to strengthen the immune system and prevent many diseases.

Native to South America, the Oscar fish is generally peaceful, retains personality, and is quick to recognize strangers. They live up to 10 years. While they like live food, they will eat flakes when young. Sometimes they will eat smaller sized tank mates as well. They prefer a tank with ledges, and live plants won't last long in their tank due to their burrowing habit.

8. Guppys (Poecilia reticulata)

Guppies are tropical aquarium fish that are most widespread around the world. It is one of the most well-known freshwater fish species for the aquarium as it is cute, active, easy to breed and not demanding on nutrition. These are from the Poeciliidae family. The lifespan of guppies averages around 2 years but can extend to 3 years in the right tank conditions.

The ideal water temperature for them is 50F – 84F (10-29C), but the temperature should be kept constant, which can be achieved through the use ofBest aquarium cooler. They have an elongated, flat-sided body ranging in length from 0.6 to 1.4 inches in males and 1.2 to 2.4 inches in females.

Guppies are easy to feed and will happily accept flakes, pellets and other artificial foods. These are peaceful and friendly to tankmates, but will eat their hatchlings.

9. Platy (Poecilia)

The small but lively Platies are very famous because they are easy to care for and come in every color imaginable. The Poecilia family has about 170 species of varied, colorful fish. They are very peaceful and great social companions, getting along well with swordtails, mollies and guppies. They carry eggs within their bodies and spawn similar, fully formed, ready-to-swim juveniles.

The size of the fish is 1.5 to 2.5 inches and females are usually larger than males. They live about 3-4 years. Platys are omnivores, but apart from meat they need plenty of herbivorous food and preferably a good mix of protein and a plant-based diet.

10. Swordtail (Xiphophorous hellerii)

Swordtails are very hardy fish in the Poeciliidae family, making them very famous fish in the aquarium and a perfect freshwater species for the novice aquarist. They have a slightly bulkier body resembling the shape of a platy or guppy, with a sword-shaped extension of the fin.

Swordtails come in different color variations. The size of the Swordtail can be quite large, around 4 to 5 inches long and its lifespan is around 3-5 years. They are quite peaceful by nature but lively and prefer to swim in loose schools of groups.

However, each swordtail has their own temperament, either timid and shy or aggressive and boisterous. The diet for swordtail fish should be varied and consist of artificial, live, or frozen food, but must include plant-based foods such as fish food flakes with plant-based supplements.

11. Keilbärbling (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) .

This small, magnificent fish makes a good aquarium mate for any of the above aquarium fish. This fish is popular among aquarists because of its small size, good temperament, and in addition it is not demanding. It grows up to 2 inches in length and has a lifespan of around 3-4 years. There is a black patch on its colorful body, which goes well with its name.

Harlekin-Rasboralikes to swim and needs a lot of space, so it is better to keep them in a spacious pool at school. They are very peaceful and can be cared for with fish such as tetra, gourami and betta as long as they are not large and a predator.

It will take on a wide variety of foods, with the exception of gritty food, which is difficult for them to swallow. The fish always stay together in the shoal, and a large shoal looks fabulous, bringing the aquarium alive and lively with its graceful movement.

12. Bolivian Ram (Microgeophagus altispinosus)

It is the right choice for planted community aquariums as it is very easy to care for. This peaceful, calm and good-natured species of cichlid is quite hardy and will thrive in a standard aquarium. You might find them a little more aggressive, but they're more likely to startle other fish than attack or hurt them.

They live well as a solitary fish, and also a group of 6-8 species of their kind suits them better. The size ranges from 2 to 5.4 inches. The service life is up to 6 years. They are omnivores and will eat all types of live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, tubifex and artificial foods.

13. White Cloud Mountain Elritze (Tanichthys albonubes)

It is an ideal fish for aquarists who have just gained knowledge of aquarium maintenance. This very small fish is only 2.5-3 cm in size and absolutely undemanding.

The brightly colored White Cloud Mountain Minnow is non-aggressive and easy to propagate. It doesn't even attack its young. It can live around 3 years if you take good care of it.

The fish prefers middle layers of water and likes to swim in schools. White Cloud Mountain Minnow copes well with cold water, so in the summer it is kept in a pond in the yardpet lover.
As a micropredator, it feeds on worms, small insects, crustaceans and other types of zooplankton. They like small flocks of at least 6 species.

14. Segelflossenmolly (Poecilia latipinna)

These are stunning livebearers hailing from southern and central parts of the United States. Mollys can live in either salt or fresh water and enjoy living in densely planted aquariums with proper lighting. They like to feed on seaweed, but you can also feed them flakes, cooked spinach, or other fish food made specifically for them.

Mollys can live in both freshwater and saltwater depending on how acclimatized they are. These fish require a well-lit tank with lots of live plants. Mollies are never aggressive towards other tankmates.

Although there are different types of mollies, the most common species of freshwater fish is the small-finned mollies. Mollys are the easiest strain to breed as they are not picky about breeding and will mate with any type of Molly. The recommended temperature for mollies is 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Mollys are considered intermediate swimmers, and it is better to decorate them with plants that will help them hide.

15. Plecostomus (Hypostomos plecostomus)

These are tropical aquarium fish belonging to the Loricariidae family. There are about 150 species of Plecostomus, commonly referred to as Plecos, ranging from peaceful to aggressive varieties. The most common type of catfish is the armored catfish, which grows up to 24 inches and has a lifespan of 10-15 years.

However, beginners can opt for smaller catfish that can be housed in oneTank size of 10 gallons. They are nocturnal residents. The majority of Plecos are brown in color and their body coloring depends on the environment.

Plecos are primarily from South America and are found in both salt and fresh water. Please remember that Plecos can grow from 2-4 inches to a large size very quickly.

WARNING FOR FIRESTICK USERS
YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE DISCLOSED
Your location is:
Your current IP address is: 2001:4455:2f7:b700:f880:7bad:b46b:1768
You can stream and download anonymously through your PC, Mac, Android and iPhoneIP disappear.
HIDE ME NOW
 gdfg
Get 3 months free, 30 days money back guarantee

16. Kuhli Schmerle (Pangio kuhlii)

Kuhli Schmerleis the most unusual fish, and even a novice aquarist can easily keep them. Being close to the true loach family, it resembles a small snake. However, the fish is not harmful at all, but quite persistent. It is a peaceful soil species that likes to hide during the day but is more active at night. However, if they are kept with other fish, they will also become active in food rivalries during the day. It grows to about 4-5 inches long and up to 10 years old.

They are a euryphagous fish and an omnivorous bottom feeder, therefore will eat all kinds of live and frozen food such as pellets, various tablets, granules, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, tubifex, daphnia and others that it finds or digs at the bottom of the tank. This makes them excellent tank cleaners. This fish prefers a school of 5-6 fish.

17. GloFish (Denmark)

These beautiful fluorescent fish that come in different neon colors like red, orange, green, purple, blue and others are one of a kind. These are genetically engineered zebrafish that were initially bred to track down environmental pollutants. These are safe for the environment and make wonderful pets for new aquarists as well as experienced aquarists.

GloFish can grow up to 2 inches in length and their lifespan is 2 – 4 years but sometimes extends to 5 years. These pair well with other danios, tetras, angelfish, barbs, and other species of freshwater fish that aren't big enough to eat. They eat worms, insect larvae, flakes mixed with thawed Artemia and small crustaceans. They are peaceful and happy in a group of six or more.

18. Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

goldfishis a wonderful freshwater strain for both novice and experienced aquarists. They do well in a 40 gallon aquarium and can reach a maximum size of 18 inches. The most suitable temperature for keeping goldfish is 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Goldfish generally prefer aquatic plants, insects, larvae, crustaceans, and other smaller fish. They can be fed every two weeks, so they make great pets for travelers.

They have a shiny silver or blue combination on their bodies. Goldfish tend to become aggressive and injure each other during the breeding season. They get along well with tetras, discus, guppies and female rainbowfish.

You need to change the tank environment regularly and keep it clean. You can feed them bread, crackers, cookie crumbs, rice, potatoes, peas, carrots, oranges, and zucchini. But make sure you don't overfeed your goldfish.

19. Perlengurami (Trichopodus leerii)

Pearl Gourami is a beautiful freshwater fish with white spots on its body and delicate fins. They require medium level care and are peaceful in temperament. They grow up to 4-5 inches long and live up to 5 years. They prefer to live in tanks that are heavily planted. Pearl gourami require at least 30 gallons of water in an aquarium.

These beautiful fish are covered in white, pearly spots, giving them a distinguished appearance. They are familiar with life in slow-flowing freshwater in Asia. They thrive best in tanks with a temperature between 77-82 degrees Fahrenheit and a hardness of 5-15 dh.

Pearl gouramis are peaceful fish like pearl rasbora or neon tetra. They are omnivores by habit, feeding on larvae, small insects, eggs and algae. They suffer from a disease called fin rot, which causes rot and discoloration.

20. Kaiserfisch (Pterophyllum)

Angelfish is a freshwater species originally native to South America. Angelfish are carnivores by nature and need an appropriate diet for their general growth and well-being. Therefore, feeding them flakes, pellets, shrimp, daphnia, etc. may work best for them. Angelfish can grow up to 6 inches long provided you take good care of them. In some cases they can even reach 10 inches in size when kept in larger tanks.

Angelfish is considered a community fish and prefers to grow with other tropical species. They must be kept in tanks that are as clean and large as possiblecorrect filtering. The right water conditions can reduce these fish's stress and keep them healthier and happier. Angelfish prefer a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit for spawning and the average pH of the water should be 6.5 to 6.9.

The females prefer to lay their eggs near neat rows on the submerged slate that is left leaning against the wall in the aquarium. Both male and female species look identical. They are a very rewarding strain for beginners.

21. Killifish (related to Austrolebias)

Killifish is one of the colorful and beautifully patterned freshwater aquarium fish. Concern for keeping these fish ranges from easy to difficult and varies by species. They are vividly colored and have a lifespan of anywhere from 3 months to five years.

Killifish are carnivores by nature, growing to 1.1 inches (2.9 cm) in length in a tank with at least 20 gallons of water. The tank water should be 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit with a hardness of 120-160 ppm. The tank setup is very simple with a bare bottom, minimal light setting and a sponge filter.

They are slim and pike shaped, making them great swimmers. With larger dorsal and anal fins, killifish make good community fish and mix well with other peaceful species such as neon tetras and redhead tetras. They inhabit a variety of places including saltwater and tank water environments.

22. Rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae)

Rainbowfish is native to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia. They thrive in lakes, rivers and swamps. They do well in aquariums where the water temperature stays 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit and have at least 30 gallons of water. If your aquarium is kept below 74 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need to use Aqueon Aquarium to raise the temperature.

Rainbowfish are peaceful and behaviorally active and can be kept well with larger tetras, danios, catfish and other non-aggressive cichlids. The males are brightly colored and compete for the females during breeding. However, breeding these fish is a difficult task.

The rainbow fish feed on color flakes, tropical water flakes, spirulina flakes and also betta treats. You have to feed the fish everything they can eat in 2 minutes. Rotating the fish food may be best for them.

23. Kirschbarbe (Puntius titteya)

Cherry mullet is found in the fresh waters of Sri Lanka and other southwestern areas. They live in shady areas around streams and small rivers. They thrive comfortably in a water temperature of 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and a pH of 6 to 8. These are small fish, measuring 1 to 2 inches in length and growing to 1.8 centimeters.

While male cherry barbs show brown-green, reddish and brown-red color combinations, the female conspecifics are found in yellow-grey and brown-red. Cherry barbs are omnivores by nature and have a lifespan of 4-5 years.

They mostly swim in the middle and lower water layers. Although peaceful and calm in demeanor, the males fight each other by dancing in front of their rivals. Small cherry barbel are easy prey for predatory fish, so consider keeping them with other community fish such as harlequin rasbora, neon tetra, betta, cardinal tetra, neon tetra and catfish.

24. Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher)

They are native to Africa and grow up to 3-4 inches in length. Kribensis do well in an aquarium with at least 20 gallons of water. They behave peacefully and have a lifespan of 5 years. These bottom dwellers do well in aquariums where the water temperature is 75-77 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH of 6.4. The water hardness should remain at 8-12 dGH.

Kribensis are brightly colored fish with color morphs such as green, red, yellow and blue. The adult males grow up to 4 inches, while the females grow up to 3 inches. They are kept in community tanks, where they nibble like angels on the fins of slow-moving fish. They can provide dens where they can spawn. They are omnivores by nature, so they will feed on all types of food, including daphnia, shrimp, flakes, mosquito larvae, and mosquito larvae.

25. Breast Wels (Ancistrus)

This freshwater aquarium fish comes in a range of colors including black, brown, yellow etc and has colored body spots throughout. As the name suggests, bristlenoses typically possess a flat body with bony plates that look like tentacles when mature.

Breast welshare peaceful species and get along well with other tankmates. They are a hardy type and therefore easy to keep for beginners. They have a bony carapace. They prefer a water temperature of 15 to 27 degrees Celsius with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

The diet for Bristlenose Pleco consists of 85% protein and 15% plant matter. If you are looking for an algae eater, this fish is your best bet.

Summary

Freshwater fish are very popular with aquarists because they are very beautiful to look at, thereby increasing the ambiance of the living space and the aquarium. Most aquarists want to add fish that are easy to care for and compatible with other fish species.

In the list of best freshwater fish discussed above, the behavior, appearance, dietary preference, and lifespan are discussed in great detail. Make a choice after thoroughly researching the detailed instructions and according to your aquarium needs.

Post Views: 12.524