Kinds of Fish for an Aquarium

If you have ever been fascinated by the ocean, or just the decor at Long John Silver's, an aquarium may be the hobby for you. An aquarium is a complete habitat that provides accessible living conditions for fish and other underwater life to live in. Once you have your aquarium set up, the only thing you need is to pick the right fish.

  1. Clownfish

    • Because of the success of a certain children's cartoon, clownfish are a popular choice for aquariums. The needs of clownfish mean that you have to have a 20-gallon saltwater aquarium. Because clownfish are aggressive, you shouldn't have more than one per tank. In the wild, clownfish cohabitate with sea anemones for protection from predators; however, in a tank there are no predators. Therefore you don't need to include an anemone with your fish.

    Goldfish

    • Although goldfish are the most common type of fish for aquariums, not all goldfish are kept under ideal conditions. In order to maintain cleanliness in a tank, it's best to house one small goldfish per ten gallons in an aquarium. This is because goldfish are messy fish. Most goldfish are heavy eaters, and produce a lot of waste. A goldfish tank should be equipped to filter ammonia from the water. Goldfish are cold water fish, and do well in an aquarium with lower temperatures. It's possible to overfeed a goldfish, so if possible, ration out your fish's food.

    Betta

    • Many people have seen the betta, also known as the Siamese fighting fish, in big box discount stores, usually being sold in a one-cup container or along with a lily or stalk of bamboo in a glass vase. Betas are surface breathing fish that live in marshy areas. Because of this, they can dwell in a small habitat and require no filtration. Because bettas are tropical fish, they should be kept in water that is at least 72 degrees. A betta tank should have some type of lid or mesh screen to prevent them from jumping out.

    Neon Tetras

    • Neon tetras are small, even tempered freshwater fish with brightly colored scales. The fish rarely grow very big and typically do well in groups or 'shoals' of ten or more. A tank should have slightly acidic, soft water and plants. Larger fish such as angle fish may look at tetras as food, so it is not a good idea to have both types of fish in the same aquarium.

    Plecos

    • Pterygoplichthys, or plecos for short, are a hearty South American fish that live on plant matter. Plecos are frequently included in an aquarium to help stem the algae growth on the sides of the tank. Plecos are a catfish species that can grow up to two feet in size. However, most plecos will not reach that size in a smaller aquarium. Although Plecos are a tropical fish, they can endure colder water temperatures. If you keep a pleco under ideal water conditions, it may live for up to 10 years.