Top [2023] 15 Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium

Top [2023] 15 Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium

If you are considering buying an aquarium, you should also start thinking about the line of the type of fish you want to put in it. Today there are different types of fish, but not all of them can be great for the freshwater environment.

Any beginner would want to meet some of the Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium you can use today. If you are looking for fish for your aquarium, you will no doubt be confused by the different species available. You will always have a hard time making a decision.

Luckily for you, we’ve highlighted some of the Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium you can buy today. This guide should help you save your important time.

Having freshwater fish as pets is a very refreshing option to decorate your aquarium at home and also to fill the void. They are undemanding like cats or dogs, and there is no fear of them flying away like birds. Fish are very cute and can easily be an important part of your life. However, keeping them happy and healthy requires a lot of information about various aspects of their basic needs.

There are mainly many aspects of each type of freshwater fish to care for, such as tank size, sources and amount of water, water treatment, aquarium water pH, water filtration, water temperature, live plants, regular tank cleaning, the environment inside the tank, as well as the environment, adequate nutrition and nutrition and tank mate.

When you’re ready to adore these adorable pets, it’s your turn to choose from hundreds of commercially available freshwater aquarium fish to add to your tank. As a beginner, you should look for species that are adapted to the ambient temperature of your location, that are peaceful in nature, undemanding, require less water changes, and are of course easy to maintain.

 

Top 15 Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium 2021

 

1. Guppy

This fish is common in many freshwater aquariums. They are loved for a few reasons. You will understand that this fish is not demanding at all.

When it comes to maintenance, you don’t have to do much and it still looks great. It is also peaceful and can breed easily.

The difference between men and women is usually clear. Males are said to be brighter with an elongated anal fin. The female, on the other hand, will be larger and with a shorter anal fin.

The guppy fish is alive. This means that after birth, young guppies can easily start swimming and live on their own. You usually see the female guppy spawning about 60 young at a time.

You should keep the juveniles in a separate tank as they can be eaten if left in the same tank with the other fish. As for breeding, all you need to do is keep the male and female fish in an aquarium.

 


2. Zebrafish

You will find that this little fish is mostly popular with aquarists. People love him for his size and good-humored nature. They are also easy to care for, so make sure you don’t spend a lot of time and money keeping them alive.

The zebrafish is a school fish. This requires you to keep a minimum of it in the tank. You can have the tank planted, but make sure there is enough room for the fish to swim.

You also need to consider the other types of fish in the aquarium. You don’t want to have the kind of fish that bite the fins of others in the same tank as the zebrafish.

 


3. Cory

Many people will like this fish because it is attractive and active in the aquarium. If you’ve always wanted your tank to look great, you may want to consider buying those types of fish.

You can find different types of Cory fish, but the most popular is the Cory Blue Leopard.

Even with different looks, they all have the same behavior. They mainly swim in the water layers at the bottom.

They do this to search for food scraps all the time. Somehow they help to clean the tank.

It can be very active, but it will not grow into a large fish, so you will need to buy it a new tank.

 


4. Kuhli Loach

If you look at this fish you may see that it is quite unusual. Don’t let that put you off as even an inexperienced hobbyist could drive it. Because it has a close relationship with the true loach family, it resembles a small snake.

As much as it looks like a snake, it should be scary because it’s not dangerous. Most will hide during the day.

This means that it is better to have a soft surface in the tank. Fish often dig and hide in the substrate.

As you dig all the time, you should see the fish eating the scraps on the bottom, somehow cleaning the tank. Make sure to give him choked food for easy access.

 


5. Cherry Barb

The small and quiet nature makes it pleasant for many people. There are always many newbies who choose it as it requires little maintenance.

The male fish of the species is brightly colored and takes its name from it. As a fish in training you should consider keeping at least 6 in the tank to create the effect.

You will find that the fish does not always stay in a school. They only do it when they are afraid.

You just have to make sure you get all the necessary food and simple maintenance will keep you looking your best all the time.

 


6. Goldfish

There is no doubt that you have seen this in many aquariums than any other fish species. Goldfish come in different sizes and colors.

You can let many people choose the type they like, mainly based on color and maintenance needs.

If you have an unheated tank, this type of fish is ideal for you.

While they may be messy eaters, they shouldn’t be difficult to maintain. Make sure to change 10 percent of the water every week.

As for maintenance, you can treat the water with a dechlorinator to keep it clean at all times.

 


7. Danios

If you are new to aquariums this is a great place to start for most people. You can use them in a variety of aquariums and they will always work well. The reason is mainly that they are strong and can perform well in a variety of conditions.

Because of their active nature, more people want them. You will mainly find them in a group that swims close to the surface of the water.

The clear horizontal stripes of the fish will always catch the eye as they move in a school around the surface of the aquarium water.

 


8. Betta

For those who want some extra flash and color, they need a betta fish. It comes with brilliantly long and shiny fins.

You will always see them fighting with each other. Therefore, consider having one in the tank.

They are hardy, so survival is no problem for them. They eat flakes or granular foods at any time.

Because of its long fins, do not mix it with other fish that can bite the fins as they are fragile.

 


9. Black Molly

It can’t be blacker than this fish. It is definitely one of the blackest fish you have ever seen.

Well, it has a peaceful nature. It should be a good option if you plan on creating a community aquarium with many other types of fish.

The fish tends to like it because it easily adapts to freshwater aquariums without much effort. You can easily transfer it from tank to tank and it will still be comfortable.

They are also live breeders so you can expect them to have young that are easy to care for after birth. Just make sure to take them to a separate tank as parents tend to eat little ones.

 


10. Neon Tetra

Probably one of the best-known freshwater species on this list, the Neon Tetra is a small, sleek, and easy-care fish that is ideal for new owners.

Neon Tetra does not grow much and only grows to a length of 2.2 cm! They are known to be a very peaceful and calm species.

They do best when kept in groups and in tanks with rocks, plants and other accessories in which to hide. Neon Tetra are easily identified by their blue bodies and a bright red stripe on their bodies.

 


11. Mollies

Small and quiet, Mollies are a great freshwater species that are easy to care for.

Mollusks can grow to about 3 to 4 inches in length and are omnivores, meaning they can eat plants and other animals.

The great thing about this freshwater animal is that, unlike other fish, they give birth to their babies. Like Guppies, Mollies love to breed, so if you don’t want many of these beautiful fish in your tank, keep one gender.

 


12. Angelfish

A member of the cichlid family, angelfish are popular freshwater fish that can grow up to 6 inches long and 8 inches long.

They are very beautiful and come in different colors and patterns. They can eat plants and other animals such as small insects and shrimp, but they should be kept away from small fish.

Angelfish can be territorial and aggressive (although not at the level of a Betta fish) so it is best kept in an aquarium without many fish.

 


13. Rainbowfish

The rainbowfish is another less common fish that is easy to care for. Their vibrant colors don’t really appear until they reach maturity.

Still, proper care and maintenance is worth the wait. These fish can be quite shy, but they are normally peaceful with other fish in their tanks.

Rainbowfish get along well with spines and tetras.

 


14. Platies

Top [2021] 15 Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium - Aquarium Hunter

Platies (or the Platy fish) is a beautiful freshwater fish available in a variety of exotic colors. They are generally peaceful fish that thrive in communities.

You can see them getting along with guppies and mollies; They are very social! Dishes require a mix of plant foods and proteins, although meat-based foods can also be eaten.

Freshwater fish can be just as quirky and colorful as seawater fish. Freshwater fish are usually tough little creatures that deserve our love and attention.

If you are a new aquarium owner, make sure to take care of your fish regularly and learn about their personalities. Over time, you will learn to love your cute and impressive freshwater fish!

 


15. Oscar

Top [2021] 15 Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium - Aquarium Hunter

Oscars are considered one of the smartest aquarium fish out there and are one of the few species that can be trained to perform tricks.

Oscars are not common fish though, they should be kept in a species only aquarium and they can get really big very quickly.

They require a lot more maintenance than other fish, due to their carnivorous nature and the amount of waste they produce.

On the positive side, they are one of the few species that can be fed manually; they often eat food between their fingers. Oscars thrive when kept in pairs, or in groups of more than 5, and should be kept together from a young age.

 

Conclusion

Freshwater fish come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes. The most popular fish are usually bright, colorful, and easy to care for.

If you are new to fish farming, I recommend starting to slow down and adding just a few fish at a time. This gives you the opportunity to get to know and understand how to care for each species of fish before adding another.

Make sure to always research the strain you want to buy so you can give them the time and attention they need. This article should serve only as an example of popular freshwater fish species, and not as a guide on how to care for each species. For guides, please visit our breeding care guides here.

Now if you have the Best Freshwater Fish for Aquarium list, you should make up your mind. As you can see from the list, most fish don’t even require much maintenance.

You don’t have to work harder to keep your fish safe and healthy. Before choosing the best one for you, take the time to understand the needs of each species.

Top 10 Best Guppy Food For Color, Growth & Immune Support

Top 10 Best Guppy Food For Color, Growth & Immune Support

Guppies need a varied diet to ensure they get all the necessary nutrients. Here is the information you need to know so that you can get the best food and diet for your guppie.

When it comes to feeding guppies, we’re in luck because they’ll eat just about anything you feed them. However, if you want to grow beautiful and healthy guppies, you need to feed them high quality fish food. I always like to choose the best flake food from renowned brands.

Comparison Table

CustomSiteStripe ImageTitleReviewBuy
Top Performance Omega One Super Color Flakes4.7/5.0Check Price
cheapestAPI Fish Food Pellets4.7/5.0Check Price

Guppies are active schooling fish that need the right kind of food to grow and maintain a healthy immune system. They also need a lot of protein to fuel their energy!

That’s why the Best Guppy Food growth contains a blend of real proteins and ingredients to help improve color. Texture is also important. Since guppies have their mouths up, they feed on the surface. Ideal guppy food for them will float, sink slowly, and be soft and easily digestible.

 

Top 10 Best Food for Your Guppy Fish Growth & Colors

There are many great options when it comes to guppy foods, but there are some differences between one formula and another. See the table below to see.

 

Best Food for Guppy Fish Review

1. Hikari USA Tropical Fancy Guppy for Pet Health

Best Guppy Food

This Hikari guppy food is the result of extensive research on guppy habits. Among other things, eating habits, growth rates, coloring and the health of the immune system were investigated.

The result is one of the smallest granules available, containing unique ingredients that give guppies everything they need to thrive.

One of the best things about this food is the texture. It acts almost like a sponge in water, absorbs water and softens without dissolving.

This is very important because it keeps food together so that important nutrients are not lost. It sinks slowly, giving the fish plenty of time to eat before reaching the bottom of the tank. Don’t worry, what isn’t eaten will not fog the water.

This formula contains everything guppies need for their health, including linolenic acid to promote growth and stabilized vitamin C to support a healthy immune system. In addition, to improve overall conditioning, they included iodine from seaweed.

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2. Omega One Super Color Flakes

Best Guppy Food

For a guppy food with significant color boost, these Omega One flakes will do the trick.

They contain salmon skins with a high content of beta-carotene, which gives guppies a deep, intense color. Beta carotene is one of the most effective ways to promote these vibrant colors.

This formula does not contain fish meal or pre-processed proteins.

What’s in it?

Whole salmon, halibut and fresh seaweed provide guppies with real, natural fat. This food is rich in proteins, low in starch and does not cloud the water.

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3. API Fish Food Pellets

Best Guppy Food

Another great guppy food option comes from API. These granules are rich in protein to promote healthy growth and also keep your water cleaner and clearer.

If some of the fish food is not eaten, there is a concern that it will sink to the bottom and decompose, releasing harmful ammonia into the water.

However, this meal is less likely. It is formulated to sink slowly and easily digest, leaving less waste in the water.

This formula contains algae, shrimp, worms and more.

One of the best things about this is that it not only keeps guppies healthy and strong, but it also helps improve their color.

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4. Northfin Community Formula 0.5 Millimeter Pellets

 

Best Guppy Food

Main Ingredients: Whole Antarctic Krill Meal, High Omega 3 DHA Herring Meal, Whole Sardine Meal

Description: I am very impressed with this community formula from Northfin. The first three ingredients are very high quality protein sources.

They also have seaweed and spirulina to a good degree. This is another food that would make an excellent staple food for community fish such as guppies.

You may have to crush these kernels to get small guppies. It’s firmer than flakes, so you’ll probably need something like a mortar and pestle.

One thing about this: they sink very quickly. I would recommend feeding only a small pinch at a time. Make sure your guppies have time to come in and eat that portion and then add some more.

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5. Cobalt Aquatics Guppy Ultra Pellets

Best Guppy Food

Main Ingredients: Shrimp, Dried Spirulina Seaweed, Giant Squid Meal, Whole Anchovies, Whole Sardines

Description: This is another well-balanced food that would make an excellent staple food. I love that the main ingredients are a blend of high quality protein sources and spirulina algae.

I also like that there are a wide variety of food sources used for this food. This will help feed your fish a varied diet, all in one convenient package.

This is a very small pellet that should be good even for guppy fry.

It should be a floating pill, but some users have noticed that it sinks quickly.

I recommend feeding this only a pinch at a time and adding more when eaten. If you throw out a lot of food at once, the food will likely sink before your guppies have a chance to eat it.

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6. Omega One Color Mini Pellets

Best Guppy Food

Main Ingredients: Salmon, Halibut, Whole Herring, Cod, Shrimp

Description: This is another fantastic food from Omega 1. The main ingredients are top class.

These granules are said to be an excellent staple food, rich in aquatic proteins that fish can digest easily.

There is algae in this formulation, but you may want to supplement with some foods higher in spirulina and / or algae.

This is characterized as a slow sinking pellet, but in my experience “slow sinking” pellets still sink fairly quickly.

You may have to grind these kernels so that they are small enough to be eaten by the guppies.

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7. Zoo Med Spirulina 20 Flakes

Best Guppy Food

Main ingredients: salmon flour, spirulina flour, soy flour

Description: Spirulina 20 flakes are an excellent supplementary food that is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals.

I would use this more as a treat than a staple food. It’s rich in nutrients thanks to spirulina, but it only has one protein source.

However, I recommend feeding it along with other foods several times a week as spirulina is a great color enhancer, especially for blue and green fish.

This is especially good to add to your fish’s diet if your main ingredient is low in spirulina or kelp flour.

You will need to crush the flakes so that they are small enough for the guppies to eat. They are easy to press with your fingers and in my experience they float quite well.

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8. New Life Spectrum Optimum Flakes

Best Guppy Food

NLF Optimium flakes are specially designed to promote the health and color of tropical fish. In my opinion, this is the best flake food for guppies. At least I use it daily and have very good results with your products.

This food contains krill, herring, squid, natural ingredients that help stimulate colors and develop a strong immune system.

It is rich in protein and contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins that guppies need. It also contains garlic, which is a natural antibiotic that is really beneficial for fish health. Garlic can prevent or treat many diseases in both humans and guppies. Garlic has antioxidant, anti-cancer and antihypertensive properties.

New Life Spectrum Optimum Flakes is my first choice when it comes to guppy food, in addition to my home-grown live food.

I highly recommend this food, especially for guppy breeders.

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9. Aquacarium Tropical Flakes

Best Guppy Food

Aquacarium Tropical flakes are designed for all types of tropical fish, including guppies. It’s a great option for community tanks, as well as guppy-only tanks.

This food contains salmon, shrimp, seaweed, krill and spirulina, making it a complete diet for guppies. It contains no fillers or natural dyes, unlike most other flake foods. It is also rich in vitamins (A, D3, B1, B12, C).

While this brand may not be that popular, it produces very delicious food. What I really like about these foods is that they don’t use additives or dyes to make your food “beautiful”.

Because this food contains only natural ingredients, it is easier for the fish to digest and get more nutrients. That is nice, because they produce less waste and the water is polluted less quickly.

Its high protein content (45%) also makes it an ideal food for guppy fry.

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10. Aqueon Tropical Flakes

Best Guppy Food

Aqueon Tropical Flakes provides a balanced diet for guppies and other tropical fish. It contains natural ingredients, trace elements, minerals and vitamins that help in the development of a healthy immune system.

This food contains a higher concentration of spirulina, calendula powder and chili powder, which makes the colors of the guppies stand out well.

These flakes float to the surface longer, making it easier for guppies to consume them. Food that falls to the bottom is known to be ignored by guppy fish.

The food contains herring, wheat flour, soybeans, shrimp, gluten, dead yeast, squid, corn, garlic, spirulina, fish oil and many minerals (manganese sulphate, copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, calcium) and vitamins (C, A, D3, B12, B6) .

Aqueon Tropical food is designed for better and faster digestion, resulting in less waste and cleaner water.

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What is the Best Guppy Food?

Our pick for best guppy food is Hikari USA Tropical Fancy Guppy for Pet Health. Because the built the formula based on extensive scientific research about growth, coloring, and immune system health, it has everything it needs to help guppies thrive.

The texture is ideal, smooth and slow sinking so the fish can digest it easily and have plenty of time to get to it before sinking to the bottom of the tank. Not to mention, it also prevents anything you don’t eat from clouding the water.

 

What Are High Quality Fish Food Ingredients?

Whole fish

Whole fish is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to fish food. It gives you the most useful proteins and contains all the oils that are so important to fish health.

It’s also great to see lists of things like whole shrimp or krill. It means that the whole animal was used instead of just the leftover shells and heads obtained from the shrimp meal.

Shrimp and krill also have the added benefit of enhancing color. The red pigment that makes most shrimp and krill pink can help make red, yellow and orange fish more vibrant.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a freshwater cyanobacterium (also called blue-green algae) that is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. It even has some protein.

And it is easy to digest, allowing the fish to absorb more nutrients.

It also has color enhancing properties that can help make your fish more vibrant.

Kelp

Kelp is a marine macro-algae that reaches enormous size. Like spirulina, seaweed is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals in a form that is easily digestible for fish.

This is a good substitute for any algae that guppies normally graze in the wild.

 

How Often to Feed Guppy Fish?

Adult guppies need to be fed two to three times a day. You can give them a little in the morning and a little in the evening to keep it evenly distributed.

It is important to note that guppies reproduce quickly and are carriers of life. That means that instead of laying eggs, they actually produce small swimming fish.

If you don’t separate them from the adults, the babies will quickly become a meal. Make sure your adult guppies are properly fed, especially if there are juveniles in the tank.

Another thing to consider is that baby guppies need to eat more often because they grow so quickly. They should actually eat four to eight times a day.

The best way to make sure they get the nutrition they need and to protect them from bigger, hungry adults is to separate them. This also prevents adults from getting extra food while feeding babies frequently.

If you’re worried about leaving your guppies on vacation, don’t be! Guppies can go without food for up to two weeks.

That said, if the thought of not eating fish for so long makes you feel uncomfortable, you can get a piece of food for the holidays. This is a preformed food block designed to dissolve slowly and dispense the food into the water a little at a time.

 

How Much to Feed Guppy Fish?

Guppies should only be fed as much food as they can eat in about two minutes with each feeding. Remember they are not big fish. They have a small stomach, but like to overeat, which can be very dangerous for fish.

If you find that your guppies seem to have a bloated or full stomach, skip the next feed and give them a little less when it comes time to feed them again. They probably won’t stop, so if you notice a problem, give them less food.

On the other hand, if you find that a large amount of food is not consumed and sinks to the bottom of the intake, it is likely that you are feeding too much. This can cause some problems. In addition to constipation of fish, making them sluggish and uncomfortable, it can also have a negative effect on the water.

While most of the guppy foods we choose are formulated so as not to cloud the water, you want to avoid accumulating in large quantities at the bottom of the tank. Ultimately, it will have negative effects.

 

Conclusion

In order for guppies to grow large and healthy, it is important to choose the right food. The right ingredients even provide an impressive color boost! Look for foods with a variety of proteins, as well as vitamins and minerals for immune system health. Omega One is also great, providing fast energy puppies with such an active lifestyle.

Remember that diets for adults and babies are different. If you plan on breeding or if it happens accidentally, babies need to eat much more often than adults. It’s best to separate them so babies can eat as often as needed without worrying about adults coming over and stealing their food or worse.

Our pick for the best guppy food is Hikari USA Tropical Fancy Guppy for Pet Health. Formulated on the basis of extensive scientific research, it not only helps guppies to grow, it also helps them develop a strong immune system and increase their color. In addition, it does not dissolve or cloud the water, and it is easy to digest, keeping the aquarium balanced and healthy.