The most beautiful fish that can live in an aquarium

10/12/2020

Lionfish

Lionfish are native to the Pacific Ocean and are also known as Dragon Fish, Tiger Fish and Scorpion Fish.

They are actually considered invasive in North America because they don’t have any natural predators and eliminate native species. They reproduce quickly (they release up to 30,000 eggs every 7 days!) and can easily adapt to new environments.

Lionfish are usually anywhere from 2 to 16 inches long and they have the most beautifully striped bodies, arranged in a zebra like pattern.

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Picasso Triggerfish

Another beautiful fish is the Picasso Triggerfish; also known as the Humuhumu Triggerfish. Just like the artist it is named after, it has a wacky vibrant painted appearance.

With its tan colored body and blue/black stripes it looks almost cartoon like.

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Clownfish
No list would be complete without this cute fish. The Clownfish shot to fame after its appearance in Finding Nemo, and is known by many people now as ‘Nemo’.

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Flame Angelfish
This dwarf Angelfish is very popular amongst both beginner and advanced aquarists. It has a deep red/orange body with black vertical stripes and blue tipped dorsal and a**l fins.

Depending on where each fish is found, the colors are slightly different. In Hawaii, they tend to be larger and have a deeper vibrant red color, whereas those found in the Indo-Pacific region tend to be a more orangey-red.

They don’t require a huge tank, in fact 30 gallons will be fine for them.

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Moorish Idol
The Moorish Idol is the pin-up poster fish of coral reefs.

They are found in almost every underwater photographer’s portfolio, diving pamphlet and pet store painting.

This beautiful fish is native to the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, they have large thick vertical stripes in contrasting black and white. They also have a sunlight yellow patch towards the back of their body.

They have long snouts with a vibrant yellowy/orange mask running across. Moorish Idols have a long extravagant filament which trails out from the tip of the dorsal fin.

Interestingly they closely resemble Butterflyfish, but they are not in the same family despite sharing similar feeding habits.

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Banggai Cardinalfish

Banggai Cardinalfish are native to the Banggai Islands in Indonesia. These elegant, graceful fish are usually found resting between seagrass beds, coral ledges and sea anemones during the day as they are nocturnal.

At night, they will feed in groups of up to 200, on plankton and other small crustaceans.

They are very sociable and need to be kept in groups of at least eight to ensure they are happy.

As long as these fish are given enough space, with plenty of hiding spots and barriers, they will be a delight to watch swim around.

If they are kept in a small tank, they will chase each other because they don’t have enough space.

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Symphysodon Discus
This beautiful fish is often thought of as the king of the aquarium, it’s a stunning centerpiece and it’s not hard to see why.

From the front it looks very thin, but from the side they are a round disc shape. They usually reach around 6 inches in length and are very peaceful, elegant and graceful.

Also known as the Heckel Discus and the Pineapple Fish, Discus come in lots of different colors, but the red coloring is considered to be one of the most beautiful.

They are found in various areas of the Amazon River, and they are one of the most difficult species of freshwater fish to keep due to them requiring pristine water conditions, and being very picky eaters.

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Regal Angelfish
All Angelfish have a beautiful elegant look to them, but the regal angelfish is one of the most beautiful. It is also one of the most difficult to keep in an aquarium.

They grow to around 10 inches in length, which means they require a huge tank (a minimum of 100 gallons with plenty of hiding spots).

In the wild they prefer areas that are naturally rich in coral reefs, and they stay close to areas with plenty of cracks, caves and crevices. They typically live singly or in mated pairs.

If you’re thinking of buying a Regal Angelfish, always buy specimens which have been caught in the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately many of these fish which are caught in the indo-pacific have been caught using chemicals and don’t survive long.

They should always be quarantined for a few weeks before adding them to your main tank. They can find it difficult to adapt to life in captivity, smaller juveniles usually adapt better.

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Betta Fish
Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are one of the most popular aquarium fish.

They have been selectively bred to have bright colors and unique tails; and due to their aggressive nature, they were also bred to fight.

In the wild, Bettas don’t display the same beautiful colors that we have achieved through selective breeding in aquariums. They are a lot more dull, to blend in with their natural habitat – rice paddies and floodplains.

Bettas are labyrinth fish meaning they can breathe oxygen directly from the air, as well as taking in oxygen through their gills.

As we’ve already mentioned, Bettas are quite aggressive and only one male should be kept per tank. They are usually kept in species only tanks.

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Threadfin Butterflyfish
This Butterflyfish is the centerpiece in many home aquariums; it has a beautifully bold personality to match its bold colors.

It reaches lengths of 9 inches and has a calm demeanor which is why it is one of the most photographed underwater fish.

Their body is pearly white and this blends into a bright yellow color towards the tail end, and up to the dorsal fins. It also has diagonal black perpendicular lines which create a chevron like pattern.

These fish require large tanks (a minimum of 100 gallons) and adapt well to aquarium life, making it a beautiful fish for beginners.

03/12/2020