How to Pick the Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish for Your Tank

Pet Breeds & Characteristics

By SAM JOWEE

Starting a freshwater aquarium is a thrilling journey, but selecting the right fish can be tough. With loads of colorful and interesting species to choose from, like guppies, goldfish, betta fish, and catfish, you need to make smart choices. The fish you pick can affect how healthy and beautiful your underwater world turns out to be.

This guide will teach you how to pick the best freshwater aquarium fish for your tank. We’ll look at different fish types, check tank environments, and think about fish behavior and temperament. You’ll also learn to consider fish size and growth rate, and balance looks with practicality. By the end, you’ll know how to create a lively colorful aquarium that makes your home better.

beginner aquarium fish

Know Different Types of Freshwater Fish

To choose freshwater aquarium fish, you need to understand the many types you can get. Each kind has its traits, needs for care, and ability to live with other fish. Let’s look at some common groups of freshwater fish to help you make a good choice for your tank.

Community fish

Community fish are a hit among many fish tank enthusiasts because they’re peaceful and get along well with other fish. These fish often swim in schools and do best in groups of six or more of their kind. Some great community fish to consider are tetras, barbs, and danios. These fish are medium-sized, which helps keep them from becoming snacks or picking on smaller tankmates. When you’re picking out community fish, think about how well they can handle different water conditions and how they’ll get along with other types of fish.

Cichlids

Cichlids make up a varied group of freshwater fish that catch the eye with their bright colors and cool behaviors. You can find them in all sorts of sizes and temperaments ranging from calm dwarf cichlids to bigger more feisty types. Many folks love African cichlids from Lake Malawi, like the Electric Yellow Lab (Labidochromis caeruleus), because they look stunning and tend to play nice with others. But keep in mind, that some cichlids can get a bit possessive of their space. So, it’s key to do your homework on what they need and how well they’ll get along with other fish before you add them to your tank.

Catfish

Catfish live on the bottom of water bodies and come in many sizes and shapes. Their barbels, or “whiskers,” help them locate food in the substrate. Fish keepers love Corydoras species such as the Panda Cory (Corydoras panda), for their peaceful nature and ability to clean up leftover food from the tank floor. These fish thrive in groups and bring life to the lower parts of your aquarium.

Livebearers

Livebearers are fish that bring forth live offspring rather than laying eggs. Well-liked livebearer species include guppies, mollies, and platies. These fish stand out for their bright colors and easy-to-meet care needs. Guppies, to give an example, show up in many colors and tail shapes, which makes them a hit for adding eye-catching elements to an aquarium. Livebearers tend to like alkaline water with a pH above 7.0 and water with higher hardness.

Oddball species

Aquarists looking for something different can spice up their freshwater tanks with oddball species. These fish stand out from typical aquarium dwellers because of their strange looks or actions. Take the African Butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi), for instance. It looks like a tiny arowana and hangs out at the water’s surface. Another example is the Upside-Down Catfish (Synodontis nigriventris), which swims belly-up near the top of the tank.

When picking fish for your freshwater tank, you need to think about tank size, water conditions, and how well they’ll get along with other fish. Look into what each fish needs and how it acts to make sure it’ll do well in your tank. If you know about different freshwater fish types, you can set up a varied and balanced underwater world that’ll bring fun and wonder to your home.

Know Different Types of Freshwater Fish

Check Your Tank Setup

To pick the right freshwater fish for your tank, you need to check your tank setup. This means knowing your water conditions and choosing between tanks with or without plants.

Water conditions (pH, hardness, temperature)

Water parameters have an influence on the health and well-being of your freshwater aquarium fish. To consider pH, hardness, and temperature.

pH shows how acidic or basic your water is. Most freshwater fish do well in pH levels between 6.5 and 8.0. But some species need specific conditions. Discus fish like a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. African cichlids do better in more alkaline water with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5.

Water hardness shows how many dissolved minerals are in the water calcium and magnesium. People measure it in degrees of general hardness (GH) or parts per million (ppm). For freshwater tanks to be in good shape, they should have a general hardness (GH) between 4-8 dGH (70-140 ppm). Some fish like guppies and mollies do better in harder water, while others such as discus and tetras do well in softer water.

Temperature also plays a key role. Most tropical freshwater fish do well in temperatures between 75°F and 80°F (24°C to 27°C). Still, some species need specific temperatures. Goldfish, for example, like cooler water between 65°F and 72°F (18°C to 22°C), while discus fish do best in warmer temperatures of 82°F to 86°F (28°C to 30°C).

To keep water parameters steady, you’ll need to get a good aquarium heater and thermometer. Testing your water often with test kits or strips will help you keep an eye on pH and hardness levels.

freshwater fish types

Planted vs non-planted setups

When you’re setting up your tank, you need to think about whether you want plants or not.

Tanks with plants have a lot going for them. The plants clean the water by soaking up nitrates and other waste. They also give fish places to hide, help them relax, and make the tank look better. Some plants that work well in freshwater tanks are anubias java fern, and water wisteria.

But keep in mind, that tanks with plants need more work. You have to give them good light, food, and maybe even extra CO2 to help them grow well. Some fish, like cichlids, might dig up the plants or eat them so they don’t do well in tanks with lots of plants.

Aquariums without plants typically need less upkeep and allow for more fish options. Fish that like to swim or dig into the bottom do well in these tanks. You can still make non-planted tanks look good by adding cool rocks, driftwood, and fake plants.

When choosing between tanks with or without plants, think about what your fish needs how much you know about fish care, and how much time you can spend looking after the tank.

By taking a close look at your tank setup, including water quality and type, you’ll be in a better position to pick the right freshwater fish that will do well in your specific tank.

Think About How Fish Act and Get Along

Think About How Fish Act and Get Along

When you pick freshwater aquarium fish, you need to think about how they act and get along. Each type of fish has its personality and needs friends in different ways. This can change how well your fish get along in the tank. If you get to know these things about your fish, you can make a tank where they’re happy and look great.

Fish that like to swim in groups

Many fish that people like to keep in freshwater tanks like to swim in groups. They do this to stay safe and hang out with each other. These fish often do cool things when you keep enough of them together. For example, neon tetras and cardinal tetras do best when you have at least 8 to 16 of them. When they’re in bigger groups, these fish feel safer. They’ll swim all around the tank instead of hiding.

Schooling fish rely on a mix of senses to stick together, including sight, smell, and their lateral line. Every fish in a school has two areas: the ‘zone of repulsion,’ which helps them keep an equal distance from each other, and the ‘zone of orientation,’ where they try to match how their neighbors move. This synchronized swimming creates an eye-catching show in your tank.

Some great schooling fish for your freshwater aquarium include:

  • Tetras (various species)
  • Barbs (such as cherry barbs)
  • Danios (like zebra danios)
  • Rasboras (including harlequin rasboras)
  • Corydoras catfish

Keep in mind that groups of fish swimming together not only look amazing but also help create a more natural and relaxed setting for all the fish in your tank.

Fish that like their own space

While fish that swim in groups are friendly, some freshwater aquarium fish need their territory and require extra thought when you’re planning your tank. Cichlids, for instance, are known to be territorial when they’re breeding. Some types of cichlids can get aggressive with their kind or similar species setting up pecking orders and claiming specific parts of the tank as their own.

To make room for fish that like their own space, think about these tips:

  1. Give fish enough room: Make sure your tank is big enough so each fish can have its own space without always fighting.
  2. Set up places to hide: Put rocks, caves, driftwood, and other decorations in the tank to create natural borders and spots to hide. This helps cut down on fighting by putting up visual barriers between different areas.
  3. Pick fish that get along: Look into what different types of fish need and how they act to avoid mixing aggressive fish with calmer ones.
  4. Watch how they behave: Keep tabs on how your fish interact when you add new ones to the tank. Be ready to separate any bullies if you need to.

Fish that live at the top, middle, and bottom

A balanced freshwater tank should have fish that live in different parts of the water. This makes the tank look more interesting and helps cut down on fighting over space and food.

Fish that live at the top: These fish like to swim near the surface and often have mouths that point up to eat from the water’s surface. Some examples are:

  • Hatchetfish
  • Mollies
  • Some types of Danios

Middle swimmers: Lots of well-liked community fish live in the middle part of the tank. These include:

  • Tetras
  • Barbs
  • Rainbowfish
  • Angelfish

Bottom swimmers: These fish spend most of their time near the tank floor often looking for food. Popular bottom-dwelling kinds include:

  • Corydoras catfish
  • Loaches (like kuhli loaches)
  • Plecos

When picking fish for different parts of your tank, think about what they need and how they act. Take bottom-dwellers like Corydoras catfish – they like to hang out in groups of their kind. Mixing fish that live at the top, middle, and bottom doesn’t just balance your tank’s ecosystem. It also makes your freshwater aquarium more interesting to look at.

If you pay attention to how your chosen fish species behave and get along, you can set up a freshwater aquarium where everyone gets along. This will show off how beautiful these amazing creatures are.

Think About How Big Fish Get and How Fast They Grow

When picking fish for your freshwater tank, you need to think about how big they’ll get and how fast they grow. A lot of fish that people like to keep as pets can end up much bigger than you’d think. This can lead to issues for the fish and the tank’s ecosystem if they get too big for their home.

Remember that most fish you buy in stores are young, not grown. Take goldfish, for instance. Many think they’re easy to keep, but they can reach the size of a dinner plate (16 inches) and need at least 50 to 100 gallons each. People often don’t realize how big goldfish get, which makes them one of the most bought “sneaky tank busters” – fish that grow too large for most home aquariums.

Other popular freshwater fish that can catch aquarium keepers off guard with their adult sizes include:

  • Clown loaches: Pet stores sell them as tiny 3cm fish, but they can grow up to 30cm or more.
  • Bala sharks: These fish have silver bodies and blackfin tips. They can reach 14 inches in length and need at least 125 gallons for a small group.
  • Tiger catfish: Their large adult size means you need at least 200 gallons for each fish.
  • Tire track eels: These eels can grow to 30 inches long. Each fish requires a minimum of 125 gallons.

Keep in mind that tank size doesn’t determine how big a species can grow. The belief that fish “grow to fit their tank” is false. In reality, fish in cramped spaces might have stunted growth and weaker immune systems, which can lead to health problems.

Avoiding overstocking

To keep from overstocking your freshwater aquarium, think about these tips:

  1. Check adult sizes: Look up how big fish can get before you buy them. Make sure your tank has enough room for them when they’re grown.
  2. Think about growth: Keep in mind that the cute little catfish that’s an inch long now might grow to be six inches when it’s older.
  3. Look at body shape: Some types of fish, like angelfish and discus, might be skinny but tall. They need deeper tanks to swim around.
  4. Think about schooling: Many fish for home tanks, like tetras and barbs, like to live in groups of at least 6 to 10. Remember this affects how much waste they make and how much space they need.
  5. Be careful with the “inch per gallon” rule: The old guideline of keeping 1 inch of fish per gallon of water works for small community fish that are about 1-3 inches long. For bigger fish like goldfish and cichlids, it’s safer to go with one inch of fish for every two gallons of water.
  6. Start with fewer fish: It’s smart to begin with a smaller number of fish and add more later if you can. This way, the helpful bacteria in your tank can adjust and grow as needed.
  7. Think about how active the fish are: Some fish, like zebra danios, might be tiny but they move around a lot. This means they need more space to swim than you’d expect based on their size alone.

By thinking about how big your freshwater fish will get and how fast they grow, you can set up a healthy balanced tank with enough room for everyone. Keep in mind, that a tank with the right number of fish not only looks better but also helps your underwater pets live longer and stay healthy.

Mix Good Looks with Practicality

Setting up a freshwater tank that looks great and keeps your fish happy and compatible is a tricky task. If you follow some basic rules, you can create a beautiful tank that’s also a healthy home for your underwater friends.

Making your tank look good

To help your freshwater tank catch the eye, think about these tips:

  1. Follow the rule of thirds: Split your tank into a 3×3 grid and put key elements where the lines cross. This makes your layout more eye-catching and gets people to look at the whole tank.
  2. Add depth: Make your substrate slope up from front to back. This gives your tank more dimension and lets you plant more in the back area.
  3. Vary your plants: Put different types and colors of water plants together to make a more natural and good-looking setup. Stick tall plants in the back medium ones in the middle, and short ones up front.
  4. Add hardscape: Put rocks, driftwood, or other natural items in your tank to make eye-catching spots. Stick to one kind of hardscape to keep things looking neat.
  5. Think about light: Good lighting helps your plants grow and makes your aquarium look better. Sunlight can make your plants look bright, but watch out – too much light can cause algae to grow.
  6. Mix things up: Put together plants and hardscapes of different sizes, shapes, and colors to make your tank interesting to look at. You could put big-leafed plants next to ones with small leaves, or light-colored rocks on dark sand.

Keeping fish healthy and getting along

Making a tank look good is great, but your freshwater aquarium fish’s well-being should come first. Here are some pointers to keep your fish in good shape and living together :

  1. Look into fish species: Before you put new fish in your tank, do your homework on what they need and if they’ll get along with the fish you already have. Think about things like water conditions how big your tank is, and how the fish act.
  2. Give them enough room: Don’t pack too many fish in your tank. This can make them stressed and fight each other. A good rule to follow is one inch of fish for every gallon of water, but remember some types of fish might need more space.
  3. Make hiding places: Use plants, rocks, and decorations to build spots where your fish can hide. This helps them feel less stressed and gives territory to fish species that need it.
  4. Keep your water clean: Change water often, use good filters, and take care of your tank to keep your freshwater fish healthy. Check your water often and fix problems.
  5. Pick fish that get along: Good community fish for freshwater tanks include tetras, barbs, and danios. These fish like to swim in groups and can make your tank look lively and interesting.
  6. Think about how fish act: When you choose fish, look at how they behave and how they’ll fit in your tank setup. For example, some catfish that live at the bottom can help clean your tank floor while making the lower part of your tank more fun to watch.
  7. Balance looks with usefulness: It’s tempting to pick fish just because they’re pretty, but make sure they fit your tank’s conditions and get along with other fish. For example, betta fish look stunning, but they might not work in all community tanks because they can be aggressive about their space.

By thinking about how your aquarium looks and what your freshwater fish need, you can build an amazing underwater world that’s also a healthy home for your fish friends. Keep in mind, that a balanced fish tank doesn’t just look great – it also gives your fish a calm place to grow and thrive.

Conclusion

Picking the best freshwater aquarium fish involves science, looks, and a bit of imagination. When you understand different fish types, check your tank setup, and think about how the fish act, you can build a healthy underwater world. The key to success, in the long run, is to balance how good your aquarium looks with what the fish inside need to live well.

Keep in mind, that a well-designed fish tank is more than just a pretty decoration – it’s a living, breathing ecosystem that brings happiness and wonder to your home. Whether you like the bright colors of tropical fish or the odd behaviors of unusual species, there’s a perfect mix out there for every fish keeper. With time, study, and attention, you’ll soon have a beautiful freshwater tank that looks great and provides a healthy home for your water pets. 

FAQs

  1. How should you pick freshwater fish for your tank?
  • When picking freshwater fish for your tank, think about the tank size since many fish do better in groups. Look at the fish personalities; some types are calm, while others might be more hostile. Also, consider how much work the tank will need.
  1. Which fish are good for newcomers starting a freshwater aquarium?
  • Platies and mollies are great picks for people new to keeping aquariums. Platies are calm and come in many colors making them easy to look after. Mollies are also simple to care for and come in different colors fitting for beginners.
  1. What are the main things to think about when choosing fish for an aquarium?
  • Key aspects to consider include tank size and measurements, tank decor and vegetation, fish origin and type, plus the age, size, sex, and quantity of fish you want to keep.
  1. What are some of the easiest fish to maintain in an aquarium?
  • For newcomers, some of the simplest fish to look after include white cloud minnows, cherry barbs, goldfish, guppies, neon tetras, and cory catfish. These types tend to be calm and need less upkeep, which makes them great choices for fish-keeping beginners.
  1. What are the best starter fish for an aquarium and why?
  • Beginners should start with fish that can survive and don’t need much looking after. People often suggest bettas and goldfish as good choices to begin with, but it’s key to pick fish that suit your tank setup and how much time you can spend taking care of them.