The best aquarium fish

The aquarium in the house creates a cozy and calm atmosphere. It has a beneficial effect on psychological health, disposes to rest, helping a person to relax. Also, aquariums are good for children - scientists have proven that they contribute to the diversified development of the child. But the main source of inspiration was, of course, fish, different in color, size and type. Caring for them does not cause any particular difficulties, and aquaristics has long been recognized as a useful and educational activity that people can do at any age. This rating presents the best aquarium fish for home artificial reservoirs. Recommendations are given for the selection, maintenance and care of vertebrates, as well as the pros and cons of keeping each species.

What aquarium fish are better to choose

The selection of aquarium specimens is large enough, shops offer fish for every taste, of different sizes, colors and types. There are certain types of vertebrates for beginners, for which care will not be difficult, but there are larger, even predatory fish that need to be taken seriously. For the reader's acquaintance, the rating provides a brief overview of each group:

• Scalar - a fairly large vertebrate from the cichlov family. Life expectancy is 7-10 years, suitable for large reservoirs with a temperature of at least + 25 degrees.
• Cockerel - a popular aquarium fish of an interesting color. It is a representative of South Asian reservoirs, has existed for about three years and is suitable for small pools with a water temperature of + 25-28 degrees.
• Gourami Is a member of the Trichogaster family. It is divided into four main species and several subspecies, native to the waters of Indonesia and Southeast Asia and is considered a very hardy individual.
• gold fish - a representative of the genus carp, bred in China. It easily gets along with other, non-aggressive species, lives on average 30-35 years, but an aquarium of at least 50 liters is required to keep a goldfish.
• Guppy - freshwater from the order of karpodiformes. Differs in ease of maintenance, suitable for small pools with a temperature of at least + 22 degrees.
• Pecilia - another representative of the carps-toothed. Native to Central and South America, has many types of color, compatible with any fish, except predators. Lives on average 3-4 years.
• Limia - vertebrates from the family Poeciliidae. Bred on the island of Haiti, suitable for small aquariums, but prefer to settle in flocks. The coloration of the limia is not very remarkable.
• Formosa - fry from the genus Peciliaceae. They live in freshwater and salt water, have a dull color and prefer a group existence. They live on average three years.
• Thorns - unpretentious aquarium individual of the haracin family. It reaches a length of 6 cm, has a silvery color and is able to glow beautifully under UV rays.
• Mollies - large black individuals from the order of karptooths. They grow up to 17 cm in length, can exist both singly and in flocks, and the life expectancy is 5 years.
• Black swordsman - a beautiful viviparous from the Pecilia family. Inhabits mountain rivers, swamps, lakes, is suitable for keeping in water not lower than +25 degrees, but quite capricious.
• Ancistrus - a fairly popular vertebrate from the order of catfish. It stands out for its unusual appearance, likes to hide in secluded places and is considered the "orderly" of the aquarium.

Rating of aquarium fish

The rating was created based on the opinion of experts who gave independent assessments. We also took into account the reviews of real people who have kept this or that breed for several years. The conducted testing helped to identify the positive and negative qualities of the nominees, as well as the features of their content. When selecting fish in the TOP, the following criteria were taken into account:

• The size;
• View;
• Color;
• Care;
• Reproduction;
• Life span;
• Content temperature;
• Compatibility with other species.

The price in this rating did not matter, since all types of individuals presented are relatively inexpensive. The reviews only cover the best aquarium fish that have become popular in 2024.

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The best aquarium fish for beginners

Experts recommend that novice aquarists choose undemanding, simple fish that do not need much care. Also, experts advise to start breeding vertebrates in small pools, with a minimum set of decorations. This section presents the four starter aquarium fish that have received the most positive ratings.

Scalars

The scalar has a dense triangular body and high fins. They can reach a height of 200 mm, have a different color and can live for over 10 years. The scalar is intended for large, voluminous aquariums; this species lives mainly in pairs in soft weakly acidic water with temperatures up to +25 degrees. It is noteworthy that individuals love tall living plants, since females lay eggs in them and hide. Experts recommend purchasing this species in pairs or in small groups, but it is better to keep them in a separate aquarium before spawning.

Advantages

• Picky about food;
• They easily get along with other types of non-aggressive individuals;
• Pair for life;
• Very beautiful.

disadvantages

• The need for territorial space is strongly expressed;
• May be attacked by other fish;

Because of their translucent and large fins, scalars can be attacked by even small aggressive fry. Large individuals can bite off fins, harming or even killing the scalar.

Cockerels

Aquarium cockerels are distinguished by their beautiful color, large fluffy tail and veil fins. This is a rather unpretentious and hardy species, they are suitable for small aquariums and love a natural, free environment. Males eat both dry and live food, with an equal protein content and plant components. The size of a large individual can reach 10 cm, while the males are somewhat larger than the females and have a brighter color. Experts advise not to keep two representatives of this species at the same time in the same aquarium, since males will certainly show intraspecific aggression and territoriality.

Advantages

• Wide temperature range of content;
• Easily and simply reproduce;
• Many color options;
• It gets along well in a common aquarium.

disadvantages

• Show aggressiveness;
• Difficulty leaving during spawning.

During spawning, the pair must be planted in a separate artificial reservoir without soil. It is necessary to constantly maintain the set water temperature in it, providing the cockerels with special food, as well as stimulating spawning in other ways.

Gourami

A small, peaceful individual of an attractive color. The gourami aquarium fish has one peculiarity - it breathes with the help of atmospheric age. Thanks to the amazing gill structure, the gourami rises to the surface of the water and swallows air, but if the oxygen is cut off, it will simply die.Also, this species has thin and long pelvic fins, which serve as the organ of touch. There are a lot of gourami varieties, each species differs in color, size and preferences, but regardless of the type, the fish remains quite friendly and non-aggressive.

Advantages

• Suitable for keeping with other species;
• Picky about food;
• Easy to maintain;
• They live long enough.

disadvantages

• Cover slips are required for keeping in an aquarium;
• Often affected by other fish.

In fact, gourami are very timid, albeit rather large fish. Therefore, they can be offended by more aggressive individuals, especially during the spawning season.

gold fish

Very beautiful, but at the same time capricious person. She needs large aquariums (at least 50 liters), plus she requires frequent water changes and is quite voracious. It is noteworthy that this fish loves to dig in the ground, therefore, to keep it, you need to stock up on a sufficient amount of coarse sand or pebbles. Suitable for keeping with other, peaceful breeds, but the aquarium needs to maintain good aeration and a large volume of water. This species feeds on live and plant foods, but experts do not recommend overfeeding them. For spawning, it is necessary to transplant a female and 2-3 males into another aquarium, providing proper care.

Advantages

• Beautiful and varied color;
• Easily adapt to new water bodies;
• Able to endure a long time without food;
• They multiply quickly and easily.

disadvantages

• Very demanding on the content;
• They often suffer from predators.

Scientists have argued about the longevity of the goldfish for many years, but everyone came to a unanimous conclusion. The life expectancy of these individuals is on average 25-35 years, which is also called their dignity.

The best unpretentious viviparous aquarium fish

Unpretentious species are generally recommended for young aquarists. Caring for such individuals is quite simple, they are used to the standard temperature range and reproduce easily. In this category, there are three nominees who have become the best thanks to their unique parameters.

Guppy

These are playful little fry that many users like. They have a completely varied color, are suitable for small artificial reservoirs and live mainly in flocks. Guppies prefer natural plants and various structures, so they will be happy with an aquarium with dense vegetation and beautiful decorations. They can be kept with other, friendly species of fish, but they do not make contact with active individuals, so it is better to protect them from barbs or tetras. The male guppy is very easy to distinguish from the female, which is much smaller.

Advantages

• Omnivores;
• They give birth to live fry;
• Do not damage plants;
• Not demanding on temperature conditions.

disadvantages

• Susceptible to fungal diseases;
• Short lifespan.

Remarkably, guppies live for about twelve months, due to their accelerated metabolism. Also, these individuals can die of hypothermia if the required temperature is not maintained.

Pecilia

Popular viviparous aquarium fish. The body of a petsilia can reach a length of 5 cm, it feeds on any kind of food and has a wide variety of colors. It is noteworthy that this species needs fiber, so users recommend periodically adding vegetable flakes or boiled vegetables to the diet. They are suitable for small aquariums, they easily get along with other, non-aggressive species of fish and love clean, fresh water. For the reproduction of platies, certain knowledge is not required, they freely give birth every month in any, even a very small space, but the fry must be immediately isolated.

Advantages

• They take root quickly and easily;
• Easy to maintain;
• Can be bred without aeration and filtration of the aquarium;
• In good conditions, they live up to four years.

disadvantages

• Females can eat their fry;
• They prefer high acidity of water.

There are a lot of varieties of platies, they differ mainly in color and size. Regardless of the type, individuals have a friendly character, they are very perky and visually enliven any aquarium.

Limia

A simple and very unpretentious fish that grows up to six centimeters in length. It has a simple, expressionless color, suitable for a small aquarium and is not picky about food. These individuals prefer to group in flocks, they quickly adapt to various water conditions, even to brackish water. Get along well with other, non-aggressive, inactive fish species that are also suitable for novice aquarists. Limias reproduce independently, females should be isolated for the spawning period.

Advantages

• Wide temperature range of content;
• Omnivorous;
• Developing rapidly;
• Helps get rid of duckweed.

disadvantages

• Requires good aeration and filtration;
• Frequent water changes are required.

Limias also prefer natural, bright lighting. And when using artificial light, users recommend using a red spectrum lamp.

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Best Small Aquarium Fish

Small aquarium fish are mainly suitable for creating fullness in an artificial reservoir. They are constantly moving, have a varied color and are generally unpretentious in food. In this category, three types of domestic aquarium fish are considered that have become the most popular.

Formosa

Formoses are small viviparous fry. They have a rather unremarkable color, are suitable for keeping in a small aquarium and love to be surrounded by many plants. Formoses live in schools; the features of this species include large mobile eyes, which are not characteristic of most fish. Also, this species is able to slightly change color, with a good location, individuals become marbled, and a pattern with dark spots appears on the belly. The average life span is four years.

Advantages

• Simple content;
• They have sanitary properties;
• Remove plaque on the walls of the reservoir;
• They reproduce easily.

disadvantages

• Can nibble on fins of other fish;
• Hungry individuals can eat fry.

It is noteworthy that formoses eat planarians, worms, ostracods and other pests, therefore they are considered orderlies of reservoirs. They also clean the walls of plaque and algae, so it is better not to overfeed them.

Thorns

A simple small fish no more than six centimeters long. Thornsia is considered an unpretentious aquarium fish, it can live up to four years and can have a variety of colors. Individuals are intended for small aquariums, they like bright, natural light and feel quite comfortable in shelters, therefore they like artificially decorated reservoirs with a lot of plants. They coexist well with peaceful neighbors, but they can offend veiled individuals by pinching their long fins and tails. Females of thorns look larger than males.

Advantages

• Swim fast, actively;
• Undemanding to water quality;
• They keep the flock well;
• Not scared.

disadvantages

• Can jump out of water;
• They eat their fry.

For the breeding season, the female and male must be placed in a separate small container, where they will calmly produce offspring. Then you need to remove the pair to avoid eating the eggs.

Mollies

Mollies are beautiful fish for a small aquarium, of different colors and temperaments. The behavior of these individuals is quite active, they are suitable for breeding in a large, voluminous pool with bright natural light and pebbles. Mollies also prefer a salty environment, so users recommend adding a small amount of sea salt every time they change the liquid.Food is picky, fish prefer plant food, live or dry food. Spawning is easy enough, it can be stimulated, but experts advise against doing this.

Advantages

• Bright, beautiful color;
• Long life expectancy;
• They easily get along with peace-loving fish;
• They develop and grow rapidly.

disadvantages

• Are prone to gluttony;
• Sensitive to water parameters.

One of the features of the content of mollies is maintaining the required water temperature, which should remain within 25-27 degrees. Filtration, aeration and frequent fluid changes are also needed to keep the fish comfortable.

The best black aquarium fish

Black aquarium fish look very contrasting in artificial reservoirs and are able to visually dilute a very variegated team. This species of individuals is quite diverse, there are large and small representatives, distinguished by their nature and activity. This section presents two of the most common types of black fish that have been selected by users.

Black swordsman

Black swordtails are very picky about content. They feed on live and plant food, they love thick algae and brackish water. In general, these are friendly neighbors, but users recommend keeping two or three females per male so that there are no conflicts. Reproduction in swordsmen is quite simple. During spawning, it is enough to plant the female in a separate container with dense vegetation at the bottom and surface of the water so that the fry can hide from their mother. In good conditions, individuals grow up to 15 centimeters, living up to 10 years.

Advantages

• They reach puberty quickly;
• Easy to maintain;
• Cleans the walls from algae;
• Doesn't require a lot of space.

disadvantages

• It is necessary to monitor the quality of the feed;
• Requires frequent feeding.

It is noteworthy that if you keep only swordtails in the aquarium, then all the food that they did not eat must be quickly removed from the water, since it settling to the bottom will spoil the environment.

Ancistrus

Ancistrus have a very unusual appearance. Their mouth is made in the form of a suction cup, thanks to which the fish can easily clean small plant formations on the walls of the aquarium. Ancistrus is ten centimeters long. Users are strongly advised to have a natural large driftwood in the aquarium, behind which they will hide and eat it. Also, these fish need protein. Reproduction of this species is quite simple; during spawning, it is necessary to plant a male and a female in a separate reservoir, where the ancistrus will lay eggs in long tubular decorations. After spawning, the female must be removed, since only the male will look after the offspring.

Advantages

• Omnivorous;
• Live long;
• They have a beautiful and varied color;
• Do not require frequent feeding.

disadvantages

• Can offend scaleless fish;
• Need a large aquarium.

It's not scary if users forget to feed the ancistrus, these individuals can live for several days on pasture. However, the food should not be monotonous, as these domestic aquarium fish can simply dry out.

What aquarium fish is better to buy

The choice of an aquarium fish will seem easy if you carefully study the issue. If several species are supposed to be kept at once, then their compatibility should be checked and the aquarium should be populated with inhabitants similar in character. Also, experts recommend to determine in advance the number of fish, in the ratio of males and females. It is important that they have enough space in the reservoir and that individuals exist peacefully and friendly. And yet, the choice should be approached responsibly, and experts recommend adhering to the following criteria:

• So for novice aquarists and for owners of large aquariums, Goldfish are well suited.They are very beautiful, easily adapt to new water bodies and reproduce quickly.
• For those who do not like to take care of invertebrates a lot and do not have a lot of water space - gourami.
• For lovers of unpretentious individuals, limias will be a good addition to the aquarium. They are omnivorous, develop quickly and get along easily with other, non-aggressive fish species.
• To fill artificial reservoirs, experts recommend taking a closer look at mollies. These fish have a bright beautiful color, reproduce easily and have a long life span.
• And to create contrast in large bodies of water and to cleanse the aquarium, ancistrus are suitable. They have an unusual appearance and color, do not require frequent feeding, and develop quite easily.
• For lovers of black fish, you can choose scalar or swordtail.

These recommendations are not binding and are presented as the opinion of independent aquarists. They also remind that the choice of aquarium fish should be strictly individual, according to the parameters of the aquarium and the characteristics of the individuals.