Common Exotic Pet Fish

Exotic tropical fish make good pets. They tend to be colorful, and some species have interesting habits. They are not pets that you can handle like a cat or a dog, especially if your pet is a sharp-toothed piranha. The logical place to keep fish is in aquariums of varying sizes, depending on the size of your fish. Remember that a tiny fish does not always remain small. In the tropics fish will thrive in outdoor pools.

  1. Sharp-Toothed Fish

    • The small fish above the rocks are neon tetras. The big fish is a gourami.

      The characins are a family of tropical freshwater fish (Characidae) distinguished by an excellent set of teeth and an adipose fin--a small, fatty fin that lies on the back of the fish between the dorsal fin (the principal fin on the back) and the caudal fin (the tail fin). Fish lovers have adopted certain exotic characins as pets, especially tetras, piranhas, pacus, and silver dollar fish. Though they are colorful and interesting to view, watch out for their sharp teeth.

    Air-Breathing Fish

    • gourami

      The Siamese fighting fish, a freshwater gourami of the genus Betta, has gills like other fish, but in addition it possesses a structure called a labyrinth that allows it to extract oxygen from air. As pets, it also delights its owners by its habit of constructing bubble nests. After a mating ritual resulting in the fertilization of the gourami eggs, the male will transport the eggs with his mouth and put them into the bubble nest. The paradise fish is another pet gourami with similar habits.

    Unusual Habits

    • Schools of loaches delight pet owners with group dances and vigorous swimming activity at dawn and at dusk, and they scare their owners by sleeping on their sides, which most fish never do. They also like to hide when startled or annoyed. They have sharp spines just below the eyes and may hurt one another if they get into a fight. But they are normally peaceful.

    Tropical Fish Communities

    • Some tropical fish swim in schools.

      Some species of tropical fish form communities and occasionally fight to determine who is boss in the aquarium. Mollies are a good example. Other species form harmonious groups called schools. But not all species are community fish. If two male Siamese fighting fish reside in the same aquarium, they will fight it out until only one is left.

    Cold-Water Fish

    • Cichlids make attractive pets.

      Most tropical fish need warm water (about 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit). But the zebra fish (Brachydanio rerio) is an exception. It thrives in warm water, but survives in cooler aquariums. Do not confuse the Brachydanio rerio with the red zebra of the family Cichlidae. The red zebra and other cichlids are also good pets.

    Saltwater Aquariums

    • Basslets are good candidates for saltwater aquariums. They are colorful and hardy. Like the freshwater loaches, basslets would appreciate it if you would provide some hiding places in your aquarium. But unlike the loaches, which will die quickly if you allow the water to stagnate, basslets can withstand some discomfort.

    Outdoor Pools

    • koi carp

      In the tropics, people often keep their pet fish in outside pools. In the Philippines many parks and public places have pools filled with koi carp.