| Match-Making | | | | Dwarf Gouramis. Angels are a striking fish to include |
| To make your fish tank aquarium a stunning swirl of | | | | in your aquarium but bear in mind they are |
| colour and activity, you will want to add a variety of | | | | semi-aggressive and growing to 6 inches they also |
| tropical freshwater fish. All fish have different colours, | | | | require at least a 30 gallon tank. For a larger tank (50 |
| patterns, fin designs, sizes, shapes, temperaments | | | | gallons), Cichlids are an option but many can show |
| and ideal living conditions. For the welfare of fish and | | | | signs of aggression. Examples of peaceful ones are |
| therefore the success of fish tank aquariums, it is | | | | Acei Cichlid, Albino Kribensis Cichlid and Brichardi Cichlid. |
| vital that you research the fish you would like, to | | | | Of course, the Goldfish remains the most popular |
| know which ones can live together in health and | | | | freshwater fish and comes in many varieties with |
| harmony. For example, you cannot match peaceful | | | | amazing colour patterns and features. |
| and aggressive fish, ones that like cooler water and | | | | Bottom-Dwelling Fish |
| ones that need higher temperatures etc. Common | | | | Bottom-dwelling fish have down-turned mouths, |
| sense stuff! | | | | enabling them to feed on food that falls to the |
| Space Out Your Fish | | | | bottom of the tank, thereby keeping the substrate |
| A good idea is to select fish that occupy different | | | | clean. Cory Cats are entertaining, energetic and |
| levels in tropical freshwater tank aquariums so they | | | | peaceful scavengers. They remain relatively small and |
| do not need to compete for space. This adds a good | | | | survive in a wide range of water conditions. For larger |
| amount of activity and variety, enhancing the | | | | tropical freshwater tank aquariums (30-50 gallons), |
| attractiveness of your fish tank aquarium. | | | | Loaches will add colour, interest and beauty to your |
| Top-Dwelling Fish | | | | fish tank aquarium. They are active bottom dwelling |
| Top-dwelling fish generally have upturned mouths for | | | | scavengers ideally suited for the community aquarium. |
| feeding at the surface of the water. Danios are | | | | All Peaceful or All Aggressive |
| active and hardy with a long lifespan making them | | | | You will have noticed that I mainly refer to peaceful |
| ideal especially for beginning aquarists. One of the | | | | fish. These community fish can co-exist peacefully |
| most popular tropical freshwater fish is the Betta, an | | | | with members of their own species and other |
| easy to look after, peaceful fish with striking fins and | | | | species of similar size. Being the kind of person who |
| a remarkable variety of colour. Hatchetfish are | | | | likes to keep the peace I prefer easy-going fish for a |
| unusual but are moderately difficult to manage and | | | | quiet life but if you like a bit more action, by all |
| are strong jumpers, so you need to replace the lid of | | | | means choose aggressive fish. Just remember to |
| your fish tank aquarium immediately after feeding | | | | keep all the fish species in your fish tank aquarium |
| and maintenance. | | | | aggressive so no one gets bullied! Aggressive fish are |
| Middle-Dwelling Fish | | | | aggressive toward their own species and/or other |
| Middle-dwelling fish could be most striking and be | | | | species, regardless of their size. |
| stocked with a mixture of schooling fish and larger | | | | Fish Tank Sizes |
| colourful fish. Schooling fish are obviously happiest | | | | Most of the fish mentioned are ideal for smaller tank |
| when they are with their mates and you need to | | | | aquariums. Danios, Platies, Bettas, Gouramis and |
| have around six. Examples of schooling fish include | | | | Tetras measure around two inches and are good for |
| Rainbow fish and Tetras. Rainbow fish are easy to | | | | the smaller 10 gallon tanks. Though small, Guppies |
| look after and their amazing iridescent colorations | | | | thrive best in at least a 20 gallon tank along with |
| change when light reflects off these fish. Neon | | | | Hatchetfish, while the larger Swordtails, Mollies, |
| Tetras tend to swim or remain suspended in schools | | | | Rainbow Fish, Angels, Goldish and Cory Cats will |
| to create a breathtaking display of colour. All types | | | | require a minimum of a 30 gallon tank. Loaches and |
| of Platies and Guppies are excellent for | | | | Cichlids normally require a 50 gallon tank. |
| middle-dwelling fish. They are both easy care fish and | | | | Do Your Homework! |
| come in many bright colour variations which add | | | | These tropical freshwater fish are only a guide to |
| excitement and brilliance to tropical freshwater fish | | | | varieties of fish which would be suitable in a tropical |
| tank aquariums. For something slightly larger, | | | | freshwater aquarium. It is essential that you research |
| Swordtails are easy to look after and have | | | | the fish including size, temperament, the tending they |
| wonderfully diverse fin and colour varieties. Mollies | | | | require in order to grow and breed, the food they |
| add drama and contrast to any aquarium but require | | | | eat, and the water parameters in which each |
| a moderate level of care. The following small | | | | individual type of fish is the most comfortable with. |
| Gouramis are of a peaceful temperament and easy | | | | This will be vital in determining the varieties of fish |
| to look after: Sparkling Gourami, Neon Blue Dwarf and | | | | that can be suitably matched. |