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 One of the most popular and recognizable aquarium fish. Lives in acidic forest streams, often stained with tannins (blackwater), with leaf litter and roots. Has a bright blue lateral stripe. The red pigment does not extend forward past the pectoral-fin base....
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 Black Phantom Tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is a peaceful, smoky-gray tetra with a black shoulder spot and large fins. Native to the upper Rio Madeira basin in Bolivia and western Brazil, and the Rio Paraguay basin. Grows to about 1.4 in (3.6 cm)...
Overview The Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi), also known as the Black Widow Tetra, is a hardy, deep-bodied tetra with black vertical bars and a dark rear half. Native to slow creeks and streams with overhanging plants in the Paraguay and Guaporé basins of...
Overview The Bloodfin Tetra (Aphyocharax anisitsi) is a silvery tetra with bright red fins. Native to the Paraná River basin in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Grows to about 2.2 in (5.5 cm) standard length. A hardy beginner fish that adapts to a wide range of...
Overview The Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is a peaceful dwarf cichlid. It is also sold as the Bolivian butterfly cichlid. Native to the upper Rio Madeira basin in Bolivia and Brazil. Grows to about 3.1 in (8 cm) standard length. Usually a better choice...
Overview The Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) has a neon-blue stripe above a red lower body that runs the full length of the body. Native to forest streams in the Rio Negro and upper Orinoco basins of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. Grows to about 1.4 in (3.5...
Overview The Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus and related Symphysodon species) is a disc-shaped Amazon cichlid prized for its color. Wild fish live in slow tributaries and forest pools along the Rio Solimões and Amazon. Grows to about 6 in (15 cm) long and nearly as...
Overview The Colombian Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus) is a robust tetra with a blue-silver body and red fins. It is also sold as the blue-red or Colombian red fin tetra. Known only from the Río Acandí area in northern Colombia, near the Panama border. Grows to...
Overview The Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) is a small, peaceful tetra with a glowing orange-red stripe. Known only from the Rio Essequibo in Guyana. Grows to about 1.6 in (4 cm) standard length. All fish sold are commercially farmed. An albino form is...
Overview The German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), also called Ramirez's dwarf cichlid or butterfly cichlid, is a small, jewel-like dwarf cichlid. Native to the llanos savanna wetlands of the Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia. Grows to about 1.6 in (4 cm)...
Overview The Mexican Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) is best known in its blind cave form, the blind cave tetra. The species ranges from Texas and New Mexico through Mexico to Guatemala. The eyeless form lives only in Mexican caves. Grows to about 3.7 in (9.5 cm) standard...
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 X-Ray Tetra (Pristella maxillaris) is a semi-transparent tetra with black, yellow and white fin markings. Native to coastal waters of Venezuela, the Guianas and northern Brazil. Grows to about 1.8 in (4.5 cm) standard length. Commercially bred and one of...
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)...