Good Fish for Large Aquariums

A wall aquarium can be a beautiful centerpiece to your living room and be quite the conversation starter. Owning an aquarium of this size will allow you to keep some of the larger and more exotic types of fish available today. Some species of fish are well-suited to large aquariums, but it is important to remember that each species has its own unique temperament and dietary need.

  1. Tropical Fish

    • According to The Tropical Tank professionals, beginners should avoid raising some of the larger fish. In fact, anyone without the time to devote to the care and specific needs of these species should also think twice.
      To highlight the difficulties, the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) can grow to be 6 feet long, making it an impractical choice for most home aquarium enthusiasts. However, if you have a massive tank and can afford to feed them the staggering amount of live daphnia that they require, this may be the fish for you.

      At roughly half that size, the red-tailed catfish is a more manageable tropical fish. The minimum tank size for this, however, is 8 x 3 x 3 feet.

      The Pacu fish (and it's slightly smaller cousin the Red Pacu) can grow up to 5 feet long. If you have a truly massive tropical tank, this fish may also be a good match for you. The fish is a member of the Chichlid family, and although it is herbivorous, this makes it a relative of the Piranha.

      It should be noted that these fish require owners that can support them financially. In addition, The Tropical Tank has advised fish enthusiasts that all of the species listed above will not tolerate sharing a tank.

      Slightly easier to tend to is the Angelfish, which will thrive alone in any tank larger than 10 gallons.

    Freshwater Fish

    • According to AquariumPros.com, two very hardy freshwater fish are the Batfish and Spadefish. Both species grow very large, and should only live in aquariums 150 gallons or larger. However, it should be noted that the Pinnatus variety of Batfish is not hardy, and normally dies in captivity. Tiger Datnoids are another fish that is hardy and well suited to a freshwater aquarium. However, this aggressive fish has been known to devour its smaller tankmates, so use caution.

      The experts at AquariumGuys.com said Oscar fish are also becoming a popular choice for larger aquariums (generally 40 gallons and more). The Oscar can grow to 16 inches in length. They are carnivorous, so you will need to stock freeze-dried worms and other special foods.

    General Considerations

    • According to Tropical-Aquarium-Fish.com, the general rule of thumb for determining how many fish you can fit into one tank is that you should have one gallon of water per 1 inch of fish. This measurement excludes the tail of the fish.