Freshwater Aquarist

Popular Fish Species for your Aquarium

Here are some of the most popular freshwater fish species that are commonly kept in aquariums, each with unique characteristics and care requirements.

A common rule of thumb for how many freshwater fish you can keep in an aquarium is to allow about 1 inch of fish per gallon of water; however, this can vary depending on the specific fish species, their adult size, activity level, and bioload, with heavily planted or densely stocked tanks often needing more filtration and swimming room.

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Banded Leporinus

Banded Leporinus

Overview The Banded Leporinus (Leporinus fasciatus), also called the black-banded or striped leporinus, is a boldly striped South American headstander. Found through much of the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the rivers of the Guianas. Grows to about 11 in (27 cm)...

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Scarlet Badis

Scarlet Badis

Overview The Scarlet Badis (Dario dario) is one of the smallest percoid fish. Males are bright red with blue bars. Found in tributaries of the Brahmaputra in West Bengal and Assam, India. Grows to about 0.8 in (2 cm) standard length. A popular nano fish. Feeding A...

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