Common Freshwater Aquarium Fish

There are a few dozen types of freshwater aquarium fish that you can obtain for your tank. I'll give you brief description of some of the most popular and show you a picture of what they look like.

The first one that is pretty well known is the Betta, also known as the fighting fish. It is native in Thailand and Cambodia. This fish is relatively inexpensive, and are able to live in smaller containers. They grow to be about 6 centimeters long, and are known for their brilliant colors and large, flowing fins.

Another freshwater fish is the piranha. They live in the Amazon River Basin and the basin of the Paraguay. Piranhas have the reputation for being one of the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. They have razor sharp teeth to strip flesh from prey and dead animals. They can grow to a maximum of about 33 centimeters.

Angelfish is another common freshwater fish, that is much less aggressive than the piranha. They all originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River, and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America. They have round bodies and elongated triangular dorsal and anal fins. This shape allows them to hide among roots and plants.

The pufferfish is no ordinary fish. They have expressive faces and sometimes even appear to be smiling. Their unique ability to "puff" happens when they get scared. They can puff up to 2 - 3 times their normal size. Another unique feature of the puffer fish is that it is poisonous. If large amounts are ingested, it can cause paralysis and even death.

Ok, we'll talk about just one more fish. Loaches. They have a heightened sense of smell and are very flexible. They are great scavengers, which is why they are popular among those with aquariums. They will eat snails right out of their shells. They are also at times called "thorn-eyes" because they have two thorn-like spines directly between their eyes, which can act as a defense. They are found throughout Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa.

So hopefully that gives you a little insight into some freshwater fish that would go well in your aquarium. Remember, before throwing them all together make sure you look up and make sure that certain freshwater fish are compatible with each other so you can be sure to have a peaceful environment.