Breeds and species
Aquarium Fish
Popular aquarium fish for freshwater tanks and ponds: bettas, guppies, neon tetras, angelfish, goldfish and koi. Discover species, needs and care.
25 animals in this selection Each has a story.
Animal list
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Aquarium Fish Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta)
Beginner The Siamese fighting fish is a colourful, long-finned aquarium fish from Southeast Asia, often sold in small cups with no heater or filter – research shows tha… 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Goldfish
Beginner The goldfish is one of the oldest domesticated fish, cold-water and long-lived. Despite the popular image of a small round bowl, it needs a large tank or pond … 10 – 20 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Molly
Beginner The molly is a hardy, medium-sized livebearer popular for community tanks. It is undemanding and peaceful, but appreciates slightly harder, mildly brackish wat… 3 – 5 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Koi
Koi are colourful Japanese ornamental carp that grow very large and live exceptionally long. They are meant for garden ponds, not aquariums, and are calm, tame… 25 – 35 yrsLarge -
Aquarium Fish Honey Gourami
Beginner The honey gourami is a small, gentle labyrinth fish in a honey-orange colour. It is one of the calmest gouramis and an excellent choice for a smaller community… 4 – 6 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Guppy
Beginner The guppy is a small, colourful livebearer and one of the most popular beginner species. It is undemanding, peaceful and social, but breeds extremely fast, so … 2 – 3 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Zebra Danio
BeginnerActive The zebra danio is a fast, extremely lively shoaling fish with zebra-like stripes and among the hardiest beginner species. It tolerates a wide range of conditi… 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Platy
Beginner The platy is a small, colourful livebearer widely considered one of the easiest fish for beginners. It is peaceful, undemanding about water and thrives in a co… 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Beginner The White Cloud Mountain minnow is a small, extremely hardy shoaling fish that tolerates cooler water and needs no heater. It is peaceful, colourful and one of… 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Neon Tetra
The neon tetra is a tiny, brilliantly blue-and-red shoaling fish that creates a stunning colour effect in a larger group. It is peaceful and popular for commun… 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Harlequin Rasbora
Beginner The harlequin rasbora is recognised by the black triangle on its copper-orange body. It is an undemanding, long-lived shoaling fish and one of the best choices… 5 – 8 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Angelfish
The angelfish is an elegant, disc-shaped cichlid with tall fins, considered the king of the community tank. It is relatively peaceful but territorial during br… 8 – 10 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Swordtail
BeginnerActive The swordtail is a hardy livebearer in which the male has a characteristic sword-like extension of the tail fin. It is active, colourful and peaceful, suited t… 3 – 5 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Bristlenose Pleco
Beginner The bristlenose pleco is a popular catfish that rasps algae off glass and decor day after day with its sucker mouth. It stays small, is peaceful and is conside… 5 – 10 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Cardinal Tetra
The cardinal tetra is the larger, more colourful cousin of the neon tetra – its red band runs the entire length of the body. In a shoal of at least ten it crea… 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Ram Cichlid
The ram cichlid is a tiny, exceptionally colourful dwarf cichlid with blue speckles and a red belly. It is peaceful but sensitive to water quality, so it is no… 2 – 4 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Corydoras Catfish
Beginner The corydoras is a small shoaling catfish that tirelessly searches the tank bottom. It is exceptionally peaceful, undemanding and, in a group of at least six, … 5 – 8 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Discus
The discus is regarded as the king of the aquarium – a magnificent, disc-shaped cichlid with stunning colours. It is a demanding fish that needs warm, exceptio… 10 – 15 yrsMedium -
Aquarium Fish Blue Gourami
Beginner The blue gourami is a robust labyrinth fish with distinctive thread-like ventral fins it uses to feel its surroundings. It is undemanding and hardy, though mal… 4 – 6 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Black Tetra
BeginnerActive The black tetra is a lively, hardy shoaling fish with a silver front and a darkened rear body. It is undemanding, but in too small a group it tends to nip the … 3 – 5 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Pearl Gourami
Beginner The pearl gourami (Trichopodus leerii) is a peaceful labyrinth fish from Southeast Asia, recognisable by its pearl-dotted pattern and a dark zigzagging line fr… 4 – 8 yrsSmall -
Aquarium Fish Endler's Livebearer
Beginner The Endler's livebearer (Poecilia wingei) is a tiny, strikingly colourful fish from a very small range in Venezuela, confirmed by genetic research as a separat… 2 – 3 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Tiger Barb
BeginnerActive The tiger barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) is a lively shoaling fish native to Sumatra in Indonesia, recognisable by the four black bars across its silver-orange bod… 5 – 7 yrsMini -
Aquarium Fish Cherry Shrimp (Red Cherry Shrimp)
Beginner The cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) is a tiny freshwater shrimp from East Asia, kept worldwide for its bred colour strains and its efficient grazing on alga… 1 – 2 yrsMini
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Load moreWhich aquarium fish should you choose?
Do not choose by appearance alone. Temperament, size, activity level and daily care needs matter just as much.
Think about how much time you can spend on grooming, training, play and companionship. Beginners often do best with breeds whose needs are clear and manageable.
Be careful with broad health claims: some breeds may be more prone to certain issues, so speak with a veterinarian or a responsible breeder.
Frequently asked questions
Which fish is best for a beginner?
Platies, guppies and harlequin rasboras are hardy, undemanding about water and forgive beginner mistakes. Discus and ram cichlids are not first-tank fish.
How big a tank do I need?
For most small shoaling fish, 54–80 litres is a sensible start. A larger tank is easier to maintain because water parameters shift more slowly.
Why can I not add fish straight away?
A new tank needs several weeks for beneficial bacteria to establish in the filter. Without them, ammonia and nitrite poison the fish.