What Fish Do I Have In My Tank?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What fish do I have in my tank? are the most popular freshwater aquarium fish of all time (by far). Much to the surprise of most beginner aquarists, Goldfish come in tons of different varieties and colors (many of which are very easy to keep).

What is the best app for identifying fish?


FishVerify

helps users identify hundreds of Freshwater & Saltwater fish with the click of a camera, simultaneously providing local fishing regulations. The app provides up-to-date rules & regulations on size and bag limits based on your GPS location.

Do fish know who you are?

A species of tropical fish has been shown to be able to distinguish between human faces. It is the first time fish have demonstrated this ability.

What two fish can live together?

There are plenty of freshwater fish types that can co-exist with other different species in the same tank.

Guppies, Tetras, Swordtails, and Danios

are just some of the most peaceful tropical species that happily swim around and easily adjust to newer groups.

What is a good starter fish?

  • Rasboras. There are many types of rasboras, but our favorite ones are the harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) and lambchop rasbora (Trigonostigma espei). …
  • Common Goldfish. …
  • Tetras. …
  • Corydoras. …
  • Platies. …
  • Betta Fish. …
  • Barbs. …
  • Bolivian Cichlids.

These creatures tend to have low maintenance needs and are relatively easy to take care of. In particular,

guppies, zebrafish, goldfish, mollies, neon tetras, betta fish, and suckerfish

are just some of the easiest fish to take care of in a community aquarium.

Balcombe notes that touch is a powerful de-stressor for animals — and

are no exception to this phenomenon

. Other examples include groupers, who are well-known for approaching a trusted human to be stroked and cleaner-fish, who gently stroke their client fish with their fins.


Mollies and platys

are very easy fish to care for and come in many varieties and colors. They can be kept in schools and grow to about three inches in length. We recommend starting with a common variety that is widely available, such as a black molly or red platy.

  • Leafy sea dragon.
  • Handfish.
  • Pink See-Through Fantasia.
  • Wobbegong.
  • Christmas tree worm.
  • Red-lipped batfish.
  • Vampire squid.
  • Parrotfish.


Mantas

has a brain that's larger than most fish. Hence, it is considered by many to be the smartest fish in the world. The goldfish is also tagged as the world's smartest fish.


Touching Can Be Harmful to Fish

Touching your pet fish is usually a bad idea. It's advised to avoid touching or grabbing fish with bare hands in an aquarium unless in emergency situations. From sanitary concerns to fish safety, there are many reasons to avoid touching them altogether.

Aquarium fish do not need light and

it is best that you turn it off during the night

. Leaving the light on can cause stress to fish as they need a period of darkness to sleep. Too much light will cause algae to rapidly grow and make your tank look dirty. So the short answer is no, do not leave your lights on.

  1. Discus. Discus are considered the “holy grail” for a ton of freshwater fish keepers. …
  2. German Blue Ram. German Blue Ram (source) …
  3. Gourami. …
  4. Diamond Neon Tetra. …
  5. Endler's Livebearer. …
  6. Killifish. …
  7. Boeseman's Rainbowfish. …
  8. Fantail Guppy.

It no surprise that keepers would want to keep them together. But can goldfish survive with angelfish? The short answer is no. Goldfish and angelfish come from fundamentally different regions with rather drastic differences in water parameters, therefore

they are usually not kept together

.

Do They Get Lonely? Betta fish are naturally territorial and should not be housed with any other betta fish because they will fight and injure each other, often resulting in death.

They are unlikely to get lonely in their tank

; however, if they are in a small tank, they may get bored.

  • Betta fish (Use a heater)
  • Guppies.
  • White Cloud Minnows.
  • Blind Cave Tetras.
  • Salt and Pepper Corydoras.
  • Zebra Danios.
  • Ember Tetra.
  • Pea Pufferfish.


One Inch Per Gallon

The most widely known rule for stocking a tank is the one inch of fish per one or two gallons of water rule.

They are not like a cat or a dog and

can recognize their name

. They just know someone is speaking. They can associate sounds with action, though.

The bottom line is that some black (like our top pick of GloFish Aquarium Gravel), colored (like

Pure Water Pebbles Aquarium Gravel, our runner-up), or even glow-in-the-dark aquarium gravel

can really make any fish tank come to life.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.