Since the beginning of time, humans have been fascinated by the beauty and diversity that exists underwater.
Aquatic life has always captivated us, from the murky depths of rivers to the sparkling reflections in a tropical lagoon.
But what are some freshwater fish species in the UK?
Here is our list
1. Loach.
These fish are usually found in muddy waters with thick vegetation and slow-moving currents.
They’re also very territorial, so they should only be kept in groups of five or less per tank!
2. Betta Fish.
This small but feisty little guy (or girl) darts around his tank are looking for food all day!
Bettas need an average water temperature between 78°F and 82°F as well as a pH of 7.2 to 8.0 for optimum health and a freshwater tank that measures about 10 gallons with an ample supply of freshwater fish UK plants (such as java moss) on which to graze.
3. Clown Loach.
Primarily seen in Thailand, this freshwater fish species in the UK only reaches about 6 inches long but can live up to 20 years!
They are peaceful fish, so they should be kept in groups of at least four or five per tank.
4. Rainbow Fish Tank.
These freshwater fish swarms like schools of piranha around their tank, especially if you are feeding them flakes!
They’re quite hardy, too; they thrive in freshwater tanks with neutral water between 60°F and 80°F, and their lifespan ranges from 3 to 10 years!
5. Orandas.
An oranda is a fancy freshwater fish tank goldfish bred with the more common orange-coloured Koi varieties.
The result was this beautiful freshwater fish species in the UK with a deep, rich red colour and various white patterns all over its body that gives it an appearance similar to that of a koi!
6. Catfish.
This freshwater fish has no scales or fins and are a popular freshwater aquarium pet store freshwater fish.
These freshwater fish live in both fresh and saltwater, but they thrive best in small groups of about five per tank, so be sure to get more than one if you want more than one catfish!
7. Panchax Fish.
Another freshwater aquarium pet stores freshwater fish tank favourite, the panchax freshwater fish species in the UK, comes in various colours, including silver, orange, black and blue!
These freshwater fish are very comfortable swimming around at the bottom levels of their freshwater tanks.
In contrast, others prefer to graze along with freshwater plants on the top levels of the aquarium!
8. Barbs or Barbus Fish.
Barb filled freshwater fish for sale thrive best when kept in groups with other barbs, so make sure you have plenty of room in your tank if you want to save some as pets!
Their water needs to be between 60°F to 80°F as well as between pH 6.0 and 8.0 for optimum freshwater fish tank health.
They also require an adequate supply of freshwater fish UK plants that they can graze along!
9. Arowana Fish.
Everyone loves these fancy freshwater fishes because not only are they easy on equipment and food, but they’re simply stunning both above and below the freshwater fish tanks.
Arowanas come in freshwater fish for sale UK several varieties that are all equally astounding.
They require a freshwater tank with neutral water between 76°F and 88°F, as well as a pH of 7.2 to 8.0 for optimum health!
Lastly, they’re also one of the most expensive freshwater fishes freshwater fish species UK out there, so be sure you have lots of money if you want an Arowana freshwater fish for your freshwater tank!
Freshwater Fish Facts
FACT 1: Most freshwater fish are from China, but they are now found in other countries.
FACT 2: For a healthy community of freshwater fish, the ratio of males to females should be 2:1.
FACT 3: Freshwater fish like the Clown Loach originate from Thailand and can live up to 20 years.
FACT 4: Rainbow Fish swarm together as schools of piranha and thrive best in a neutral water temperature range between 60°F and 80°F.
FACT 5: Taiwan is the origin of freshwater fish like Angelfish and Bala Shark.
FACT 6: Red Rainbow Fish are a beautiful aquarium fish UK and live up to 10 years old.
FACT 7: When keeping Arowana as pets, they require at least a 200-gallon tank!
The life cycle of a freshwater fish
The life cycle of a freshwater fish begins with fertilisation.
Most species spawn in the spring, and females will release their eggs into the water.
Male freshwater fish will release their sperm, and this mixture of eggs and sperm will float around until they reach a suitable place for development.
The larvae will remain in these waters for several days and then move to the shoreline where they live as juveniles.
They will then develop all organs, including gills, scales, and tails. Then they emerge from these waters as fully-fledged, sexually mature adults.
Freshwater Fish Tanks
There are two main types of freshwater fish tanks: cold water and warm water. Coldwater aquatic environments can be either a lake, pond, brook or stream.
Warm water environments tend to have tropical temperatures and require different conditions than other cold-water freshwater fish species in UK tanks.
Here are some examples of the type of equipment found in both cold-water and warm-water environments:
Cold Water Tank Equipment
Air pump/diffuser, thermometer, heater, net/siphon for cleaning out debris (this will need to be cleaned regularly), filter sponges or bio wheel filters (these do not need cleaning too often as they are self-cleaning), gravel cleaners & siphoning equipment for cleaning gravel, air stone or other aeration equipment depending on the size of your tank.
A protein skimmer is not required but if you do have one, then remember to clean it every few weeks too!
Freshwater Fish Tank Setup
Before setting up your freshwater fish tank, please be sure to read these instructions first, as a lot of the time, setup can go wrong and result in an unusable set-up!
Here are the steps
Prepare the space where you want to place the freshwater fish tank.
This means that you should have all cords secured so they won’t get tangled around any moving parts such as filters or oxygenators.
Next, measure out enough room for your aquatic environment.
Determine if you are going to need a heater (recommended) and an aerator.
Then, clean out the tank with water as hot as you can stand it!
Clean out all rocks/gravel too! Add a coating of mineral oil at this point (this will prevent rusting).
Fill the tank with tap water to about 1-2 inches below the top. Let this sit for 24 hours before adding any fish.
Allow another five days to allow any chlorine present in your city water to dissipate before putting fish in their new environment.
Freshwater Fish Tank Maintenance
Weekly
Remove all uneaten food and debris from the surface of the aquarium so that snails & other eggs don’t become attached or give off toxic substances.
Check heaters for efficiency and temperature level regulation.
Ensure that the filter isn’t clogged and is still functioning properly (test this by putting your hand in the water after turning off all electrical equipment.
If it feels cool to the touch, then the chances are that your filters need cleaning!)
Monthly
Test for the presence of nitrites (these can be toxic to fish) and bacterial bloom, which could kill fish.
Ask a qualified aquatic pet store team member if you’re not sure how to do this test! The same goes for ph levels too.
You may also want to add some aquarium salt at 1-2 teaspoons per 5 gallons of tank water.
This will help prevent the disease from spreading among your beloved fish friends!
Check the water temperature with a thermometer every month – make sure that it doesn’t fluctuate by more than 2 degrees; otherwise, you’ll stress your fish out, and they might become sick!
Clean out the filter (this will need to be done even more frequently if you keep any bottom-feeding fish such as Cichlids USA or Catfish!)
Conclusion
So, now that you know all about freshwater fish species in the UK, what are you waiting for?
Start building your aquarium today!
We can offer assistance if you need some help with selecting a tank or setting up the water filter and other equipment necessary to make sure your new pets thrive.
Our team of experts is here to answer any questions you have on setting up a freshwater fish tank, so be sure to contact us if there’s anything else we can do for you.
