If you’re like me, you’ve always loved looking at exotic fish.
Maybe you’ve seen pictures of tropical marine fish in a saltwater aquarium and thought they were gorgeous.
Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to own one of those beautiful brightly coloured fish.
When I first got into the hobby, I had no idea what to expect.
1) Angelfish.
Angelfish are one of the best tropical community fish for beginners.
They look like marine angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) and have many of their same quirks, except they’re much more affordable.
The best thing about angelfish is that they won’t eat plants, unlike some other popular cichlids such as Jack Dempsey.
They’re a relatively small fish, growing only about 4-6 inches, depending on the variety.
They are best kept in groups of at least three since they are very social animals and will fight if kept alone or paired with another angelfish.
They are best kept in tanks 30 gallons and larger.
They will eat just about anything you put in the tank, but they are best-fed freeze-dried krill and bloodworms.
Angelfish also have a fascinating quirk when it comes to breeding: Once the male angelfish decides he wants to spawn with a female, he’ll chase her around the aquarium until she becomes exhausted.
After that, he bites into her tail and fans her fins for a few minutes while she lays eggs out of his sight.
Then he fertilises them.
When she’s done laying eggs (usually 20-50), she swims away, and he stops fanning her fins so that he can guard his new little family.
2) Neon Tetre.
The neon tetre is a small, beautiful fish with bright reds and blues.
They are best kept in groups of 5 or more since they are tiny (only growing up to 1.5″ long).
One neat thing about Neon Tetres is that the males turn blue while the females stay orange.
The best way to tell them apart is by looking at the patterns on their heads (the females have vertical lines, while the males look like spots).
They are best kept in small groups of 5 or more.
They prefer acidic, soft water conditions, and they will eat just about anything you put in the tank (but they tend to overeat if fed too much).
3) Loaches.
Loaches are a fairly common freshwater fish, best known for surviving in deplorable water conditions.
They generally grow up to about 2-3″, and they look like long, grey worms with fins.
Loaches do best in tanks that have heavily planted areas and bogwood.
They love soft water (about neutral to slightly acidic), but they’re best kept in groups of 5 or more because they need large territories.
The best way to tell different species of loaches apart is by looking at the patterning on their bellies: some have spots, while others have stripes or no markings at all.
They will eat just about anything you feed them, including algae wafers, frozen foods (bloodworms), and flakes and pellets.
They will also help clean the tank of debris, uneaten food, and rotting fish food by eating it.
4) Harlequin Rasbora.
Harlequin rasbora are best kept in groups of 5 or more.
They grow best in soft water and acidic conditions (around neutral).
They generally only grow up to about 2 inches long, but they’ll get much larger if you keep them with goldfish, for example.
They’re best-fed flakes and pellets along with dried bloodworms and other frozen foods.
If you can’t seem to get them breeding, try adding a little bit of salt to the tank because that seems to bring out their spawning behaviours.
5) Redtail sharks.
Redtail sharks are best kept in groups of 3 or more.
They’re best kept in tanks 40 gallons and up since they can grow to be about 12 inches long and eat a lot (they will eat a lot of everything if you let them).
In the wild, they are best known for their often acrobatic jumping behaviours.
They’re best fed live foods like feeder minnows along with flakes and pellets.
They love snails, so it’s best to have some around if you want your tank to stay clean.
You can also use algae wafers as extra food, don’t give them too many because they have an overactive thyroid gland that makes them prone to bloated bellies.
6) Oscar fish.
Oscar fish are best kept in groups of two or more (they’re best known for being antisocial).
They’ve also been known to be the best algae eating fish out there, so they should only be added if you have other fish that need a clean tank.
It’s best to keep them with big goldfish and large koi because Oscar’s are best fed live foods like feeder minnows along with flakes and pellets.
The best way to tell male Oscars from female Oscars is by looking at their belly: males’ bellies are much wider than females’.
If you notice your Oscar laying on its side, that means it’s ready to breed!
You can separate the pair after breeding since Oscars tend to become too protective of their eggs and may even eat them.
Oscars can get pretty big (up to 24″ long), so it’s best to keep them in tanks that are at least 60 gallons or more, with lots of places for them to hide.
They love snails, so it’s best if you have some snail-free zones in the tank for Oscar to patrol (you can also feed him live food like minnows).
To tell males from females, look at the belly: male Oscars usually have a much wider belly than females.
If your Oscar lays on its side, it’s ready to breed! You should be able to see “egg spots” within a few days of breeding.
Oscars tend not to eat when they’re protecting their eggs, so you may have to separate the pair after breeding if they’ve been getting too territorial.
7) Plecostomus.
These are best kept in groups of 3 or more.
They’re best kept in tanks 50 gallons and up since they can get up to around 24 inches long!
In the wild, plecos are best known for eating algae and cleaning up all the floating debris in their part of the river.
They’re best fed crushed algae wafers along with flakes and pellets.
They do best when there’s a lot of wood in your tank because they love snails (or you could use snail-free zones).
Plecostomus grow best at temperatures between 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit, so be sure to keep Peacock/Asian Stone catfish out of their tank as well because they prefer cooler water temps (around 65-72 degrees).
If you notice your pleco’s belly is puffed up, that means it has parasites.
8) Firemouth Cichlid.
They’re best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow to around 6 inches long.
Firemouth’s are best suited for tropical fish tanks with lots of live plants because they love snails and hunt them down if you don’t provide enough hiding spots.
They’re best-fed vegetable flakes, along with dried bloodworms and other frozen foods.
They do best at temperatures no lower than 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a dark substrate (lots of leaves/plants), their colours stand out! In lighter substrates, the red on the fins seems to glow!
Firemouths are best known for their often acrobatic jumping behaviours, so ensure your tank is secure from escapees.
9) Swordtails.
Swordtails are best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow to 4-5 inches long.
One hundred gallons is best for keeping them in, so that means you should only have one male per tank (or make sure he doesn’t harass his female companions too much).
They’re best-fed flakes and pellets along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Swordtails do best at temperatures between 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep them away from plecos and catfish because those prefer cooler water temps.
10) Catfish.
These are best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow to around 6 inches and are best in 75-gallon tanks.
These fish have very sensitive barbels (nose), so it’s best to keep them with other bottom-dwelling fish like plecos that will ensure the catfish doesn’t fall out of their aquarium.
They’re best fed sinking pellets along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Catfish do best at temperatures between 68-76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Catfish are best known for being patient parents, waiting a long time until their fry develop enough to swim out on their own (you may even see mom carry some of her fries around!).
It would be best if you fed your cats as best you can so they have the best chance at reproducing.
11) Bettas.
Bettas are best kept in pairs.
The best in 10-gallon tanks as adults, and they can grow to be just over 3 inches long.
Because Bettas like cooler water (around 65-72 degrees), they do best when kept with other bottom-dwelling fish like plecos and suckermouth catfish.
They’re best fed sinking pellets along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.
If you notice your betta’s tail seems dull, that means it has fin rot!
That could also mean you have too much ammonia or nitrite in the tank, so be sure to test for those regularly!
Be sure to provide them with hiding spots because Bettas dislike being out where everyone can see them (they used to be popular in fighting arenas, so they’re best kept with shy fish that won’t harass them).
12) Dwarf Gouramis.
Dwarf Gouramis are best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow to be about 4-5 inches long.
A 50-gallon tank is best for keeping them in (25 gallons for females only).
They’re best fed sinking pellets along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.
If you notice their belly seems puffed up, that means they have internal parasites!
13) Zebra danios.
Zebra danios are best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow to be around 2.5 inches long.
A 10-gallon tank is best for keeping them in as adults and best with other small schooling fish that will keep them company.
They’re best fed sinking pellets along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.
14) Molly.
Mollies are best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow to be around 2-3 inches long.
It is the best in 10-gallon tanks as adults and best with other small schooling fish that will keep them company.
They’re best fed sinking pellets along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp.
Mollies are best known for their beauty, but it’s unfortunate how often they’re found swimming upside down, which means your tank probably has too much ammonia/nitrite!
That could also mean you have a filter problem, so be sure to test the water regularly.
15) Guppy.
No best kept in groups of 5 or more since they can grow around 2-2.5 inches long.
A 10-gallon tank is best for keeping them in as adults and best with other small schooling fish that will keep them company.
They’re best-fed flakes along with freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp, so make sure your local store carries their favourite food before you buy any guppies!
Conclusion
The best community tropical fish are the ones that work well together.
This list includes Angelfish, Neon Tetre, Loaches, Harlequin Rasbora and Redtail Sharks, to name a few!
These types of fish all have different personalities and feeding habits, making them easy to care for in tanks with other species.
What’s your favourite type of community tropical fish? Let us know in the comments below!
