The best types of fish for a fish tank

To date, there are nearly 28,000 documented fish species , many of which are found in marine habitats, while many others are found in rivers and freshwater. As you can see, the variety of fish is enormous; however, not all of them adapt equally to an aquarium or fish tank. If you want to care for aquarium fish—or freshwater fish—in this article, we'll show you the best species to start with . We'll talk about the most appropriate types of fish for aquariums and beautiful freshwater fish. Keep reading for more information!

Fish for aquarium: Pufferfish

Pufferfish come in various types. There are many species of this type of fish that adapt perfectly to living with other types of fish since they are not generally aggressive. The freshwater pufferfish, whose scientific name is Tetraodon nigroviridis, adapts to a temperature of 24ºC to 28ºC . These fish are usually 17 centimeters long and, although they are somewhat territorial, if given the right conditions, they can coexist perfectly with other species. They have a life expectancy of 18 years and can live perfectly in an aquarium for 10 years . The aquarium, in this case, should have a capacity of 150 liters and the pH should be between 7.5 and 8.5.

Fish for aquarium: Rasbora Galaxy

This is another of the most popular and easy-to-care-for freshwater fish available. This fish stands out for its beautiful colors and its tiny size —between 1 and 1.5 centimeters. The Galaxy Rasbora is a fish that borders on being considered a coldwater fish, as the ideal water temperature in its habitat is between 22°C and 28°C . It is recommended that this fish be housed with 10 other specimens to achieve a much more natural and hierarchical effect. This fish's name comes from its metallic blue colors with white and yellow spots that resemble the colors of the galaxy.

Fish for aquarium: Paradise Fish

This is a cold-water freshwater fish species. This means it should be kept with other cold-water species with temperatures between 10°C and 22°C . In fact, it can withstand very cold temperatures, close to 0°C. However, the Paradise Fish is not the best species to keep in a community aquarium, as it is somewhat aggressive and territorial, so it is important to determine which species it gets along best with.

Fish for aquarium: Angelfish

It is one of the most beautiful fish species in existence . It is a very social fish that needs companions of its own species to maintain good health and live happily. It is one of the most popular tropical fish species in the world of aquariums. It is usually 14 to 16 cm long and 20 to 22 cm tall. It has a triangular shape due to its dorsal and anal fins. It also has a large caudal fin. These fish can vary in color, found in opaque shades, greens and blues, and even orange and black. They are easy to care for and very beautiful.

Fish for aquarium: Koi carp

This is truly an ideal fish for ponds, although it can also fit into large coldwater aquariums —with a minimum capacity of 200 liters. This fish is one of the most common in the world and typically grows up to 90 centimeters (30 inches) in size—75 centimeters in aquariums. It is a peaceful species that should coexist with other large fish, as its voracity can cause other species to become its food. The Koi Carp is an omnivorous fish that feeds on invertebrates, algae, crustaceans, other fish, and plants. You can offer them prepared foods, supplementing their diet with many of the vegetables you eat at home, such as lettuce or peas. It is, therefore, another of the easy-care fish we analyze in this article.

Fish for fish tank: Bettas or Siamese fighting fish

This is one of the most popular freshwater bonitos . These animals are native to Thailand. They have vibrant, striking colors and are notable for their long fins that fan out and sweep through the water, creating hypnotic and relaxing visual effects . This species typically measures approximately 6 cm and requires at least 20 liters of water to survive. However, these species are highly territorial, so two males cannot be kept together in the same aquarium due to their aggressiveness.

Fish for aquarium: Discus fish

One of the kings of the aquarium. These types of fish originate from the Amazon and are species with very skittish behaviors. Their shape, size, and striking colors make them a beautiful freshwater fish ideal for aquarium enthusiasts. However, this species is fragile and very sensitive to changes in aquarium conditions, so it requires special care. This type of fish is susceptible to fungal infections, as well as other diseases. It is recommended to have at least four discus fish and an aquarium with at least 300 liters of water.

Fish for fish tank: Catfish

This is a must-have aquarium fish species for any aquarium enthusiast. Catfish spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank looking for food scraps , which is very useful for maintaining a clean environment. These fish are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors. They get their name from the fish's distinctive tentacles, or barbels, that extend from the sides of the lower and upper jaw and are similar to a cat's whiskers. There are currently more than 3,093 species of catfish .