Consider these fish for a freshwater aquarium, according to the experts. Most are peaceful, low-maintenance, adaptable and readily available.
The 8 Best Fish for an Aquarium
Updated on Nov. 15, 2023
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Cherry Barbs
Freshwater fish conservationist Lily Hwang is a fan of vibrant red cherry barbs (Puntius titteya). She says while these shy schooling fish can be a little nippy, they tend to be healthier than many in-bred or mass-produced guppies and bettas.
Hwang recommends keeping them in a tank with some decorations and live plants, in groups of at least six. “Larger groups provide a sense of security and reduce stress,” she says.
Cherry barbs are undemanding. “Offer a varied diet consisting of high-quality flake or pellet food formulated for tropical fish,” Hwang says. She adds these peaceful fish do well with other non-aggressive species like tetras, rasboras or peaceful dwarf cichlids.
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Bristlenose Plecostomus
Professional aquarist Troy Yarbrough says many new fish-keepers gravitate toward full-sized common plecostomus. However, he believes the peaceful bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus cirrhosus), sometimes called the bushy nose, is better, for several reasons.
“They won’t outgrow a small aquarium, reaching only three to five inches in length,” Yarbrough says. “They are great housekeepers and eat algae growth on glass and decorations and will graze on leftover food.” Providing you don’t have overly aggressive fish or larger species that might see them as a tasty snack, they make easygoing tank mates. Here are some tips to clean aquarium sand and keep the space clean for your fishies!
Yarbrough loves the look of the fleshy bristles growing out of the head of the males. They’re also readily available and affordable.
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Zebra Danios
When setting up a new tank, black-and-white striped zebra danios (Danio rerio) are a go-to species for professional aquarist Nick Coleman. They’re compatible with many other species on this list.
And while every freshwater fish needs careful care, he describes zebra danios as a “bulletproof, bread and butter fish” compared to more sensitive species. You don’t need to be a top chef to feed them, either. “Just go buy some tropical flake food, and you’re good to go,” he says.
These hardy little schooling fish can tolerate a wide range of conditions and temperatures, ideal while you stabilize levels in a new tank. Just keep them in groups of at least five to avoid stress.
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Cory Catfish
Once you introduce “blinking” cory catfish, you’ll likely fall in love with their cheerful personalities, quirky habits and tank-cleaning abilities.
“Cory catfish are peaceful bottom dwellers that spend most of their time scavenging for food.,” Hwang says. “They are known to display playful behavior and often swim in small groups near the substrate.”
Hwang recommends keeping these companionable fish in groups of at least six and providing a fine-grained substrate to protect their delicate whiskers.
“Offer a balanced diet consisting of high-quality sinking pellets or granules formulated for bottom-dwelling fish,” she says. “Cory catfish are omnivores, so occasional vegetable matter like blanched spinach or zucchini slices can be beneficial.”
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Mbuna African Cichlid
If you’re looking for a tank of low-maintenance fish with brilliant colors and high activity levels, Yarbrough recommends hardy Mbuna African cichlids from Lake Malawi. However, you can’t introduce these territorial fish to a tank full of other species.
“They are somewhat aggressive towards each other, don’t mix well with many other types of fish, and need at least a 55-gallon tank,” Yarbrough says. “It’s best to start with small specimens and let them mature together for compatibility.” Keep a tank of just these fish, with one male to every several females.
Offer plenty of structures as hiding places, and plastic plants so they don’t eat real ones. Also, be prepared for them to spawn readily. Yarbrough says these fish are mouth-breeders, meaning “the females keep fertilized eggs and young fry in their mouths for the first couple of weeks.”
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Serpae Tetras
While they might not be the most spectacular to look at, Coleman says hardy little flame-colored Serpae tetras (Hyphessobrycon eques) can tolerate little swings in chemistry while you’re waiting for the nitrogen cycle to stabilize in a new aquarium.
When these playful schooling fish move as one behind larger ornamental species, Coleman says it looks vibrant and impressive. He suggests keeping a school of six or more together. You could still enjoy the same fish up to eight years after introducing them to your tank.
Offer lots of plants and decorations for them to hide in. House them with other fast-swimming species, like zebra danios, to minimize their fin-nipping tendencies.
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Harlequin Rasboras
Coleman and Hwang recommend peaceful, pretty, adaptable rasboras for new aquariums. Hwang suggests introducing groups of at least six shimmering harlequin rasboras to provide security and reduce stress. Coleman is a fan of brilliant rasboras, which coexist well with many other small community fish.
Both species enjoy a varied diet of high-quality flake or pellet food for tropical fish. “Avoid keeping them with aggressive or larger species that may intimidate or harm them,” Hwang says.
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Platies
“Platies are amongst the most popular live-bearing fish [giving birth to free-swimming fry rather than eggs], and with good reason,” Yarbrough says. “They are hardy, colorful, inexpensive and compatible with just about any peaceful community fish.”
However, they’re prolific spawners, producing 20 to 30 babies at a time. While Yarbrough suggests you’ll likely never need to buy another one, watch out for tank overcrowding.
