what are some good freshwater fish?

Question

I am planning on getting a bigger fish tank, 15 to 20+ gallons, depending on what I can fit into a certain spot in my living room... and I wanted to know what some beautiful fish would be to keep in it.
I love the beauty of salt water fish, but a freshwater tank would be easier to maintain...I have the time and COULD keep a salt water tank up, but what is the point in making extra daily chores and expence?

The spot I'm trying to fill is: 26w x 26l x 20d, maby I need a bigger tank (havent gone to petstore yet (i live out of town) if you have any suggestions on this they'd be appreciated also!

Answer 1

A fish only saltwater tank wouldn't be much additional expense or work for your to be honest, but on a tank that size you would be somewhat limited in your fish choices and might not be able to keep some of the fish you really enjoy seeing at pet stores. Give the saltwater a little thought and you might decide it's for you after all.

As far as freshwater and colorful eay to keep fish, a tank of assorted tetras is always nice. Since your tank is not very large and tetras need to be in a group of 6 or more to do best, that would limit the variety of fish you could keep so I would suggest you use just one or at most 2 species of tetras and mix in a few other species to get additional variety in your tank. A school of neons is always a great start for color in a tank. The same can be said for flame tatras, lemon tetras, or any of dozens of others. Add to that a group of cherry barbs or gold barbs and you'll have great color in the middle to lower parts of the tank. A dwarf gourami or a sunset gourami would add color in the middle to upper parts of the tank and you could always add in 2-3 male guppies or platys for loads of color and variety. Personally for color in the upper parts of the tank I don't think you can beat killifish. They are very colorful and quite active. 2-3 cory catfish can add nice fariety and activity in the bottom of the tank. Maybe a bit less colorful than the others, but they they are very active and fun to watch. Obviously not all of this would fit in a tank of about 20 gallons, but you can mix and match.

Best of luck with your tank!

MM

Answer 2

You've got lots of options here and that's a good thing. MM has given you what I feel is a very diverse listing of coloration and activity. Considering the long term picture is always a must if you have no plans to move up to a larger tank. Supplimenting off MM, there are some Mollies that don't need to be schooled as extensivly to populate with that will give you a good color spectrum. I like the use of Cories as he mentioned, they aren't spectacularly colored but they certainly aren't very plain either for the most part. The thing is that most of them are small and you would need to view up close to really see thier coloration, and usually are pretty active as well. Rainbows are another option here. Glo zebra's are semi plain, but in a school of about 4-6 of them are pretty active and don't sit still for a long time. White Clouds have some nice shiney colors on them. You could keep a few smaller peaceful cichilds even. Blue Acara don't get to be very large, and you could keep one maybe two of them in a community. Very beautiful looking blue on those and are one of the more peaceful kinds. They tend to spawn fairly easy from what I've read so you might want to try to keep a male male or female female grouping if you get two unless you have plans to accomodate fry.

On a side note I've seen common to new aquarists, make sure you cycle out your tank before going and getting your final population. The shifting in water chemistry is usually too harsh on many of the fish we've suggested to endure the cycle process. If you are unfamiliar with what I mean, feel free to shoot me an email. It will save you alot of headaches making sure your tank has properly cycled out before adding and stocking that tank too soon.
JV

Answer 3

there are a variety of Goldfishes with great colors. i have a few that are white with Red spots. i also have a orange/white koi. get peaceful fishes. Clown loaches are also great. dont go with barbs or cichilds, they're too hyper and they'll attack everything in the tank. mind you, Kois and goldfishes can outgrow your tank. i wouldn't get a 15-20, you're stuck in that range, youre larger than a bowl but too small to consider the "better" fishes. you shouldnt get a 15-20 gallon and put guppies/betas/tetras (theres no point). go with at least a 30 gallon tank and you'll thank me later!

Answer 4

i'm fortunate to assert that i will fish 3 varieties of water, sparkling, salt and brackish, on the element of my homestead. i'm additionally fortunate to assert that i will fish the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico via basically crossing the line. I relatively have a large type of those innovations yet for me to assert one water form is extra effectual than the different could be a lie. I by no potential comprehend what i circulate to capture even when I objective a chosen fish. working example, each week returned i replaced into concentrated on Snook in a brackish canal employing finger mullet. I caught a three pound Peacock bass rather. SO i visit assert that Pheasant Tail is appropriate in this one, it relatively relies upon on the place you're and who you ask. Thumbs up Pheasant and J.~solid success catchin.'

Answer 5

first of all if you like fish, get te biggest tank set up your pocket and space will allow and it will save you from going to a higher one later on start with swordtails, gupies, mollies, playys then later add the barbs and tetras too bad yu dont live near me--I have a 125 complete set up to get rid of cheapits not that i want to but i have cance and my six months was up last month so if you know of anyone in the Penna are--let me know

Answer 6

hmm... i suggest you get some peaceful small fish, like the platies or minnows. they're beautiful yet very easy to maintain.
goldfish would be nice too, some bottom dwelling catfish like corys, and plecos to help clean up. they're all cute fish...

good luck

Answer 7

Guppies are great because they get along very well with other fish. Tetra behave very well towards other fish too.

Answer 8

Fantail goldfish are quite nice and graceful, shubumbkins, very interesting colors, comets, goldfish but with a koi look. all rather graceful.

Answer 9

i would get angelfish and gouramis they get somewhat large and are peacefull and pretty.