Top 10 Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish

1. Angelfish

   

   Tall, slim, and majestic. They slowly swim around and are a pleasure to watch.

2. Cory Catfish

   

   These fun little guys are a joy to watch and are very versatile. They are suitable for all aquariums.

3. Betta

   

   My betta, Jellybean, is the cutest little dude I have ever had. He loves his helpings of bloodworms and has a little spot he loves to hide in his tank.

   Bettas are awesome, and I love to see them thrive in large, clean, filtered, and heated tanks instead of the small, dirty bowls that ignorant people put them in. They are living creatures, not décor.

   If you're looking for an easy-to-care-for fish, get a betta!

4. Plecostomus

   

   The most helpful cleanup fish. So many cool varieties to choose from, like zebra, cactus, goldy, and royal.

5. African Cichlid

   

   Although not compatible with other fish, African Cichlids come in great colors, and their sizes can range from 3 cm to 30 cm.

6. Discus

   

   They are beautiful fish but are very hard to care for. They need a 75-gallon tank and perfect water conditions.

   Without a doubt, the most beautiful freshwater fish. I'd make it number 1, but it's difficult to care for.

7. Glass Catfish

   

   Who doesn't want a see-through fish?

8. Oscar

   

   Oscars are alright. I think they're fun to have around and they look cool. However, for people on a budget, Oscars might not be the right pet. They can be decently expensive, and they require an even more expensive tank. At Walmart, Oscars cost about $11, while I've seen them at other places for $14 at small sizes. They require a 55-gallon tank, which can be costly.

   They are very common but can grow to 1 foot 2 inches. They need a 50-gallon tank. Oscars are very aggressive, and if you want something to keep with them, the tank will need to be 75 gallons.

9. Neon Tetra

   

   Possibly the most popular aquarium fish. You must keep them in schools to see how awesome they are.

10. Black Skirt Tetra

    

    The most beautiful tetra. It is a pleasure to look at (not the long-finned variety).

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Celestial Pearl Danio

    
12. ?

    Sven's Eartheater Cichlid

    
The Contenders

13. Platy

    

14. Swordtail

    

15. African Knifefish

    

    The only schooling-friendly knifefish, and more active than other species.

16. Bala Shark

    

17. Otocinclus Catfish

    

    The best cleaners. They're affordable, can school, are entertaining, and hardly create any waste.

18. GloFish

    

19. Tire Track Eel

    

20. Upside-Down Catfish

    

    Funny little guys. They love to hover underneath driftwood.

21. Goldfish

    

    I personally prefer Goldfish for the variety and the affection they give to their caretakers. They're smart enough to recognize their owner and distinguish them from just a family member. They're also smart enough to do tricks like fetching, going through hoops, and playing soccer. My Goldfish always comes to the front of the tank when I walk near it.

    Goldfish are one of the smartest aquarium fish. With training, such as through the R2 Fish School, you can even teach them to do amazing tricks! They are also long-lived and have a better memory than many non-hominid primates. Goldfish come in both slim and fancy varieties.

    Despite this, it's sad that people often view fish as merely "ornamental" or "decorative" objects, without appreciating their abilities. Many people consider goldfish "throwaway," "useless," or "simply stupid/ugly/bait," which makes me feel sad. There's also a common misconception that goldfish can live in bowls, which is simply not true. The oldest goldfish lived alone in a 10-gallon tank, but even that's not ideal. If you want your goldfish to grow properly, consider a small tank with a fancy variety, as they require 10 gallons each. In my experience, this has worked well, though they are social creatures, so a 20-gallon tank with two is better.

    If you're going to criticize the "40/20 gallons per goldfish rule," I must say that's for people who aren't interested in doing 10% water changes daily. Ten gallons is enough for them to grow to 5 inches long (medium size). This won't shorten their lifespan, as long as you have good cycling bacteria established and a good filter. Everything will be fine in terms of water chemistry and quality.

    Goldfish, like angelfish, arowanas, bettas, and other clever fish, can recognize the person who feeds them. Their hearing is far more developed than ours, and they can recognize who plays classical music! If this list were for the most intelligent fish, it should be: 1) arowanas, 2) angelfish, 3) goldfish, 4) bettas, and 5) oscars.

22. Eartheater Cichlid

    

    Amazing varieties that are passive and friendly. They are highly entertaining when they filter through sand or gravel to eat.

23. Raphael Catfish

    

    Amazing-looking and effective cleanup crew, but they tend to be nocturnal.

24. Ropefish

    

25. Pictus Catfish

    

26. Kuhli Loach

    

27. Congo Tetra

    

    My personal favorite tetra species, with stunning, shining scales and vibrant personalities. They get bigger than most other tetra species too, up to 3-4 inches.