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.
Overview The Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus), also called the tricolor shark minnow, is a silver, black-edged cyprinid, not a true shark. Native to rivers and lakes of Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Grows to about 14 in (35 cm) standard length, so...
Overview The Bronze Cory (Corydoras aeneus) is one of the best-known catfish in the hobby. Wild fish range across much of South America, from Trinidad to Argentina. Grows to about 3 in (7.5 cm) standard length. Albino and long-finned forms are bred. The origin of...
Overview The Rainbow Shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) is a dark-bodied cyprinid with red fins. An albino form is common. Reportedly native to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, in the Mae Klong, Chao Phraya and Mekong basins. Grows to about 6 in (15 cm) standard length....
Overview The Peppered Cory (Corydoras paleatus) is a hardy, mottled gray-green catfish and one of the first cories kept in aquariums. Native to southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. Grows to about 2.8 in (7 cm) standard length. Feeding An opportunistic...
Overview The Panda Cory (Corydoras panda, also placed in Hoplisoma) is a small white catfish with black eye and tail patches. Native to the upper Amazon in Peru, in clear and blackwater streams over sand. Grows to about 2 in (5 cm) standard length. Almost all fish...
Overview The Julii Cory (Corydoras julii, now sometimes placed in Hoplisoma) is a small catfish with a fine leopard-spot pattern. Native to coastal rivers south of the Amazon delta in northeastern Brazil. Grows to about 2.2 in (5.5 cm) standard length. Many fish sold...
Overview The Red-tailed Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) is a velvet-black cyprinid with a bright red tail. Native to central and western Thailand. It is critically rare in the wild. Grows to about 5 in (12.5 cm) standard length. Fish in the trade are farmed....
Overview The White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) is a small coldwater cyprinid with a gold stripe and red fins. Named for White Cloud Mountain near Guangzhou, China. It is very rare in the wild. Grows to about 1.6 in (4 cm) standard length. Long-finned,...
Overview The Sterbai Cory (Corydoras sterbai, also placed in Hoplisoma) is a spotted catfish with orange pectoral fins. Native to the Rio Guaporé area of Bolivia and Brazil. Grows to about 2.6 in (6.5 cm) standard length. Almost all fish sold are commercially bred....
Overview The Three Stripe Cory (Corydoras trilineatus, also placed in Hoplisoma) is a patterned cory often sold as the julii cory. Found in the Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru and Brazil, and coastal rivers of Suriname. Grows to about 2.2 in (5.5 cm) standard length....
Overview The Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus langei and close relatives, long sold as "C. siamensis") is a slim cyprinid with a black side stripe. Found in Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, southern and western Thailand, and possibly Myanmar. Grows to about 6 in (15 cm)...
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...