There are over 200 species of fish that can thrive in aquariums under various conditions. These fall into two main groups. The first group includes local species that can adapt to captivity. The second group includes exotic species bred specifically for aquariums; most of these are of foreign origin and are raised in captivity to produce new varieties. You can buy them at pet stores in major cities.
Each species requires specific living conditions. Below is a list of fish that are less demanding and do well in a home aquarium.
Gobies thrive in freshwater aquariums with sandy or rocky bottoms. They like to hide under stones or dig burrows in the sand, and they mostly stay near the bottom.
Loaches are found in swampy rivers and muddy ponds. It’s best to keep them in a separate aquarium. Feed them worms and breadcrumbs.
Crucian Carp. Only small crucian carp survive well in aquariums. The water should not be too bright and should be rich in infusoria. Feed the crucian carp generously. The aquarium should have plenty of plants.
Carp. Carp do well in environments with abundant vegetation; if they lack foods like worms or meat, they will eat small algae.
Bream. Young bream are best kept in aquariums. The best food for them is live bloodworms. With proper care, they can live a long time.
Tench. The aquarium housing tench should be well-planted. Keep them separately from other fish. Only young tench thrive in captivity. Feed them regular fish food.
Perch. They quickly become accustomed to captivity, eat from your hand, and swim up to the glass. They require fresh, clean water and more food than many other species—worms and meat. The water temperature should not exceed 13–14 °C (55–57 °F).
Exotic Fish are the most common aquarium species. That’s partly because of their bright colors and varied shapes, and partly because generations in captivity have made them hardy and adaptable.
Among the most common exotic fish are:
Veiltails. These are among the most beautiful aquarium fish, with very long, thin, nearly transparent fins. They are undemanding. In addition to fresh bloodworms, they can be fed egg yolk, earthworms, and pressed carrots.
Guppies are small (3–5 cm) fish. They are notable because they give birth to live young several times a year instead of laying eggs. They tolerate temperatures from 10–12 °C (50–54 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F) and above, with the best range at 18–21 °C (64–70 °F). Feed guppies cyclops and daphnia.
Blue Canadian Perch. This fish does well in aquariums at 18–20 °C (64–68 °F) and needs frequent water changes and moderate lighting. They can breed at 22–23 °C (72–73 °F).
Goldfish. There are many varieties of goldfish. They thrive in warm water (ideally 22–25 °C or 72–77 °F) with abundant vegetation, and they eat algae, bread, worms, meat, bloodworms, and insects. They breed at 24 °C (75 °F).
Heros. These fish do well in spacious aquariums with a thick layer of sand. They tend to uproot plants placed in the aquarium. The best temperature is room temperature—15–18 °C (59–64 °F). They can breed in the aquarium.
Dwarf Catfish are undemanding and require little care: even with low oxygen levels, they will surface to breathe atmospheric air. They primarily stay at the bottom, hiding from light behind rocks and plants. They can breed in captivity.
Platies are livebearers. They can live in both large and small aquariums at 14–17 °C (57–63 °F). Feed platies daphnia and cyclops. They also graze on small algae that accumulate on plants and the aquarium glass. At 20 °C (68 °F), platies can breed in the aquarium.
Macropods are also among the best freshwater fish. Keep them in a separate aquarium with a sandy bottom and patches of elodea. The water temperature should not be lower than 10–12 °C (50–54 °F), and avoid changing the water too frequently. Macropods are interesting because they care for their offspring.
