11 Cold Water Fish Species Perfect for Your Freshwater Aquarium

Key Takeaways

Optimum water temperature is essential for the well being of fish in a freshwater aquarium, particularly for cold-water species that may tolerate cooler circumstances.
Widespread cold-water fish like goldfish and zebra danios are common selections, however they require completely different tank sizes as a result of their potential development.
Accountable aquarium possession entails understanding the full-grown dimension of fish species to forestall issues, in addition to avoiding releasing aquarium fish into the wild.

One essential issue when stocking your aquarium is the water temperature your fish require. Most decorative aquarium fish are tropical, needing heat water between 72 and 82 levels F (22-28 C) to outlive. Nevertheless, some species can thrive in cooler water, with temperatures as little as 50-60 levels F (10-15 C).

The goldfish is probably the most generally saved cold-water fish, however it may develop as much as a foot lengthy, making it too giant for a small aquarium. Nevertheless, many different fascinating fish species thrive and not using a heated tank. You could find fish that choose chilly water from temperate zones throughout the globe.

Some cold-water decorative fish develop too giant for aquariums and are higher suited to out of doors ponds. Koi, for instance, could also be offered at just a few inches lengthy, however they’ll attain as much as three ft as adults.

In case you’re establishing a cold-water aquarium, think about these 11 fish species that keep at manageable sizes and thrive in cooler circumstances.

Tip

Keep away from releasing aquarium fish into the wild after they outgrow your tank. These species can disrupt native aquatic environments by outcompeting native species. As an alternative, donate giant fish to a pet store, public aquarium, or hobbyist with a bigger tank. It is best to analysis a fish’s potential grownup dimension earlier than buying to make sure your aquarium can accommodate them as they develop.

Your Complete Information to Killifish Care and Species Variety

Zebra Danio

After the goldfish, the zebra danio (Danio rerio, Brachydanio rerio previously) is the subsequent most available of all of the cold-water fish. Native to South Asia, they tolerate temperatures that fall into the mid-60s F (18 C) and are very simple to take care of. Lengthy-finned types can be found, in addition to a well-liked leopard-spotted selection.

Species Overview

Size: 1 to 1.5 inches

Bodily Traits: 5 uniform horizontal blue stripes extending to caudal fin; laterally compressed form, with the mouth directed upward; torpedo-shaped with gold stripes between the blue (male); whitish stomach with silver stripes between the blue (feminine)
White Cloud Mountain Minnow

Virtually extinct in its native China as a result of air pollution, this is likely one of the best fish to take care of. The white cloud minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) does finest in cooler temperatures. A brand new gold-colored variant has grow to be highly regarded, though very low temperatures will dampen their enticing coloration.

Species Overview

Size: 1.5 inches

Bodily Traits: Silver inexperienced, rosy pink, or gold physique with purple caudal and dorsal fin; brighter colours, slimmer in physique, fan-shaped dorsal and anal fins (male); white distended stomach, wedge-shaped fins (feminine).
Pearl Danio

Just like the zebra danio, the pearl danio (Danio albolineatus) could be very hardy and simple to take care of. It’ll tolerate temperatures into the mid-60s with out issue and is simple to search out. Pearl danios are bigger than zebra danios, however they needn’t be saved in faculties. They’re native to Sumatra, Laos and Thailand.

Species Overview

Size: 2 inches

Bodily Traits: Forked tail, paired barbels, pearlescent colour.
Bloodfin Tetra

Natives to Southern Brazil and Paraguay, each the usual bloodfin (Aphyocharax anisitsi), and the false bloodfin (Aphyocharax dentatus) tolerate temperatures as little as the mid-60s. Peaceable omnivores, they’re simple to take care of and are fairly hardy. As such, bloodfin tetras are provided in lots of pet retailers. These tetras are energetic floor dwellers and are finest saved in faculties.

Species Overview

Size: 2 to three inches

Bodily Traits: Silvery lengthy skinny physique; all fins coloured purple; tetras haven’t any barbels, however have an small adipose fin on the caudal peduncle.

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Buenos Aires Tetra

Buenos Aires tetra (Psalidodon anisitsi, previously Hemigrammus caudovittatus) are simply discovered on the market and can tolerate temperatures into the mid-60s F (18 C). Select between customary and the albino variants. Just like the bloodfin tetras, they’re undemanding and simple to take care of. They’re appropriate for a group tank however will voraciously eat stay crops.

Species Overview

Size: 2 to three inches

Bodily Traits: Silvery fish with a again of olive and brown; anal, ventral, and dorsal fins are yellowish to reddish; purple higher a part of the iris of the attention; a darkish diamond-shaped spot close to the tail fin base.
Gold Barb

The gold barb, or Chinese language barb, is an especially common cold-water fish. Barbs are education fish that must be saved in teams of 5-6 fish, or extra. Any aquarium containing gold barbs ought to keep a average present. A devoted river tank isn’t mandatory, however some movement from a powerhead must be supplied. The gold barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus, beforehand named Puntius semifasciolatus or Barbus schuberti), additionally is available in a much less frequent inexperienced selection.

Species Overview

Size: 2 to three inches

Bodily Traits: Brilliant, shiny golden yellow physique colour that was developed by selective breeding. Within the wild, they’re greenish coloured.
Hillstream Loach

These placing bottom-dwelling fish (Gastromyzon punctulatus) are from South and East Asia. Though these fish will not be usually seen in pet retailers, people may be discovered on the market on occasion. Not all of them choose cool temperatures, however most will tolerate temperatures that fall into the mid to higher 60s F (15-20 C).

Species Overview

Size: As much as 3 inches

Bodily Traits: black and yellow, noticed alongside the pinnacle and again; lengthy stripes alongside the edges; flattened prime to backside; extensive and spherical pectoral and pelvic fins that kind a ventral sucker.
Two Spot Barb

This fish hails from Nepal, India, and Pakistan. The omnivorous two spot barb (Pethia ticto, previously Barbus ticto) is usually a vivid purple fish. The darkness of its spots and the brightness of the purple lateral colour match the standard of its diverse food regimen; it’s endorsed to present them stay meals, flake meals, and a few algae. Counter to its identify, this barb has no barbels in any respect.

Species Overview

Size: 3 to five inches

Bodily Traits: Silvery physique, one black spot close to the pinnacle and one close to the tail; dorsal fin reddish with black spots (male); no barbels.

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Rosy Barb

Hailing from Afghanistan and Bangladesh, this little fish is tolerant of temperatures within the mid-60s Fahrenheit (18 C), and even decrease. They’re simple to take care of and are appropriate for a group aquarium. Undemanding and delightful, the rosy barb (Pethia conchonius, previously Barbus conchonius) is additionally thought of one of many hardiest barbs.

Species Overview

Size: As much as 6 inches

Bodily Traits: Lengthy skinny fish with iridescent pinkish sides and enormous scales; ventral fins which are saturated purple on the base; bluish edged anal fin with a hooked outgrowth or barb (on males).
Climate Loach

Available, the climate loach (Misgurnus angullicaudatus) from East Asia is likely one of the best fish to take care of. Couple that with the truth that they are going to tolerate temperatures within the 50s F (10 C), they’re glorious candidates for a chilly water tank. This fish turns into extra energetic when the barometer drops earlier than a storm, therefore the identify.

Species Overview

Size: 5 to eight inches

Bodily Traits: Pink, albino, or grey physique; elongated form like an eel; 3 units of barbels surrounding the mouth, showing like a mop.
Goldfish

Initially from Asia, Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are most likely probably the most available fish in captivity. There are various enticing variations of this common and hardy fish. Fancy goldfish have lengthy, double caudal fins (tails) which may be so long as the physique. The comet goldfish has a protracted, single tail and is often discovered within the golden coloration, however may also happen in white, orange and white, and black, orange and white coloration.

Species Overview

Size: 8 to 12 inches
Bodily Traits: Elongated our bodies with a single tail fin in frequent, comet and shubunkin varieties. Many physique shapes with twin tails, similar to ryukin, and oranda goldfish.

Except you’re planning on placing it right into a pond, keep away from the one cold-water fish often called the Chinese language Excessive-Fin Banded Shark, additionally referred to as the Wimple Carp, or the Freshwater Batfish (Myxocyprinus asiaticus), referencing its excessive triangle-shaped dorsal fin and black banding on younger fish. It’s usually offered at just a few inches lengthy in pet shops, however can develop to eight inches within the first yr, then this cute little fish (not a shark) in the end grows to 4 and a half ft lengthy. Therefore it isn’t acceptable for many aquaria.

Key Takeaways

Tip

Zebra Danio

Species Overview

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

Species Overview

Pearl Danio

Species Overview

Bloodfin Tetra

Species Overview

Buenos Aires Tetra

Species Overview

Gold Barb

Species Overview

Hillstream Loach

Species Overview

Two Spot Barb

Species Overview

Rosy Barb

Species Overview

Climate Loach

Species Overview

Goldfish

Species Overview

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