Best Freshwater Fish Species

From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

Panda Corydoras Catfish. Aaron Norman

Black Phantom Tetra. Aaron Norman

Gold Angelfish. JJPhoto.dk

Among the growing world of choices available to freshwater aquarium keepers, some species are time-tested survivors and good candidates for the community aquarium. Here are the top prospects, as chosen by expert aquarists, aquarium authors, and local pet store owners.

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Barbs (Cyprinids)

• Black Ruby Barb
• Checkerboard Barb
• Cherry Barb
• Gold Barb
• Rosy Barb
• Tiger Barb

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Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

• Betta

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Catfishes

• Asian Bumblebee Catfish
  
• Dwarf Suckermouth
  
• Emerald Catfish
  
• Glass Catfish
  
• Hoplo
  
• Pim Angelicus
  
• Striped Raphael
  
• Zamora Catfish
  

Catfishes: Plecos & Pleco-types

• Bushynose Pleco
  
• Clown Pleco
  
• Leopard Pleco
  
• Plecostomus
  
• Royal Panaque
  

Catfishes: Synodontis

• Bigeye Synodontis Catfish
  
• Bugeye Synodontis Catfish
  
• Congicus Synodontis Catfish
  
• Cuckoo Catfish
  
• Featherfin Synodontis Catfish
  
• Orangestriped Synodontis Catfish
  
• Upside-Down Catfish
  

Catfishes: Corydoras

• Albino Corydoras Catfish
  
• Axelrod's Corydoras Catfish
  
• Bronze Corydoras Catfish
  
• Panda Corydoras Catfish
  
• Peppered Corydoras Catfish
  
• Pygmy Cory
  
• Skunk Corydoras Catfish
  
• Threestripe Corydoras Catfish
  

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Tetras (Characins)

• Black Phantom Tetra
  
• Black Tetra
  
• Bleeding Heart Tetra
  
• Bloodfin Tetra
  
• Cardinal Tetra
  
• Congo Tetra
  
• Diamond Tetra
  
• Emperor Tetra
  
• Glowlight Tetra
  
• Lemon Tetra
  
• Neon Tetra
  
• Niger Tetra
  
• Rummynose Tetra
  

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Cichlids

• African Butterfly Cichlid
  
• Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid
  
• Angelfish
  
• Auratus
  
• Blue Acara
  
• Brichardi
  
• Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
  
• Convict Cichlid
  
• Finley's Cichlid
  
• Firemouth Cichlid
  
• Flag Cichlid
  
• Fuelleborni Cichlid
  
• Gold Ocellatus
  
• Golden Julie
  
• Golden Tropheops
  
• Gunther's Mouthbrooder
  
• Kenyi Cichlid
  
• Krib
  
• Malawi Zebra
  
• Marlier's Julie
  
• Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater
  
• Oscar
  
• Peacock Cichlid
  
• Port Cichlid
  
• Rainbow Cichlid
  
• Ram
  
• Red-Hump Eartheater
  
• Severum
  
• Socolofi Cichlid
  
• Tanganyikan Lemon Cichlid
  
• Yellow Labido
  

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Danios (Cyprinids)

• Giant Danio
  
• Pearl Danio
  
• Zebra Danio
  
• Flying Fox
  

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Gouramis

• Blue Gourami
  
• Croaking Gourami
  
• Dwarf Croaking Gourami
  
• Dwarf Gourami
  
• Honey Gourami
  
• Kissing Gourami
  
• Moonlight Gourami
  
• Pearl Gourami
  

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Guppy

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Hatchetfishes

• Marble Hatchetfish
  
• Silver Hatchetfish
  

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Loaches

• Bengal Loach
  
• Clown Loach
  
• Dwarf Loach
  
• Kuhli Loach
  
• Redtail Botia
  

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Mollies

• Black Molly
  
• Black Sailfin Molly
  
• Green Sailfin Molly
• Mexican Sailfin Molly
• Molly
  
• Sailfin Molly
  
• Tangerine Sailfin Molly
  

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Platy

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Rainbowfishes

• Banded Rainbowfish
  
• Bleher's Rainbowfish
  
• Boeseman's Rainbowfish
  
• Goldie River Rainbowfish
  
• Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish
  
• Lake Tebera Rainbowfish
  
• Neon Rainbowfish
  
• Red Rainbowfish
  

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Rasboras (Cyprinids)

• Harlequin Rasbora
  
• Scissortail Rasbora
  

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Siamese Algae Eater

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Swordtails

• Black Swordtail
  
• El Abra Pygmy Swordtail
  
• Green Swordtail
  
• Swordtail
  
• Swordtail-Platy Hybrid
  
• Yellowfin Swordtail
  
• Yellowtail Swordtail
  

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White Cloud Mountain Minnow