Unique Freshwater Fish To Have In Your Aquarium
Everyone loves colorful fish. But with the abundance of fascinating options, deciding which fish species to keep can be overwhelming.
Keep reading as I highlight some of my favorite freshwater fish, which are unique and a blast to have around your tank.
Unique Freshwater Fish
Following are my picks for the 12 coolest freshwater fish to add to your community aquarium:
Betta Fish
Also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, are world-famous for their vibrant colors and flowing fins that captivate aquarium enthusiasts.
Male bettas can be territorial and get into brawls with their tank mates. It’s best to keep them with non-aggressive invertebrates like snails or shrimps.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Intermediate
- Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 5 gallons
- Temperament: Territorial
- Ideal Temperature: 78-80°F
Electric Blue Ram
These fish are renowned for their vibrant blue coloration and aesthetically pleasing long-rayed fins. They they don’t respond well to sudden fluctuations in the water conditions and prefer soft and slightly acidic water.
They thrive in a tank with plenty of hiding spots in the form of live plants, which mimics their natural living habitat.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Intermediate
- Adult Size: 2-3 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ideal Temperature: 80–86°F
Kuhli Loach
Kuhli Loach have a unique appearance, they are slender, eel-like fish with mesmerizing patterns of alternating black and orange bands.
They prefer a well-planted tank with hiding spots like caves or driftwood. They’re can be both very playful and very secretive, depending on their individual personality.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Advanced
- Adult Size: 3–4 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ideal Temperature: 73–86°F
Black Skirt Tetra
Black skirt tetras are hardy and suitable for beginners. They boast long, black anal fins that follow the length of their body, creating a skirt-like appearance.
They can thrive with a number of suitable tank mates, such as other tetras, barbs, or danios. They’re omnivores and have no special considerations regarding diet
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Easy
- Adult Size: 1-2.5 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 15 gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful, Social
- Ideal Temperature: No Specific Requirement
Celestial Pearl Danios
The Celestial Pearl Danios is a small, jewel-like fish with striking colors and patterns. It Gets the name “celestial” because its body mimics the starry night sky, with shimmering pearly spots over a thick blue-black band.
Another notable thing about this species is that danios are peaceful and suitable for nano tanks and smaller community tanks. They can also live in a wide range of water conditions.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Moderate
- Adult Size: 75cm –1 inch
- Ideal Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ideal Temperature: No Specific Requirement
Discus Fish
The Discus fish has a unique flat appearance an displays vivid coloration and markings that are highly prized by breeders and collectors in the hobby.
However they are quite sensitive to improper water parameters and require a balanced diet of high-quality pellets, flakes, frozen food and live foods.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Advanced
- Adult Size:6 – 8 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 10 gallons per fish
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ideal Temperature: 82–88°F
Elephant Nose Fish
The Elephant Nose Fish is generally peaceful and gets along well with other fish in a community tank. It is one of the most visually unique fish you can own.
Their long elephant trunk works as an electrical sensory system that allows them to navigate and communicate in the dark.
They are best kept in a community tank with peaceful fish and prefer a shady habitat with lots of dense covers and subdued lighting.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Advanced
- Adult Size: 7–10 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 50 gallons
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Ideal Temperature: 73–82°F
Glass Catfish
The Glass catfish is one of the coolest freshwater aquarium fish. It has a translucent body and has a unique swimming style.
If you plan to breed these fish keep in mind that they are meant to be kept in larger tank, and make sure that the water requirements like the pH levels and filtration are well maintained.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Modrate
- Adult Size: 4- 5 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 30 gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ideal Temperature: No Specific Temperature
Pike Cichlids
Pike Cichlids have bold colors and aggressive behavior. They are predatory fish that become become territorial during breeding season.
Their elongated body and sharp teeth resemble miniature freshwater “piranhas.” These fish prefer to live in large tanks and require a diet of live foods.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Advanced
- Adult Size: 15 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 90 gallons
- Temperament: Very aggressive
- Ideal Temperature: 75-86°F
Threadfin Acara
The Threadfin Acara has a striking blue coloration and thread-like elongated fins. They are mostly peaceful but become territorial during breeding.
These fish prefer living in well planted tanks with plenty of swimming space. I recommend keeping them in groups or with other peaceful fish to feel secure.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Advanced
- Adult Size:3 inches
- Ideal Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Ideal Temperature: 77 – 88°F
Golden Wonder Killifish
The Golden Wonder Killifish have a very short lifespan, typically living up to 3 years. They have an aggressive temperament but are easy to care for.
They require a protein based diet of bloodworms and brine shrimp. If you are thinking of getting one for yourself then make sure to get a tank with tightly fitting lid to prevent them from jumping out.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Intermediate
- Adult Size: 3-4 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 29 gallons
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Ideal Temperature: 68 – 75° F
Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish are peaceful schooling fish that are known for their stunning colors. Its almond-shaped body is divided in half with i blue in the front and vivid orange in the back.
They are fast swimmers and require plenty of open swimming areas, so keeping them in a large fish tank is a must.
Specifications
- Care Difficulty: Intermediate
- Adult Size: 4 inches
- Ideal Tank Size: 60 gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Ideal Temperature: 74 – 78° F
Conclusion
Making your aquarium is an experience in and of itself, but picking the coolest fish to display in your tank is arguably one of the best aspects of being a fish keeper.
Hopefully, one of these colorful beauties captured your eye and gave you inspiration for your next aquarium.
