21 Most Colorful Freshwater Aquarium Fish (with Pictures)
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Most aquarium owners are constantly looking for colorful fish to keep. Hobbyists opt to keep aquarium fish in their homes or offices for an aesthetic appeal. However, unlike their salt-watered cousins, freshwater fish are less vibrant.
Nevertheless, they do well in aquariums. If you are a hobbyist searching for freshwater aquarium fish, there are varieties to choose from. Below is an extensive list to help you choose and understand how they are kept.
The 21 Most Colorful Freshwater Aquarium Fish
1. German Blue Ram
German Blue Ram fish grow up to 3 inches. Their bodies are yellow with blue spots at the tail, abdomen, and fins. They are omnivorous, and you will find them at the bottom of the aquarium. They know how to mark their territory.
Their lifespan is three years, and they don’t know how to relate to each other. In addition, they tend to be aggressive and fight for their space. So, it is advisable not to mix them with other fish.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 18.9 liters |
| Temp: | 76° to 82°F |
| pH level: | 6.5 to 7 |
2. Discus
Discus fish are 8 inches long and known for their versatility. They have been bred into different varieties, and so you can find them in various sizes, colors, and patterns. They can live up to 10 years.
They come from the Amazon Rivers and are members of the cichlid family. Their bodies are disc-shaped, and they live peacefully with other discus.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 113 liters |
| Temp: | 82° to 86°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 7 |
3. Flowerhorn Cichlid
You will notice Flowerhorn Cichlid fish from a distance by their bulging heads. Their size ranges from 8 to 12 inches and can live up to 12 years. Mostly, they are found in the US and are costly.
Flowerhorn Cichlid fish are carnivorous and interact so well with their owners. When they see their owner, they tend to come to the top of the tank. But unfortunately, they are very fierce. Therefore, mixing Flowerhorn cichlid with other fish is not possible.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 284 liters |
| Temp: | 82° to 85°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 8.5 |
4. Cardinal Tetra
They have a bright blue color on their back and red on their bottom. Cardinal Tetra fish are 2 inches long and can live up to 5 years.
They are known to be peaceful, and preferably, you can keep six in one aquarium. Cardinal tetra fish are omnivorous, and they are known to be active.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 38 liters |
| Temp: | 73° to 79°F |
| pH level: | 5 to 6.5 |
5. Dwarf Gourami
Dwarf Gourami fish grows up to 3 inches. They have a variation of colors, and their bodies are oval. However, their dorsal fin is enormous, and they can swim pretty well.
They are fantastic with each other though males tend to fight if they are living together. However, they can be live with other fish since they are peaceful.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 38 liters |
| Temp: | 77° to 82°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 9 |
6. Paradise Fish
These fish grow up to 2.4 inches, and they are found in blue and red stripes. They have large tails and are very aggressive. Paradise fish are omnivorous. You cannot keep males in the same aquarium because they will fight.
However, you can consider keeping them with other fish that are not aggressive. Paradise fish have a lifespan of 10 years if you take good care of them.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 75 liters |
| Temp: | 70° to 82°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 8 |
7. Bluefin Notho
They are 2.4 inches, and the male and female colors differ. The males’ bodies are red with blue speckles, whereas the females are beige. They are good swimmers; thus, they can go to any level in the aquarium.
Bluefin Notho fish lives up to one year, and they are carnivorous. However, the males are aggressive so keep each male with several females.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 38 liters |
| Temp: | 70° to 75°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 7 |
8. Celestial Pearl Danio
They have a long body though their size is 1 inch. Celestial Pearl Danio’s fish bodies are dark green, with yellow dots. The females are darker than the males, so that’s how you can differentiate them.
The belly and fins have orange and red colors. They love hiding in plants, and you can add some to the aquarium. Their lifespan is three years, and you can keep six or more in the same aquarium.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 38 liters |
| Temp: | 73° to 79°F |
| pH level: | 6.5 to 7.5 |
9. Jack Dempsey Cichlids
Jacky Dempsey fish are long and grow up to 7 inches. Their bodies are light pink with blue speckles. They are carnivorous, aggressive, and love staying at the bottom.
You can keep them in groups but make sure they have grown up together. If you take good care of them, they can live up to ten years.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 210 liters |
| Temp: | 78° to 86° F |
| pH level: | 6.5 to 8 |
10. Endlers
Most people mistake Endlers fish with guppies. They can grow up to 1.8 inches, and they change colors. That means you can get them in different colors. The females are gray, while the males have flashy green bodies.
Endlers are omnivorous, leave up to three years, and love living in groups. Therefore, pairing a male and two females is recommended. But they hardly breed in waters.
Water Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 7.5 liters |
| Temp: | 70° to 84°F |
| pH level: | 7 to 8 |
11. Rainbow Kribensis
These are fish that grow up to 4 inches. They live up to four years and are omnivorous. Rainbow Kribensis have different colors in their bodies. For example, the entire body is yellow, with black stripes on the head, dorsal, and tail.
The belly is pink and orange, whereas the upper part of the tail has black spots. These fish can live up to five years, and they are known to be good parents.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 75 liters |
| Temp: | 75° to 80°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 7 |
12. Jewel Cichlids
These jewel cichlid fish have long bodies and grow up to 6 inches. Their bodies have red color and two prominent black spots. They are omnivorous and like tanks that have hiding places.
They are fierce and tend to eat other fish, even the ones that are bigger than them. Therefore, it is advisable to pair a male and female and let them live by themselves.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 114 liters |
| Temp: | 70°F to 74°F |
| pH level: | 7 to 7.5 |
13. Redhead Cichlid
These fish are long and grow up to 16 inches. They have a pink head, and their body is green, blue, and golden. Redhead Cichlid fish have a heavy body and are omnivorous.
They live up to ten years, and they swim either at the bottom or the middle. They are fierce and tend to eat other small fish. Never keep males in the same equilibrium.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 210 liters |
| Temp: | 75° to 82°F |
| pH level: | 6.5 to 8.5 |
14. Fancy Guppy
They grow up to 2 inches, and they have a slim body. Their tail is tanned, and they show different colors. However, males have a more shouting color than females. They are omnivorous.
Fancy Guppy doesn’t shy away from people. They love swimming at the top and live as a group. You can mix males with females, and still, they will not fight.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 19 liters |
| Temp: | 74° to 82°F |
| pH level: | 7 to 8 |
15. Boeseman Rainbow
Boeseman Rainbowfish grows up to 4.5 inches. They have long bodies with different colorations. Half the front part of the body is blue, whereas the back part has yellow. These fish are omnivorous.
They are good swimmers, and their lifespan is still not known. However, you can consider keeping them in big groups since they are not aggressive.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 150 liters |
| Temp: | 81° to 86°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 7 |
16. Cherry Barbs
Cherry barb fish have long bodies and grow up to 2 inches. Their bodies are red, and these fish are active. They are good swimmers and can swim at all levels.
They can live up to 8 years if well taken care of. Cherry Barb fish are omnivorous and love living in aquariums with plants. You can keep six or consider having large groups.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 75 liters |
| Temp: | 75°-80°F |
| pH level: | 6 to 8 |
17. Eggersi Killifish
Their bodies are bright blue with a red coloration. They grow up to 2 inches and are carnivorous. Most hobbyists love them for their beautiful color combination.
Their lifespan is around, and they are fierce. You can’t keep the males in the same aquariums because they will fight to the death. So if you intend to keep them, choose a male with several females.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 38 liters |
| Temp: | 72 and 77 °F |
| pH level: | 6 to 8 |
18. Harlequin Rasboras
These fish grow up to 2 inches. Their bodies are red with an arrow shape. Harlequin Rasboras love living in aquariums that have plants, and they are good swimmers.
You can opt to keep them in large groups from ten since they are social. In addition, they hardly fight so you will find them swimming most of the time. Finally, their lifespan is five years if you take good care of them.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 75 liters |
| Temp: | 72 to 77 °F |
| pH level: | 6 to 7 |
19. Florida Flag Fish
Florida Flag fish are beautiful and grow up to two inches. They have long bodies covered in different colors. Their heads are dark blue, with bodies covered with gold, red, and green speckles.
They live up to three years and are moderate fierce. They fight now and then, especially the male. Florida flag love living in groups, so it’s okay to keep them together in your aquarium
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 75 liters |
| Temp: | 70° to 85°F |
| pH level: | 6.5 to 7.5 |
20. Green Terror Cichlids
These fish grow up to 12 inches. Their head is olive green, whereas the scales are bright blue. The male green terrors have orange stripes on the edges of the dorsal fin.
They have a long lifespan of ten years. You can put rocks in their aquarium so that they can use them to mark their territory. Since they are large, you can keep a male and a female. Green terror cichlid is omnivorous.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 210 liters |
| Temp: | 76 to 80 °F |
| pH level: | 6 to 7.5 |
21. Peacock Cichlids
These fish have long bodies with big dorsal and anal fins. You can find them in various colors, especially the males since they have been bred. However, females are brown/gray.
Peacock can live up to eight years and are very active. In fact, they mark their territories though they are not very aggressive. One male can serve four females, so consider pairing them that way. They are omnivorous.
Water Quality Parameters
| Tank’s size: | 210 liters |
| Temp: | 76° to 82°F |
| pH level: | 7.8 to 8.5 |
Conclusion
If you are a hobbyist who loves keeping freshwater fish in an aquarium, you can choose the ones you like from the list. An important tip to note is that you can improve your fish color. If you concentrate by giving your fish a healthy diet and taking good care of them, their colors will brighten.
Concentrate on giving them frozen, dried foods. If you choose live foods, make sure you get them from a trusted vendor. That can help you give your fish food that is free from harmful parasites and bacteria.
Related Read:
- How Big Do Flowerhorn Cichlids Get? Average Size & Growth Chart
- 26 Most Aggressive Freshwater Aquarium Fish (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: HamsterMan, Shutterstock
