It is no surprise, people prefer keeping fish as pets more than any other animal. According to a study by the American Pet Products Association, in 2024, over 9.0 million people in the US alone have freshwater fish as their pets. Also, check archived information about pet statistics on iii.org.
Many people consider them stress releasers as they feel relaxed just by watching them swim. They also believe that fish can help reduce blood pressure and heart rate. At the same time, many believe that they bring luck and prosperity. Also, they are easy to look after and need less maintenance, and when people visit your home, you will get lots of appreciation.
Every fish has distinct personalities and characteristics, which make them more attractive. Many people start fishkeeping as a hobby, but they become attached to their fish.
Read the entire article, and you will learn all about the most popular and best freshwater fishes today.
15 Best Freshwater Fishes
1. Goldfish
Most people don’t know how to keep Goldfish. They end up putting them alone in a bowl, but that’s not the right way. They should be kept in a 20-gallon tank, as they can grow up to 14 inches. You also need a filter and change 10-15% of the water weekly to keep them healthy.
Goldfish come in a variety and usually live in a group. You can mix up different breeds as long as they are not competitive. For example, you can keep single-tailed varieties together.
2. Neon Tetra
This little neon tetra fish is best for beginners as they are easy to look after and maintain. Neon tetras are peaceful, social creatures who love to live in a group. They are best for those who want to keep a small aquarium as they grow only to 2.2cm.
These beautiful neon tetra fish are visible in the dark because of their iridescent blue horizontal stripe across their body. Their bright colors make them more attractive. They are omnivores, so you can feed them anything from plants to shrimp or worms. The water should be soft and acidic with tropical temperatures.
Fun fact: The US alone imports over 1.5 million Neon Tetras each month.
3. Guppies
Guppy fish are popular not only because of their attractive looks but also because they are adaptable to different water conditions.
They live in a group, so it will be best if you keep Guppies in a set of three. It won’t be a problem, as they are very easy to look after. The water temperature for Guppies should range from 50o F to 82o F (10-28o C), and the fish tank capacity should be 1 gallon of water per Guppy fish. Also, make sure the water temperature is consistent.
If you just want them as a pet and have no intention of breeding them, then go for males, as they are more vibrant and colorful than the female Guppies. You can feed your Guppy fish either a pre-made mixture of plants and animals available in the market or make it yourself as it is not that difficult to do.
4. Mollies
These small species can grow up to 3-4 inches, are peaceful, and easily adaptable to various water conditions. Mollies are also easy to care for, so they are the best choice for beginners.
Molly fish can be fed to both plants and animals as they are omnivores. They don’t lay eggs and give live birth like mammals. So, they are also called livebearers.
Mollies are most suitable for tropical water temperatures with a pH of 7.0-7.8 and a tank size of at least 20 gallons. Mollies breed easily, so beginners should only keep species of the same sex in the aquarium.
5. Bettas
Bettas are beautiful and have vibrant colors that make them famous among aquarists. They are easy to care for and can be kept by a beginner.
Bettas can be kept with other peaceful fish, but avoid keeping two or more male Bettas in the same tank. They can become aggressive toward each other.
They can grow up to 3 inches and fed both plants and meat. Betta is small, but it is advised to keep them in a large tank. They are active swimmers, so they need ample space to swim.
Like humans, the Betta fish has a labyrinth organ that can help them breathe air.
Here is another post about different types of betta fish. Read it to learn about bettas.
6. Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
These easy-to-maintain little fish can grow to 5-7cm, which makes them ideal for beginners. Zebra Danios are peaceful but love to jump, so it will be best to keep the tank covered.
They can eat most of the food, but the healthiest options for them can be crustaceans, insects, and worms as they feed on them in their natural habitat. You can also treat them with good-quality flakes with frozen or live food.
Zebra Danios should be kept in groups of at least 5, as a lower number can trigger stress in them. A fish tank capacity of 10 gallons is ideal for Them.
7. Platies
Platies are peaceful and easy to care for. You can find them in a variety of colors, which makes them popular among the fishes.
They like to be social and make great companions with Guppies and Mollies. When they are young, platies are active swimmers and should be kept in a group. The ideal fish tank capacity should be 10 gallons for 5 Platies.
They are omnivores. They require a protein diet but prefer more plant-based food. Therefore, they prefer more herbivorous food to meat.
8. Cherry Barb
As the name suggests, Cherry Barb is found in a red appearance, and the males look brighter than the females. At the time of spawning, their color becomes more attractive than ever. You can notice a golden lateral line on their silver/black body.
These peaceful Cherry Barbs are a community fish that can grow up to a size of 2 inches.
They need ample space to swim, and their ideal tank size is 25 gallons. They are easy to look after, and you can easily feed them fresh, live, frozen, or flake foods as they are omnivorous. Make sure they have enough planted areas to hide in the aquarium.
9. Pearl Gourami
Pearl Gourami is a peaceful fish that can grow to 4-5 inches. They are easy to care for and need a tank capacity of at least 30 gallons. It is advised to keep them with fish of the same size and temperament but avoid aggressive ones. Pearl Gourami needs plenty of hiding places and sandy substrates.
They aren’t fans of bright lights, so make sure they are low. As they are omnivorous, they can be fed both algae-based foods and meat. Pearl Gourami can solve the Hydra problem in your aquarium as they are one of the few species that eat them.
10. Swordtails
Swordtails are easy to care for and are community fish that make great fish for beginner aquarists. These peaceful fishes are similar to Platy and Guppy fish in shape. But slightly bulkier and with an extended fin shaped like a sword. You can also find them in a variety of colors.
Swordtails are active swimmers who need ample swimming space and a group to thrive. They are also livebearers and easy to breed. But after giving birth, it is advised to remove mother fish from the tank as they often eat their fry.
11. Oscar Fish
Oscars are one of the intelligent species of fish, and you can even train them to do the tricks. It can become challenging to keep Oscar fish if you are a beginner. They are aggressive and don’t easily go along with other fish species. They are hard to maintain as carnivores create a lot of waste. They also grow big too quickly.
The best thing is that you can keep the same species in your tank in pairs or in groups of 5+. Please don’t keep a single Oscar in the tank when they are young. It can impact the growth of the fish. Also, you can hand feed them, and they are the species that can even eat their favorite fish food from between your fingers.
12. Discus
Discus are difficult to maintain and hence are not for beginner aquarists. They are beautiful to look at but can grow up to 8-10 inches. They need a minimum tank size of 50 gallons.
Apart from size, there are plenty of reasons why Discus should be kept only by experienced aquarists. You can feed them a variety of food, but the best diet is beef heart and blood worms with flakes, as they provide vitamins and minerals.
It is advised to keep Discus in a group of 5, but you can keep it with other species if you want. Make sure that the water conditions are favorable to them and that they don’t have an aggressive temperament.
13. Angelfish
Angelfish are part of the Cichlid family, which also includes Discus, Oscars, and Parrotfish. They are very common, and most aquarists keep them in their aquariums. Angelfish come in a variety of colors and patterns and can grow up to 6 inches in length and 8 inches tall.
They need to be fed a balanced diet of meat and plants as they are omnivorous. The water conditions should be slightly soft and acidic, and 20 gallons is the perfect tank size.
Angelfish are community fish but can become aggressive when they mature. Avoid keeping them with small or fin-nipping species and keep the tank less crowded.
14. Killifish
Killifish are hardy and available in a variety of colors. There are almost 700 species of Killifish, and all of them are suitable for every tank condition. Killifish are non-aggressive fish, but two males should not be kept in the same tank as they can get aggressive towards each other.
You can keep them with other small and peaceful fishes. You can feed them with insect larvae, worms, and crustaceans, as most of their species are carnivorous.
Killifish can be non-annual or annual breeders. The annual Killifish lay eggs in the non-permanent body when in their natural habitat. These bodies dry up for a few months and hatch only when the water returns.
15. Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish are non-aggressive community fish that originated from Southeast Asia and Australia. They can grow up to 6 inches. Rainbow fish are stunning, and their bodies are covered with vibrant colors. However, they are visible only after they reach adulthood.
Proper care and diet are also responsible for their vibrant appearance. They can be a great companion for upper-level community fishes such as Danios, Bards, and Tetras.
16. Plecostomus
Plecostomus, also known as suckermouth catfish, belongs to the catfish family. It is famous for its heavy armored plates on the body and sucker-shaped mouth. Plecostomus is almost similar to Bristlenose pleco, but it doesn’t have any bristles over the nose.
Some Pleco species eat algae, flakes, or wafers, while others eat frozen brine shrimp. Many fish species can become fit companions of Pleco, but it is advised to avoid keeping them with fat/flat-bodied fish like Goldfish.
Placos can live for almost 20 years or more if taken care of correctly. They are easy to care for but hard to breed, as only a few aquarists have managed to breed Placos. Make sure the tank lid is closed correctly, as they are also known to jump.
17. Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras, or Cory Catfish, is another famous freshwater fish. It is a non-aggressive species that likes to dwell at the bottom of the tank.
Cory Catfish can thrive in groups of two or more, but they won’t get stressed even if they are kept individually in the tank.
While keeping Corydoras in a group, ensure there aren’t any aggressive fish. They usually pick up leftover food from the bottom, but you can feed them bottom feeder tablets or flakes. They can clean up the tank for you and grow to 2.5 inches in length.
Summary
Freshwater fish are usually hardy and come in different sizes, vibrant colors, and appearances. If you are a beginner, I recommend keeping only a few fish in the aquarium. You can add more once you get comfortable and learn more about them.
Always research before buying a fish so that you know how much maintenance they require and also if they are fit for you or not. You should thoroughly understand their diet, water conditions, and how to set up the aquarium.
The purpose of this article is only to give the names of the most popular fish. It does not give insight on how to take care of them. If you want to learn more about fish, visit here. Which fish do you think is the best one for a beginner? Do you have a fish, or are you planning to have one?
