There are several colorful freshwater aquarium fish out there. These can be as large as an Arowana or as small as a Pea Puffer and still be kept in a private aquarium. But before adopting a finned friend, there are several things to consider. These include whether or not they play nice with others, their living conditions, and their lifespan.
These are some of the popular freshwater fish worldwide that are commonly kept as pets, arranged by their difficulty level. The prices of these fish depend on several factors, including the size of the fish, the color patterns and morphs, and how rare the fish is.
1. Angelfish
One of the more well-known fish among enthusiasts, angelfish are known for their hardiness, making them a great choice for those just starting out.
On average, angelfish can cost between $8.99 and $39.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 6-12 inches | Tank Size | 30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 78-84°F | Life Expectancy | 10-12 years |
pH | 6.8-7.8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
2. Flowerhorn Cichlid
An ornamental fish with a huge hump on its head, the Flowerhorn Cichlid is known for its bright colors. But it should either be kept in solitude or with another of its kind as this fish is aggressive to other species.
These cichlids are a bit expensive, reaching prices as high as $300.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Aggressive |
Size | 10-12 inches | Tank Size | 75 gallons |
Water Temperature | 82°-85°F | Life Expectancy | 10-12 years |
pH | 6-8.5 | Compatible With | Others of its species |
3. Goldfish
Arguably the most well-known aquarium fish in the world, the Goldfish has been a popular pet for years. However, they are not exactly beginner-friendly as they require a lot of care to live full lives.
Goldfish come in various prices, from as low as $5.99 to as high as $78.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 6-12 inches | Tank Size | 20–40 gallons |
Water Temperature | 65-72°F | Life Expectancy | 10-15 years, but tends to live for 4-5 years due to inadequate care |
pH | 6.5-7.5 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
4. Jack Dempsey
The Jack Dempsey is a fish covered with metallic, iridescent scales that flash as they swim.
These popular pets cost between $3 and $29.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Territorial, especially when they breed or as they get older |
Size | 10 inches | Tank Size | 55 gallons |
Water Temperature | 78°-86° F | Life Expectancy | 10-15 years |
pH | 6.5-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish but only in a large enough tank |
5. Green Terror Cichlid
A beautiful South American cichlid, the Green Terror can be quite aggressive, so make sure to keep objects in the tank so that it can mark its territory.
These fish can cost between $17.99 and $85.99.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Aggressive and Territorial |
Size | 6-12 inches | Tank Size | 55 gallons |
Water Temperature | 76°-80°F | Life Expectancy | 7-10 years |
pH | 6-7.5 | Compatible With | Other cichlids but only in a large tank |
6. African Cichlid
These are some of the most colorful fish out there, guaranteed to inject a lot of life into an aquarium. But these cichlids are not very kind to other tank mates and should preferably be kept in a place with a lot of room for them to swim in.
On average, these fish cost between $8.99 and $30.
Care Level | Intermediate-Expert | Temperament | Aggressive and Territorial |
Size | 2-15 inches | Tank Size | 55 gallons |
Water Temperature | 74-82°F | Life Expectancy | 7-10 years |
pH | 7.8-8.4 | Compatible With | To be kept alone or with other cichlids |
7. Arowana
A large carnivorous fish, this silver-scaled specimen requires a lot of space and tank mates, which it can’t chow down on. Only for those who have a lot of experience with raising fish.
They are also extremely expensive, reaching over $850 in some cases.
Care Level | Expert | Temperament | Aggressive |
Size | 3 feet | Tank Size | 250 gallons |
Water Temperature | 75-82°F | Life Expectancy | 10-15 years |
pH | 5-7.5 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
As its name indicates, the Jaguar Cichlid resembles the Big Cat. And like its namesake, it’s best kept alone and handled only by experts.
On average, these cichlids cost between $9.99 and $24.99.
Care Level | Expert | Temperament | Highly aggressive |
Size | 14 inches | Tank Size | 100 gallons |
Water Temperature | 75°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 15 years |
pH | 7-8.7 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
1. Betta
Known for its beautiful fins, the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish is easy to handle for beginners. But it should not be kept alongside others of its species as they tend to fight.
These fish generally cost between $7.99 and $25.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Aggressive |
Size | 2.5-3 inches | Tank Size | 5 gallons |
Water Temperature | 76-82°F | Life Expectancy | 2-5 years |
pH | 6.5–8 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
A beautiful fish with contrasting blue and red halves, this is a great fish for beginners and should be kept in a school of 5-6.
These are inexpensive, with a single specimen ranging between $3 and $4.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2 inches | Tank Size | 15 gallons |
Water Temperature | 73°-79°F | Life Expectancy | 5 years |
pH | 5.5-6.5 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
3. Cherry Barb
Named after its bright red color, the Cherry Barb is an easy-to-raise fish and can be kept alongside Neon Tetras, Cardinal Pearl Danios, and Cardinal Tetras.
These fish cost between $6.99 and $16.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2 inches | Tank Size | 20 gallons |
Water Temperature | 75°-80°F | Life Expectancy | 5-7 years |
pH | 6-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
4. Congo Tetra
Congo Tetras have a distinct red-golden line running along their bodies, making them easily recognizable.
On average, a single Congo Tetra costs between $4 and $15.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 3 inches | Tank Size | 30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 72-82°F | Life Expectancy | 3-5 years |
pH | 6.0-7.5 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
5. Cory Catfish
The Cory Catfish is a bottom-feeding catfish that is easy to handle for beginners. They can be kept in groups which are when they display a lot of activity.
On average, they cost between $4.99 – $15.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 1-4 inches | Tank Size | 15–30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 74°-80°F | Life Expectancy | 10-15 years |
pH | 7-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
6. Dwarf Gourami
These peaceful gourami fish are available in a variety of colors. They tend to float up to the top of the tank while swimming.
On average, these fish cost between $7.99 and $25.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2-3.5 inches | Tank Size | 10 gallons |
Water Temperature | 77°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 4-6 years |
pH | 6-9 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
7. Fancy Guppy
Fancy Guppies come in many colors, tail shapes, patterns, etc. They are also beginner-friendly but breed quickly, so be wary of keeping a male and female in a single tank.
The prices of these guppies can vary greatly, starting from $2.99 all the way to $57.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2 inches | Tank Size | 5 gallons |
Water Temperature | 74°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 1-3 years |
pH | 7-7.8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
8. Harlequin Rasbora
The Harlequin Rasbora is a unique-looking fish with a predominantly ruby-pink body and black hind parts. They are very peaceful and can be reared by beginners.
These fish cost between $4.99 and $9.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2 inches | Tank Size | 20 gallons |
Water Temperature | 72°-77°F | Life Expectancy | 5-8 years |
pH | 6-7 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
9. Neon Tetra
These fish are very similar to the Cardinal Tetra in appearance. A shoal of these will appear mesmerizing while swimming in an aquarium.
The price of these fish ranges between $2.99 and $22.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 1.2 inches | Tank Size | 10 gallons |
Water Temperature | 72°-76°F | Life Expectancy | 6-7 years |
pH | 6-7 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
10. Paradise Fish
Despite its aggressive behavior towards other fish, the Paradise Fish is actually a pretty good fish for a beginner.
These fish generally cost between $10 and $15.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Aggressive |
Size | 2.4 inches | Tank Size | 20 gallons |
Water Temperature | 70°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 8-9 years |
pH | 6-8 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
11. Pearl Gourami
These fish have scales covered with a mosaic pattern that almost makes them appear as if they are covered by pearls.
A Pearl Gourami costs between $8.99 and $10.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 4-5 inches | Tank Size | 30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 75°-86° F | Life Expectancy | 4-5 years |
pH | 6.5-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
12. Swordtail
Like Mollies and Guppies, Swordtails are beginner friendly and breed rapidly. They also come in a diverse range of colors.
A single Swordtail costs between $2.99 and $9.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 4-6 inches | Tank Size | 20 gallons |
Water Temperature | 61-82°F | Life Expectancy | 3-5 years |
pH | 7-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
13. Tiger Barb
Tiger Barbs are generally great fish to keep, even for those new to the hobby – with one notable issue. These barbs are known for fin-nipping, especially those with long fins like Angelfish.
These barbs cost around $2.99 to $4.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 1.2-1.6 inches | Tank Size | 20-30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 72°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 5-10 years |
pH | 6-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
14. Zebra Danio
The Zebra Danio is a low-maintenance fish whose only requirement is to be kept in a group as they are a schooling fish.
A Zebra Danio costs about $2.99.
Care Level | Beginner | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2 inches | Tank Size | 10 gallons |
Water Temperature | 64°-75° F | Life Expectancy | 3-5 years |
pH | 6-8 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
The Celestial Pearl Danio is a colorful fish that enjoys being in groups of other fish with similar temperaments.
On average, these fish cost between $2.99 and $8.99.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 1 inch | Tank Size | 10 gallons |
Water Temperature | 73°-79°F | Life Expectancy | 3-5 years |
pH | 6.5-7.5 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
16. Florida Flag Fish
These fish get their name from the scales on their bodies, which are the color of the American flag.
On average, Florida Flag Fish costs between $5.99 and $29.99.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Peaceful but aggressive when needing to breed |
Size | 2 inches | Tank Size | 20 gallons |
Water Temperature | 70°-85°F | Life Expectancy | 2-3 years |
pH | 6.5-7.5 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
17. Molly
Like guppies, Mollies are easy to raise, come in multiple varieties, and breed like crazy. But these fish require a bit more care than the guppy, so a little experience is needed while handling them.
Molly fish can be bought for as low as $2 to $3.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Peaceful but occasionally displays aggression |
Size | 3-5 inches | Tank Size | 30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 70°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 3-5 years |
pH | 7 – 8.5 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
18. Peacock Cichlid
Peacock Cichlids come in various colors, making them very appealing to enthusiasts. However, they can be aggressive to other species and are best kept alone.
These cichlids cost between $7.99 and $18.99.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Can be territorial |
Size | 4-6 inches | Tank Size | 55 gallons |
Water Temperature | 76°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 6-8 years |
pH | 7.8-8.5 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
19. Pea Puffer
One of the few puffer fish that can be kept in captivity, the Pea Puffer is not recommendable to beginners. While certainly a unique specimen, this fish is aggressive toward anyone else in its tank and requires a carnivorous diet.
A Pea Puffer usually costs between $3 and $15.
Care Level | Intermediate | Temperament | Aggressive and Territorial |
Size | 0.98 inches | Tank Size | 10 gallons |
Water Temperature | 74°-82°F | Life Expectancy | 4 years |
pH | 6.8 to 7.8 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
20. Discus
Discus are known for their beautiful colors and patterns on their bodies. But they are not easy to care for and need to be kept in groups with either their own species or with other fish.
They are also relatively expensive, starting from $59.99, and can reach over $150.
Care Level | Intermediate-Expert | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 5-8 inches | Tank Size | 70 gallons |
Water Temperature | 82°-86°F | Life Expectancy | 10-15 years |
pH | 6-7 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
21. Duboisi Cichlid
A beautiful but aggressive species, the Duboisi Cichlid displays blue and yellow spots as a juvenile which fade as they age.
On average, this fish costs between $19.99 and $32.99.
Care Level | Expert | Temperament | Aggressive |
Size | 5 inches | Tank Size | 55 gallons |
Water Temperature | 72°-82° F | Life Expectancy | 5-8 years |
pH | 7.8-9 | Compatible With | To be kept alone |
22. German Blue Ram
While these beautiful blue fish are very peaceful, they require much care to keep them alive. So this one is best left to the experts.
The German Blue Ram costs between $12 and $20.
Care Level | Expert | Temperament | Peaceful |
Size | 2-3 inches | Tank Size | 30 gallons |
Water Temperature | 82°-86°F | Life Expectancy | 2-3 years |
pH | 6-7 | Compatible With | Peaceful Fish |
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