Ultimate Guide to Freshwater Aquarium Fish 2020

Freshwater Aquarium Fish: Pet Guide 2020

If you are thinking about finally making the big leap and getting your very own aquarium to fill up with cool freshwater fish, there are some things that you are going to need to know before you actually get started.  In fact, in this guide, you will find literally everything that you will ever need in order to get your fresh water aquarium all set up, including what the absolute best fish to get are. In this guide, you will discover the exact aquarium you should get (no matter if you are a complete beginner or are more advanced), as well as what fish you need to get to make your new aquarium really awesome.  Oh, and you’ll learn how to make sure all your fish stay healthy as well.

When it comes to fresh water fish aquariums, there are several different choices that you are going to have to make, which will determine exactly how easy or difficult your aquarium is going to be to take care of and maintain.  This is exactly why many of the new aquarium keepers choose a freshwater tank over a saltwater one; the freshwater ones are simply much easier to take care of and maintain. And on top of that, you don’t need to go out and spend tons of money on expensive aquarium equipment.  Plus, keeping a nice freshwater aquarium will give you the benefit of having an aquarium, but without having to pay all the costs associated with an excessive setup.

What You Must Know About Freshwater Aquariums

When you have a fresh water aquarium, it is not something that you can simply setup and then forget about.  Here are some of the leading concerns and what you need to know before you decide to get a freshwater aquarium.

• The Temperature of your Tank

While there are a lot of people out there who will tell you that freshwater aquariums are extremely simple to maintain, they would be wrong.  Even when you are working with a very basic aquarium setup, there are always going to be aspects that you will need to keep in mind for your aquarium to thrive like you think is should.  One of these things just happens to be your tanks temperature. In fact, any and every freshwater aquarium is going to be maintained and kept in a certain temperature range in order to maintain the fish that live within it.

Luckily, most people who have a freshwater aquarium are able to easily maintain the tanks temperature, often times the plants that they add to their tanks are neglected.  Just keep in mind that the plants you add to your tank are just as dependent upon the temperature as the fish are.

With this being said, it is actually critical that you select fish that all live within a certain temperature range.  Think about it for a second; if you select a fish that thrives in cold water and put it with a fish that is for tropical regions, do you really think that they are going to be able to coexist without having any problems?  This means that when you are selecting the fish for your tank, you also keep in mind the plants that you are going to add to the tank as well. Essentially, the average temperature for a freshwater tank is going to be between 72 and 82 degrees.  When it comes to aquarium plants, the average temperature is going to be between 76 and 86 degrees. Essentially, just make sure that the fish you select are able to coexist with the plants you select.

• Your Freshwater Tank’s pH

The potential of hydrogen (more commonly known as pH) in your tank is one of the most important factors to consider in any aquarium setup.  Depending upon the type of fish that you plan on having in your tank, the pH balance is going to vary. This means that different types of fish are going to require a different pH level.  There are some fish that will thrive in a more acidic atmosphere, while there are others that are going to prefer a more basic tank.

With this being said, it is very important that you are careful not to mix the two different types of fish.  If you were to put fish that prefer a more acidic environment with fish that prefer a more basic environment, the end result would be dead fish.  This would be a terrible situation and force you to start all over from the beginning again.

The pH of your tank is very similar to the temperature of your tank in the sense that it is another factor you are going to have to take into account before you are able to select the fish you want for your aquarium.  As with temperature, the pH is going to not just affect the fish you have in your tank, but the plant life as well. So you know, the average pH for freshwater fish is between 6.5 and 7.5, while the average for plants is 6 to 7.5.

Freshwater Tank Testing Elements

There is no doubting the importance of the pH balance and water temperature of your freshwater aquarium.  However, there are also several other factors that are going to need to be taken into account as well. Each of these certain factors are equally important to keeping your freshwater aquarium community as healthy as possible.

To really factor in all of these elements, you are going to need to invest into a water testing kit.  This will allow you to track all of the different elements that are related to the water that is in your aquarium.

While there are many different things that you can focus on, the main elements that you are going to want to monitor with your home freshwater testing kit are going to include:

• Nitrate (this needs to be at zero)
• Ammonia (this needs to be at zero)
• Alkalinity (this needs to be between 4 and 8 KH)
• Nitrate (this needs to be less than 50 ppm)
• Water hardness (this needs to be between 4 and 12 GH)

For many of the new freshwater aquarium owners, the whole idea of balancing water pH can be very intimidating.  However, with the use of a simple home testing kit that can be purchased at any pet store or grocery store, you will easily be able to maintain your tanks pH like a professional.  And don’t worry, fixing your tank when it is out of the correct pH range is as easy as adding a special pH supplement that you can get at any pet shop.

What Fish to Populate your Aquarium With

There are many people out there who believe that having a saltwater aquarium is much better than a freshwater one.  This is mainly because there is a common misconception that a saltwater aquarium is a lot more interesting than its freshwater counterpart, as well as saltwater fish being more exciting than freshwater ones.  Yes, there is a definite difference between the types of fish that freshwater and saltwater aquariums can have, there is actually an enormous amount of diversity that can be had with only selecting freshwater fish for your tank.

Just keep in mind that the number one factor when you are selecting your freshwater fish and plants are going to be experience and compatibility.

If you are looking to make your aquarium diverse with a combination of different freshwater fish breeds, it is going to be extremely important that you only select the fish that are going to be compatible with each other.  This means that you are not going to be able to put the aggressive fish with the basic community fish. If you do, it will lead to the aggressive fish putting all the community fish to death by either eating them or stressing them out until the simply die.

Not only is your aquarium’s setup an important factor in the fish that you end up selecting, but so is the experience level you have as well.  There are actually some fish that are much easier to maintain, while others are much more involved. If you are a more inexperienced fish keeper, you are not going to want to choose a freshwater fish that is only recommended for the more experienced aquarium keeper.  If you do, it will not only be extremely frustrating, but it will also cost you a bunch of money that you probably don’t’ want to waste on fish that are more than likely going to die.

Now keep in mind that you are able to purchase whatever fish that you want to purchase, but keep in mind that the more expensive the fish is, the more advanced the fish keeper should be.  If you do not have the right experience to properly maintain these particular fish, it can quickly become a very expensive lessen in the sense that your entire freshwater aquarium is going to be dead.

The Beginner Freshwater Fish

While there are numerous different types of freshwater fish that would be perfect for your tank, there are actually several that are the perfect match for those aquarium owners who do not yet have the experience of others.  Some of these fish breeds include the goldfish, beta fish, cichlids, barb fish, glofish, and even guppies. You are about to get a crash course in all of the various freshwater aquarium fish types that you should consider having in your tank.

• Glofish

A special type of Danio fish, the glofish is commonly recognized by its ability to glow.  These are some of the most fluorescent types of fish available in a freshwater tank, and are becoming more and more popular every day for the newbie aquarium builder.  They are great as a starter fish as they do not require a lot of extra work, and they just happen to be one of the more peaceful breeds that get along with just about every breed you can find.  They thrive in water that is between 64 and 75 degrees, and has a pH balance of between 6.5 and 7.5. These fish are successful with an omnivorous type of diet, and you can expect them to grow to a length of about 2 inches long, mainly dependent upon the tank size.  However, glofish are able to survive in jus t2 inches of water.

• Cichlids

Being one of the more popular fish for the beginner freshwater aquarium advocates, cichlids actually come in an extremely wide variety that has something for everyone.  The most popular of the cichlids just happens to be the electric blue one, but this particular breed just happens to be on the more aggressive side as well. Not only are they more aggressive, but they can also grow to be over 8” long, putting the in a tank that is at least 70 gallons.  While these cichlids are on the larger size when it comes to freshwater aquarium fish, they are extremely easy to care for, but they do have a carnivorous diet. On top of that, the average temperature of the tank needs to be between 76 and 82 degrees, with a pH of at least 7.8, and a max of 8.6.

• Betta Fish

One of the fish that everybody loves to have, betta fish are great if you are a fist time fish owner.  They are not only extremely colorful, but are also very peaceful, unless you put them with another betta fish.  If you put two of these fish together, it will quickly become much more difficult for you. You see, the male betta fish just happen to be very aggressive, making them one of those fish that you need to keep alone.  Even when they are paired with female betta fish, the males are still going to become very aggressive. The only exception is for an extremely short time when the males and females are mating.

If you do decide to add a beta to your aquarium, chances are that only one male betta is going to work.  However, there have been many instances where several female betta fish have successfully been housed together without any instances at all.  

With that being said, one of the most popular betta fish that freshwater aquarium owners like, is the crown tail betta, more commonly known for its amazing tail design.  While this is a carnivorous fish, it can also grow to be about 3” long in overall length. This means that the minimum aquarium requirement is going to at least 1 gallon.  The temperature should be between 75 and 86 degrees, while the pH is going to be between 6 and 8.

• Goldfish

Being one of the most common fish for aquarium starters of all time, goldfish are perfect for adults and children alike.  If you choose to get a red cap oranda goldfish, you will have just adopted the easiest freshwater fish to take care of. Not only is this breed of goldfish easy to take care of, but it is also extremely good looking and peaceful as well.  While they can grow up to 10 inches long in length, they are going to require an aquarium that is a minimum of 30 gallons. And so you can add some other fish to the tank, know that the average temperature that these fish thrive in is between 65 and 75 degrees, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.

• Tiger Barb

Another one of the more commonly recommended community fish, barb fish are perfect for the beginner aquarium owner.  While the tiger barb is the most common fish breed, it is also one of the easiest fish to take care of at the same time.  While the barb fish is very easy to maintain, it is also one of the more semi-aggressive fish as well. This means that you are going to have to head caution when you are adding other types of fish to your tank.  The tiger barb will grow to a max of 3 inches long, and due to this it is going to require a minimum of at least 30 gallons. The temperature of their tank should be someplace between 74 and 79 degrees, and maintain a pH of at least 6, but with a max pH of 7.

• Guppies

Guppies are one of those breeds of fish that just about every childe has heard about one-way or the other.  When it comes to keeping guppies in your fresh water aquarium however, the most popular and easiest type of guppy to keep is going to be the green cobra guppy.  This fish is one of the more friendly and peaceful fish, and is very easy to care for as all they require is a omnivorous diet. Maxing out at about 2” in length, the minimum size aquarium that they need is going to be at least 20 gallons, and a temperature that ranges between about 64 and 82 degrees.  As for the pH levels, the ideal pH is between 5.5 and 8.

• Blue Johanni Cichlid

Often chosen for many fresh water aquariums because of their beautiful blue coloring, the Blue Johanni Cichlid is a very bright blue color and has different lines of black floor that runs the entire length of their bodies.  Due to the potential size of these cichlids, the recommended tank size for these ones is going to be at least 50 gallons. While they are easy to maintain, they are considered to be a more aggressive fish, so you are going to need to pay extra attention to the other fish that you add to your aquarium.  Being native to Lake Malawi, which is located in Africa, you can expect them to grow to be about 5” long at full maturity. As for diet, they are a herbivorous fish that are their healthiest in a water temperature of 76 and 82 degrees and a pH balance of between 7.8 and 8.6. When it comes to feeding, they require a diet that is made up of vegetable rich lake type foods such as plants and algae.

• Peppered Cory Cat

Being one of the more affordable fish on this list, the peppered cory cat is one of the best fish for beginner aquarium goers.  Being silver in color, it has thin black markings that go up and down its body and just happens to be one of the more peaceful fish available for fresh water tanks.  With a recommended minimum aquarium size of at least 30 gallons, the water’s temperature should be anywhere between 72 and 79 degrees, and have pH level of between 5.8 and 7.  With its only natural location being from South America, they are an omnivorous fish and tend to thrive on a diet that is composed of both freeze-dried bloodworms, as well as catfish pellet food.  They also enjoy other types of live and frozen foods as well.

• Otocinclus Catfish

If you are a newbie to fresh water aquariums, the otocinclus catfish is one of the best fish that you can start out with.  While it is not as bright as some of the other fish on this list, it is also one of the fish that is overlooked by many as well.  But don’t let the lack of bright colors fool you, as this is one fish that is much more hardy than many of the other ones available for your fresh water aquarium.  Flourishing in tanks that are at least 30 gallons or more, these are some of the most peaceful fish you will have in your tank, helping keep your community of mixed species running smoothly.  The ideal temperature for these fish is between 74 and 79 degrees, with a pH level from 6.8 to 7.5. The otocinclus catfish is a herbivore, which means that they usually prefer to have their diet made up of algae and other vegetation.  If you do not have any algae in your aquarium, you will need to feed them some type of supplemental food that does contain a high amount of vegetation. You can expect these fish to reach a length of about 2” long when fully grown.

• Cherry Barb

Being a magnificent shade of pink that will attract most fresh water aquarium owners, the cherry barb is a small aquarium fish that will reach a length of about 2” long.  They are a particularly peaceful fish that is very hardy and extremely easy to maintain and care for. They do prefer their water temperature to be between 74 and 79 degrees, and a pH somewhere between 6 and 7.  They are an omnivorous fish that prefer to eat a diet that is packed full of a variety of meaty foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms, combined with flake food as well. The smallest tank size that you will want if you decide to get a cherry barb is going to be at least 30 gallons.

• Boesemani Rainbow

Another one of the fish that attracts the attention of many new fresh water aquarium owners, the Boesemani rainbow fish has extremely bright and beautiful coloring that makes you want it in your tank.  While this particular breed of fish does cost a little more than some of the other colorful fish on this list, it is also very peaceful and extremely easy to take care of and maintain. Because of these qualities, it is highly recommended as one of the better starter fish if you are an aquarium beginner.  This is an omnivorous fish that prefers a diet of flakes, live and frozen foods. However, it is very important that you only feed them smaller foods that are going to be able to fit down their small throats. They grow to a max of about 3” long when fully grown and require no less than a 30 gallon tank. They prefer to be in water that is between 72 and 77 degrees and has a pH of 7 to 8.

• Harlequin Rasbora

Being one of the more affordable fish on the list, the harlequin rasbora is a very beautiful orange color that has a black triangle on the backside of its body.   Unlike some of the other fresh water fish, they prefer to swim around the top of the tank and need at least 10 gallons to be happy and healthy. The perfect water temperature for them is between 72 and 77 degrees with a pH balance of 6 to 6.5.  They will grow to around roughly 2” and eat an omnivorous diet. They thrive on a healthy dose of flake foods, tubifex, and freeze-dried bloodworms.

• Albino Peacock Cichlid

Being a beautiful and shimmering pink and white color that is flecked with hints of neon yellow and blue, the albino peacock cichlid is one of the few albino fish that actually has eyes that are pink in color.  The minimum recommended tank size for these is slightly larger at 50 gallons that is only because these fish are able to reach a length of up to 5” once they are fully grown. This fish is a carnivorous fish, meaning that it will need a diet that consists of both vegetables and meat sources.  Typically, they are fed a combination of flake food, as well as pellet based foods, as well as frozen or live brine shrimp. They prefer their tank to have a temperature of between 76 and 82 degrees, and a pH level that is between 7.8 and 8.6.

Freshwater Fish for the More Advanced

Just because you are looking to set up a fresh water aquarium tank does not always mean that you are a beginner who has never done this before.  And if you are not a beginner, this means that you have some type of experience when it comes to having and maintaining fish, giving you the knowledge that is required in order to properly care for some of the more advanced freshwater fish breeds.  Some of these breeds of fish can include: African butterfly fish, fahaka puffers, black ghost knifefish, kissing gouramis, clown loach, silver arowana, tiger Oscar, and the African tiger fish.

• Fahaka Puffers

Generally chosen because they have the unique ability to puff themselves up, the fahaka puffers are some of the most sought after freshwater fish that you can have.  However, they do pose some types of problems for their tank owners, as they have never been breed successfully while in captivity. They are on the more aggressive side and will need a tank that is no smaller than 125 gallons.  This is because they will grow to maturity and reach a size of 17”, or 1 foot and 5 inches. While they are a carnivorous fish, they are going to require a larger number of plants that will allow them to hide.

• African Butterfly Fish

While the African butterfly fish is one of the more unique looking fishes that has fins looking like a butterfly’s wings, they are also very aggressive and will require much more care than many other fish.  They grow to reach a size of about 4” once fully grown and prefer their tank to be no smaller than 30 gallons. As for the temperature of the water, it should be between 75 and 86 degrees, and the pH should be from 6.9 to 7.1.  The African butterfly fish is a carnivorous fish, meaning that you will need to feed it other smaller fish or shrimp, but can get by with a healthy dose of freeze-dried foods that are recommended to feed to carnivorous fish.

• Black Ghost Knifefish

Being particularly oddly shaped, the black ghost knifefish is somewhat difficult to maintain and take care of.  While this fish is on the more semi-aggressive side, you are going to need to take that into consideration when you are selecting other fish for your aquarium.  They are a carnivorous fish that will eventually grow to be around roughly 18”, or 1 foot and 6 inches long. They require your aquarium to be at least 50 gallons if you want them to maintain good health.  The water temperature needs to be between 73 to 80 degrees, with a pH balance of 6.5 to 7.

• Clown Loach

This is a unique fish as it is easily recognizable by the black and orange stripes that is wears.  It is also one of the more sought after fresh water fish because of the bright decorations that it will bring to your tank, as well as the naturally peaceful nature.  While the clown loach is a peaceful fish, they are also moderately difficult to maintain and will require a steady diet that is mainly omnivorous. They grow to be about 12” or one foot long and thrive in tanks that are at least 50 gallons.  They enjoy water that has a temperature between 72 and 86 degrees, and a pH balance that is from 6 to 7.5.

• Kissing Gourami’s

One of the more appropriately named fish, the kissing gourami is one of the more popular fish because they appear to ‘kiss’ other kissing gourami fish when they meet them in the same aquarium.  They are a silvery pink color and have a very peaceful name, however, they are really considered to be on the more semi-aggressive side. This means that you are going to need to carefully select the other fish that you decide to put into your aquarium with these fish.  They eat an omnivorous diet and need to be in a tank that is no smaller than 30 gallons. On top of that, you are gong to need to know what you are doing in order to care and maintain them. They prefer their water temperature to be between 72 and 82 degrees, and a tank pH of between 6.8 and 8.5.

• African Tiger Fish

Requiring only the more experienced fresh water aquarium owners, the African tiger fish can grow to a larger size and is only recommended for tanks that are at least 500 gallons.  In fact, when they are fully grown, the African tiger fish can reach a length of 3 feet 4 inches long. On top of that, they are also known to be very aggressive with the other fish that are in the tank.  They prefer the temperature of their water to be between 73 and 82 degrees, and a pH level that is from 6.5 to 7.8.

• Silver Arowana

In many different Asian cultures, the silver arowana fish is a symbol of extreme fortuitous.  Because of this, there are many people who practice feng shiu who actively seed out this particular breed of fish.  They are a moderately difficult fish to maintain and can be on the semi-aggressive side. This means that you are going to need to be careful when you are selecting other fish to put into the same tank.  They are able to reach a full grown size of 3 feet 4 inches, meaning that the smallest tank you should have for them is going to be 250 gallons.

• Tiger Oscar

Being one of the most difficult fish that you can have in your freshwater aquarium, the Tiger Oscar is hard to keep happy and healthy, making it a less recommended fish for the inexperienced.  In fact, it is highly recommended that you only attempt to keep this fish if you are an expert with tons of experience. They are a semi-aggressive fish that eat a carnivorous diet, and can grow to the length of 12”, or 1 foot.  Because of this, they require a minimum tank size of at least 70 gallons, and require a temperature that is between 72 and 77 degrees. As for pH, that is going to need to be between 6 and 8.

So Which Fish are Best for My Aquarium?

While there are many people who decide to go into their very fist aquarium experience believing that they are only able to purchase certain breeds of fish, they soon find out that they are very far from the truth.  In fact, while most of the fish are restricted by only the temperature of the tank, you are really only limited by the temperament of the particular breed of fish that you decide to have in your aquarium. While you do not have to only select one species of fish to populate your aquarium, you can and it will be a very boring tank.

The best thing that you can do for your aquarium, whether you are just starting out or have years of aquarium experience, is to diversify your fresh water tank as much as possible.  You should jump into diversity with the fish you decide to have, which will create an amazing aquarium experience. Just be sure to remember that in order for your tank to maintain a healthy environment, you are going to want to match fish that have similar temperaments, as well as requirements.  It is always best if you choose fish that are equivalent with your level of experience, as well as compatible with the other fish in the tank. If you do this, you will have no problems when you decide to grow your tank and build an aquarium that thrives.

Freshwater Aquarium Ownership, an Overview

While there are many that will have you believe owning a freshwater aquarium is not as rewarding as it sounds and that a saltwater tank would be better, this is all a matter of their personal opinion.  Being a freshwater aquarium owner can provide you with just as much diversity as a saltwater tank, but for a fraction of the price and time involved with the maintenance. In fact, there are many freshwater fish that are actually more aggressive and even pickier than their saltwater counterparts.

At the end of the day however, the type of aquarium you decide to have is all about your personal preference.  No matter which one you decide to go with, both a freshwater aquarium and a saltwater aquarium will bring you tons of joy and entertainment.