25 Small Fish Species Perfect for Your Freshwater Aquarium

Mickey Mouse Platy

Platys are colourful fish which are very appropriate for newbies. Since they’re livebearing fish, many hobbyists begin out with just a few fish—which may shortly multiply into many fish. The Mickey Mouse platy is called for a really particular shade sample fashioned within the tail peduncle. The minimal tank dimension for this species is 10 gallons.

Different platys embody the pink wagtail, wagtail, and lots of extra.

Guppy

Guppies are a cornerstone of the small fish aquarium passion. One other livebearing species, guppy tanks are sometimes overrun with offspring from frequent breeding. The very best ability any guppy proprietor can be taught is to inform the distinction between women and men to maintain populations from exploding. The males are smaller and extra colourful fish, whereas the bigger females can have a colourful tail fin however the physique is apparent with a big white stomach.

The extra guppies you’ve gotten, the larger your tank must be. For example, if in case you have a 30-gallon tank, you possibly can maintain round 15 guppies, however if in case you have a 10-gallon tank, solely about 5 of them will be stored in it.

Zebra Danio (Zebrafish)

These small, striped fish are one of many few within the aquarium passion that do not require heat tropical temperatures. Zebrafish are peaceable, neighborhood gamers that love education in teams of 5 or extra fish. There are a number of Danio species obtainable within the pet market with a wide range of colours and markings. There’s a lengthy fin number of zebra danio, and this fish can also be obtainable in glow colours that had been developed by including fluorescent genes into the fish. You’ll want a minimum of a 10-gallon tank for them.

Neon Tetra

Probably the most frequent small freshwater aquarium species is the neon tetra. These fish are identified for his or her colourful look with brilliant pink and blue stripes. They’re nice neighborhood fish and college collectively in a vibrant wave.

The cardinal tetra is one other, very comparable species. They’re distinguishable from the extra frequent neon tetra by their longer pink stomach bar that extends all the way in which to the top. The black neon tetra is an analogous species with black and gold bars as an alternative of pink and blue colours. Relying on the kind of tetra you get, you’ll want a 10- or 20-gallon tank at minimal.

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

The white cloud mountain minnow is one other species of small neighborhood fish that doesn’t require heat tropical temperatures. These fish do nicely in temperate tanks with zebrafish and goldfish, offered they don’t seem to be snack dimension. These fish are generally added to aquascape setups, the place focus is placed on the crops, not essentially the fish, and only a college of 1 species of fish is added into the aquarium. The minimal tank dimension for these fish is 10 gallons.

Harlequin Rasbora

The harlequin rasbora is a small, education fish with a vibrant ruby coloration, contrasted with a black marking on the again half of the physique, giving them the two-toned “harlequin” look. These peaceable fish add a brilliant splash of shade to planted or aquascaped tanks. There are additionally different species of rasbora, just like the scissortail, that keep small and do nicely in neighborhood aquariums. When you have a 20-gallon tank, you possibly can home 10 harlequin rasboras in it.

Serpae Tetra

The serpae tetra is a smaller fish with an enormous persona. These brilliant pink education fish with black spots on the physique and fins present shade to pure aquascapes with plenty of aquatic crops. These fish are very lively, and have the behavior of biting fins of their pals and tankmates. There’s a longfin number of this fish species that’s typically obtainable at fish shops. These fish require a minimal tank dimension of 20 gallons.

Panda Corydoras

The panda corydoras is a typical corydoras species seen within the pet commerce. These catfish have a white or translucent physique with contrasting black spots on the top and tail base, giving them their panda-esque coloration. The minimal tank dimension for these fish is 10 gallons.

There are a number of species of corydoras catfish with comparable, peaceable temperaments. The primary variations between these species are their colours and markings. All corydoras are small, peaceable, bottom-dwelling, nocturnal fish species.

Glowlight Tetra

The glowlight tetra is to not be confused with GloFish species. Their coloration comes from pure shade patterns and has not been genetically engineered. It is a peaceable education tetra that’s simple to look after. The translucent, silvery physique of the glowlight tetra is split by an iridescent red-gold stripe operating from snout to tail. A ten-gallon tank is all you want, at minimal, for these tetras.

Pea Puffer

A more moderen addition to the aquarium passion, the pea puffer is a small however mighty member of the pufferfish household. Do not let their small dimension trick you! These small fish will be aggressive, even in opposition to their very own variety. They’re normally stored by themselves in a closely planted aquarium of a minimum of 5 gallons, or two to a few will be stored in a 10-gallon aquarium. If protecting them with different fish, these ought to be small however quick swimming, non-aggressive species.

The pea puffer is just not advisable for newbie hobbyists. Correct weight loss program and surroundings are key in long-term survival of those fish. They’re carnivores, in order that they do nicely on a weight loss program of frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and different meaty meals, and will eat small fish meals pellets.

Tiger Barb

The tiger barb is a straightforward fish to deal with, however they don’t play nicely in neighborhood tanks. Be certain they’re in a tank with extra aggressive fish and have plenty of room to swim. They do higher when stored in a faculty of six or extra tiger barbs. They want a 20-gallon tank, at minimal.

There are a number of shade variations obtainable, together with inexperienced and albino. There’s a longfin selection that’s typically obtainable at fish shops, in addition to a fluorescent GloFish tiger barb.

Swordtail

Named for the elongated extension of the caudal fin in males, the swordtail is one other livebearer fish that may shortly overpopulate a small aquarium. There are numerous shade types of swordtail obtainable within the pet fish market. They’re peaceable fish, bigger than most different livebearers. The females are as colourful because the males however haven’t got the sword extension on their tail fin. When it comes to tanks dimension, a minimal of 20 gallons is finest.

German Blue Ram

There are numerous species throughout the cichlid household, however comparatively few that keep small in dimension and will be stored in a neighborhood aquarium. The German blue ram is one such species, however is just not advisable for newbies given their strict water high quality and habitat necessities. They’re a fantastic addition to planted aquariums with heat, acidic water situations. Additionally, 20 gallons is the minimal tank dimension for this fish.  

Buenos Aires Tetra

The Buenos Aires tetra is making a comeback within the aquarium passion. As soon as referred to as voracious plant eaters, these colourful fish are being seen extra in closely planted tanks, the place plant meals is plentiful. These neighborhood fish are simple to look after and might tolerate many newbie errors. Regardless of being small, they want a least a 30-gallon tank.

Dwarf Gourami

Of the numerous gourami species, there are few that keep small. Most gouramis are medium-sized fish, however the dwarf gourami, because the title suggests, tops out at solely 2 inches. Like different gouramis, these intermediate-level fish have particular environmental necessities for profitable lives. The dwarf gourami will be stored in a neighborhood aquarium with different small, peaceable fish species.

The male has good pink and blue bands, and the feminine has extra subdued coloration. There are a number of shade types of this species, such because the powder blue dwarf gourami, which is all blue and has no pink bands. At a minimal, they want a 5-gallon tank.

Gold (Chinese language) Barb

Though this fish is inexperienced within the wild, they have been captively bred to point out good golden coloration. There are just a few different colours which have subsequently been bred, together with an albino and a tricolor variation. These lively fish play nicely in neighborhood tanks, however do desire barely lower than tropical temperatures.

Gold barbs are education fish and ought to be stored in teams of six or extra. Their peaceable nature makes them a superb alternative for neighborhood aquariums with tetras, danios, and different small barbs. They need to have, at minimal, a 20-gallon tank.

Betta

Betta fish are one of the crucial frequent pet fish species. Given their aggressive nature, male bettas should be avoided different male bettas. Nevertheless, one male betta will be stored in a neighborhood aquarium with quick swimming, non-aggressive fish species. Often, a number of females will be stored collectively in an aquarium with different fish species, however typically even feminine bettas could battle one another. The female and male ought to solely be collectively when breeding, then the feminine eliminated, or the male will bully her and might trigger harm.

Betta fish are available a rainbow number of colours and tail shapes. They need to be stored in a spacious tank of 5 to 10 gallons or extra, not in a tiny bowl such as you discover them at pet shops. 

Hachetfish

In search of a more difficult and uncommon small fish species? Hatchetfish have a really distinctive, compressed physique form, they usually’re identified for flying excessive of the water utilizing their wing-like fins. These fish will not be for newbies, since they’ve very particular tank necessities. They are going to leap out of the water if frightened, so the aquarium should have a safe and tight-fitting lid to maintain the fish from flying out. Place these fish in a tank that’s a minimum of 30 gallons.

Congo Tetra

The Congo tetra pushes the utmost size of the small fish class, however these education fish are a rainbow addition to many tanks. They’re peaceable aquarium fish, with males having longer fins than females. Purpose to maintain them with different species which are about the identical dimension or smaller. Good examples of tankmates embody rainbowfish, swordtails, guppies, and different tetras. Additionally, maintain them in a 30-gallon tank, at a minimal, if in case you have a smaller college of six fish—bigger faculties will want a much bigger tank.

Beacon Fish

The Beacon fish is one other member of the tetra household. Often known as the top and tail gentle tetra, this fish has distinctive copper spots that resemble lights on a automobile—one is situated on the base of the tail and the opposite is above the attention. These fish do finest in decrease lighting with plenty of plant cowl. The minimal tank dimension for them is 15 gallons.

Black Phantom Tetra

Reasonably than brilliant colours, the black phantom tetra is understood for a darker look with elongated dorsal fin. The black phantom tetra will get their title from an “eye patch” behind the gills, as if a phantom is peering again at you. However don’t be concerned, regardless of the title, this can be a peaceable education fish. These fish make an awesome distinction with different colourful tetra species that can usually all college collectively. They require, at minimal, a 10-gallon tank.

Black Ruby Barb

Often known as the purple-headed barb, the black ruby barb has a definite deep pink coloration not generally seen in different aquarium fish. With an analogous physique form because the tiger barb, these fish begin with a pale yellow physique that deepens with maturity. Grownup males are noticeably smaller, slimmer, and extra colourful than females. They need to be housed in a 30-gallon tank, at a minimal.

Cherry Barb

The cherry barb is called for the male’s brilliant pink shade—the feminine has extra subdued coloration that’s extra orange than pink—so they could be a pretty addition to your aquarium if you wish to add a colourful fish. These barbs wish to be in faculties of 5 or 6, at a minimal. They can be in a peaceable tank with different barbs and tetras. 25 gallons is the minimal tank dimension for them.

Molly

There are numerous varieties of mollies, they usually are available a variety of colours and boast lovely fins and tails. For instance, there are stable black mollies and albino mollies which have pink eyes. These small fish are comparatively hardy livebearers, they usually additionally desire being in hotter water, so make certain your temperature is right for them. These peaceable fish want a minimal tank dimension of 20 gallons.

Pearl Danio

The pearl danio is straightforward to look after, as they’ll tolerate a variety of water situations. Additionally they make a beautiful addition to any tank crammed with peaceable neighborhood fish. They usually simply reproduce, so that you would possibly get extra of them if you take care of them correctly. These iridescent fish are eye-catching, with their blue-violet physique and orange-red stripe that runs from the mid-body to the tail. They need to be stored in faculties, and the minimal tank dimension for this species is 20 gallons.