Match-Making
To make your fish tank a stunning swirl of activity and color, you will want to add a variety of tropical freshwater fish. All fish have different colors, patterns, fin designs, sizes, shapes, temperaments and ideal living conditions. For the welfare of fish and therefore the success of fish tank aquariums, it is vital that you research the fish you would like, to know which ones can live together in health and harmony. For example, you cannot match (i.e. without stressing or harming your fish) peaceful and aggressive fish, ones that like cooler water and ones that need higher temperatures etc. Common sense stuff!
Give Room To Your Fish
A good idea is to select fish that occupy different levels in tank aquariums so they don’t need to compete for space. This adds a fair amount of activity and variety, enhancing the appeal of your aquarium.
Fish, Top-Dwelling
Top-dwelling fish generally have upturned mouths for feeding at the water’s surface. Danios are active and hardy with a long lifespan making them ideal especially for beginning aquarists. One of the most promoted tropical freshwater fish is the Betta, an easy to look after, peaceful fish with striking fins and a remarkable variety of color. Hatchetfish are unusual but are moderately difficult to manage and are strong jumpers, so you need to replace the lid of your fish tank aquarium immediately after feeding and maintenance.
Fish, Middle-Dwelling
Middle-dwelling fish could be most striking and be stocked with a mixture of schooling fish and larger colorful fish. Schooling fish are obviously happiest when they are among their own kind and you need to have around six. Examples of schooling fish include Rainbow fish and Tetras. Rainbow fish are easy to look after and their amazing iridescent colorations change when light reflects off these fish. Neon Tetras choose to swim or remain suspended in schools to create a breathtaking array of color. All types of Platies and Guppies are excellent for middle-dwelling fish. They are both easy care fish and come in many bright color variations which add excitement and brilliance to tank aquariums. For something slightly larger, Swordtails are easy to look after and have wonderfully diverse fin and color varieties. Mollies add drama and contrast to any aquarium but require a moderate level of care. The following small Gouramis are of a peaceful temperament and easy to look after: Neon Blue Dwarf, Sparkling Gourami and Dwarf Gouramis. Angels are a dazzling fish to include in your aquarium but bear in mind they are semi-aggressive and growing to 6 inches they also require at least a 30 gallon tank. For a larger tank (50 gallons), Cichlids are an option but many can show signs of aggression. Examples of peaceful ones are Acei Cichlid, Albino Kribensis Cichlid and Brichardi Cichlid. Of course, the Goldfish remains the most popular freshwater fish and comes in many varieties with amazing color patterns and features.
Fish, Bottom-Dwelling
Bottom-dwelling fish have down-turned mouths, enabling them to feed on food that falls to the bottom of the tank, thereby keeping the substrate clean. Cory Cats are entertaining, energetic and peaceful scavengers. They remain relatively small and survive in a wide range of water conditions. For larger fish tank aquariums (30-50 gallons), Loaches will add color, interest and beauty to your fish tank aquarium. They are active bottom dwelling scavengers ideally suited for the community aquarium.
All Peaceful or All Aggressive
You will have noticed that I mainly refer to peaceful fish. These community fish can co-exist peacefully with members of their own species and other species of similar size. Being the kind of person who likes to
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