In this section you can get acquainted with various types aquarium fish and their descriptions, find out the names, conditions of detention, behavior and compatibility with other inhabitants, how and what to feed, differences and recommendations for their breeding. Ornamental fish kept in aquariums are aquarium fish with bright and varied colors, different body shapes and sizes. In nature, every body of water is a habitat for representatives of the “fish kingdom,” and thanks to their diversity, aquarists have the opportunity to keep a wide variety of tropical fish in home aquariums. For ease of finding information, the section is divided into categories by type of aquarium fish, such as “Catfish”, “Barbs”, “Goldfish” and others. Here on the pages of interesting, illustrated and educational articles in the "Aquarium Fish" section you will find a lot useful information, selected specifically for people who are passionate or taking their first steps in such an exciting activity as aquariums.

In the articles section: 130 Articles shown: 1-15

Pages: 1 2 3 ... 8 9 "

Acantophthalmus Kühl- a fish with a very unusual body structure and bright coloring. It’s better to keep it in a flock, moreover, than more fish, the better their individuality is expressed and the freer they feel. For an aquarium it is not so much important...

Shark Ball- a beautiful and hardy fish of the carp family appeared in domestic aquariums recently, in 2002. Large sizes require keeping in a spacious aquarium of at least 200 liters, the fish are peaceful and compatible with any calm...

Ancistrus, belonging to the chain catfish family, is very popular among aquarists. Due to the special structure of the mouth, it is called the sucker catfish. It is very peaceful and can be kept with any fish with similar conditions...

Apistogramma Borelli beautiful dwarf cichlids from the Amazon basin. They are wonderful in the aquarium and are generally quite peaceful. Keep one male with several females, as they are polygamous. They are one of the calmest dwarf...

Apistogramma Cockatoo- one of the most popular cichlids in the aquarium hobby. A very beautiful and bright fish with many color variations, it is named for the peculiar structure of its dorsal fin, reminiscent of a cockatoo parrot. Loves shelters made of stones and...

Butterfly Ramiresi one of the most elegant cichlids, this, along with small in size and peaceful behavior, makes it extremely popular among aquarists. Ideal for adding to an aquarium stylized as a tropical forest pond...

Astronotus- despite its rather large size, the fish is unusually popular due to its unusual intelligence - it is not only able to recognize its owner, but even allows itself to be stroked. The volume of the aquarium per individual should be at least 100 liters...

Freshwater tropical fish, as their name suggests, occur in freshwater rivers and lakes in warmer parts of the world, especially in South America and Central Africa.

There are literally tens of thousands of species of freshwater tropical fish, with new ones being discovered almost every day. With such a vast variety of fish, each living in its own special environment, it's easy to see why fish owners are never at a loss for new areas to learn and new challenges to possess.

Fish names.

All fish are classified by the "binomial system" (two names). First there is the surname or family name - which must always be written with an initial capital letter. This is followed by the variants name/s - which should always all be written in lower case letters, (both names are ideally all in italics).

Thus Barbus tetrasone and Barbus oligolepis are two different species within the genus Barbus. Most fish do, however, also have a lighter common name. Barbus tetrazona, for example, is commonly known as the Barbus Barbus or Sumatra Tiger.

There are over twenty families of commonly kept freshwater tropical fish and within each family there can be thousands of species - often living in vastly different environment. The family Cichlidae (cichlids), for example, is thought to have over 1,000 different species existing in the great African lakes alone.

Main families.

While there are over twenty families of freshwater tropicals, most fish of interest to the aquarist are members of one of the following eight families.

Anebentide family.

Anabantoids are generally distinguished by the fact that they have a "labyrinth chamber", a special organ that allows them to inhale the atmospheric air they must have in order to survive. Native of the Waters South-East Asia and Africa, most of the family have "probes" - modified pelvic fins - which they use to detect food in murky waters. Most also create a "bubble nest" for spawning. Examples of the family include gourami, Siamese Fighting Fish and Paradise Fish.

Kallichtiide family.

Better known as catfish, it is probably the most popular tropical fish among hobbyists. While most are hardy, adaptable bottom feeders, they require the occasional big gulp of air to help pad their gorges.

Catfish are also nocturnal and do their best in dim light. Corydoras, one of the most popular aquarium species, have a bony plate along the side of their body. Other catfish have tricked mouths that allow them to set on rocks in the wilderness that they use to graze seaweed from the side of the aquarium glass.

Charekide family.

Characins are one of the largest families of freshwater tropical fish, originating from Africa, and North America and South America. All Charekins have teeth, but no whiskers or whiskers. Many also have a small extra fatty fin on the main back of their body. Due to their learning habit, Characins such as Tetras are often stored in numbers in single species tanks.

Sichlide family.

Most cichlids are carnivorous and territorial and have a reputation for being aggressive. Many varieties, however, are very popular and ideal for the aquarium. The family occurs naturally throughout North America and South America and throughout much of Africa especially in the Great Lakes of Malawi and Tanganyika.

Kobitide family.

Known commonly as loaches, they are a family of bottom-living fish. Their mouths have probes to help locate food, and their bodies often have protective, erect spines. They are widely found in Asia, Europe and parts of Africa.

Siprinide family.

Although big family The fishes, Cyprinids, which include Barbs, Rasboras, Danios and Minnows, generally have barbs that allow them to feed from the ground. The family also includes varieties cold water, such as gold fish as well as those who need warm tropical waters.

Cyprinodontidae family.

Found in Africa, North America and South America and Asia, it is a family of Killifishes or Egg Laying Toothcarps. Because they are sometimes prenatal on smaller fish, care should be taken when introducing them to a multi-species aquarium. They prefer slightly acidic water.

Poekilide family.

This is the family of Live Bearing Tooth Carps - small fish such as Guppies, Swordtails, Mollies and Swordtails. Because the name implies that this family produces live young that are capable of swimming and feeding immediately after birth.

Choosing Your Fish.

There are two main areas that you should consider. First there is a limit to the number of fish your aquarium can support without putting pressure on the Oxygen levels in the water and the level of pollution that the fish create.

You must also remember that fish grow and the way they do will put even more pressure on their environment. Best advice is to always start with only a few fish and add more over the course of a few months. As a rough guide allow approximately 20 inches of combined fish body length for every square foot of surface water. Wide You should not exceed 60 inches of fish.

The second consideration is fish habit. In their natural environment fish lead completely different lives, and these natural habits will show themselves in your aquarium. In a multi-species aquarium, you might, therefore, want to have fish that live and feed at all levels - top feeders such as mid-water feeders such as Barbs, and fish that live and feed at the bottom of the tank such as Catfish.

Buying Your Fish.

Buy locally if possible. Long journeys and drops in water temperature on the way home can easily stress out your fish. If you later have problems, it is also much easier to solve them if your fish supplier is nearby.

Choose a water retailer with good stocks and a wide variety of fish - they are more likely to have specialist knowledge. Check that fish have been properly isolated before selling. The disease often takes several weeks to show, and fish not isolated can easily introduce diseases that infect all of your fish.

Look at the fish carefully. Check that they are swimming peacefully and not rubbing against the tank glass - often a sign of infestation.

Freshwater tropical fish, pleasing to the eye with their bright colors, have firmly established themselves in the hearts of both amateurs and professional aquarists. But if you are a beginner, then how not to get confused among such a variety of shapes, colors and requirements for living conditions? Let's talk about everything in order.

Main groups and most popular types of tropical aquarium fish

Among the popular representatives of the characinformes order, we should highlight such as, distichoda, kerry, congo, nanostomus, phylomena, chilodus, etc. This group also includes piranhas, but not every professional decides to keep this type of tropical fish in their aquarium.

Popular representatives of the catfish order include such species as the so-called grumbling catfish (armoured family), Mohokiella, Hyloglanis, Hoplosternum, Dianema, and others. Such tropical fish in the aquarium are valued for the functions they perform - cleaning the bottom and walls of their habitat.

The order Perciformes is represented in the tropical group. Depending on the variety, the range of sizes of individual fish can vary from 2 to 90 cm. And those belonging to this species have enjoyed constant popularity for many decades.

The most common tropical representatives of the order Cyprinidae can be called,. Basically, these tropical fish are schooling fish, so keeping them alone does not make sense.

The order Cyprinodontiformes: the egg-laying pachypanchax, jordanella, and cinolebias, as well as the viviparous, molly, and known to almost every aquarist. Viviparous tropical fish of this order are considered an excellent option for beginners.

Video - tropical aquarium fish

And finally, the labyrinthine squad: gourami, betta fish, macropods, irises, family Atherinaceae. A feature of tropical fish of these species is the ability to breathe atmospheric air.

General conditions for keeping tropical fish

The main features of tropical fish are their demands on the temperature of the water in the aquarium and its oxygen saturation. An exception in terms of temperature regime are macropods, which can tolerate a significant decrease in temperature, while labyrinths can do without aeration at all, but for other types of tropical fish these rules remain relevant. Therefore, it is better to immediately purchase an automatic heater with the ability to regulate the temperature and organize proper aeration.

Otherwise, freshwater tropical aquarium fish do not require anything extraordinary. The same cannot be said about their sea and oceanic counterparts. That is why only 1-2% of the entire large army of fans of tropical fish engage in them, while the rest prefer freshwater ones.

Top 12 most beautiful fish in the world

One of the main reasons why people spend so much time, effort, and money on setting up an aquarium is the desire to enjoy beautiful fish in their home and workplace. It's easier than ever to keep stunning tropical fish in your living room or office. However, because these fish are so popular, they are disappearing from the wild because they are sold to aquarists. Fortunately, soon fish lovers will be able to breed them at home, and fish will no longer disappear from the wild.

The most beautiful fish in the world

1. Chinese snapper

Also known as the dragonet, which is native to the southeast Pacific region in the north of Australia. This fish has the most beautiful fins and bright colors. Chinese grouper is very difficult to keep in an aquarium as it only eats live food. It is also very hardy and resistant to some fish diseases.

2. Discus

Discus is a species of cichlid that lives in the Amazon River basin. Discus is one of the most popular freshwater fish in aquariums. It happens different colors, but can be very expensive, sometimes one discus fish costs 50-80 dollars. Since these fish are freshwater, they need good care, which is expensive. Discus is also known as the Pompadour fish, which is named after Madame Pompadour, who was the lover of the French King Louis XV.

3. Moorish idol

One of the most distinctive and beautiful fish is the Moorish idol, the only survivor of the prehistoric fish family Zanclidae. Although the fish is popular, the Moorish idol is difficult to keep in an aquarium because it does not live long. The fish was named this way by the Moorish people of Africa, who believed that this fish was a talisman of good luck.

4. Fire Centropyg

It is known that the Angelfish fish received this name in honor of the Japanese pygmies Angelfish. This is one of the brightest and most colorful fish in the world. This fish is a Pacific reef fish that can be found as far west as Hawaii. Fire cetropygs are easy to keep in an aquarium as they eat almost any food.

5. Blue Tang

The fish is called the blue tang, which was seen in the cartoon "Finding Nemo", in which it played main role. Like many other aquarium fish, the blue tang lives in the eastern reefs of the Pacific Ocean. This is a very fragile fish that is susceptible to infectious diseases, despite its popularity.

6. Parrotfish

There are 90 different parrotfish. This fish got its name because of its beak-shaped hook. It is difficult to keep in an aquarium due to its unusual feeding habits. They survive in coral reefs, as they eat algae and other pests that can destroy reefs. Environmentalists would not like to see this fish disappear from the wild so that it can preserve coral reefs.

7. Clownfish

Clownfish is one of the popular aquarium fish and is considered one of the most beautiful fish in the world, about 43% of clownfish are sold, about 25% of them are found in the wild. Clownfish can be female or male. These fish create their own families and take care of each other. The male guards the eggs, which are laid on sea anemones that protect them. Experts believe that successful breeding of clown fish will help them survive in the wild.

8. Tulle apogon

His homeland is the island of Bangai, which is located in Indonesia. This is one of the popular fish to keep in an aquarium and one of the fish that lives in nature. This fish is on the verge of extinction in nature, as it is caught too often. The tulle apogon is unusual in that the fish look after each other before reproducing. Like other fish species, the female lays the eggs and the male guards them.

9. Yellow Mask Angel

The fish is also known as yellowface because its head is brighter than its body. In nature, this fish is found in Indian Ocean, in Indonesia, in Australia, in Micronesia and to the north of Japan. In nature, it lives in caves and lagoons.

10. Lyalius

This beautiful fish originated in the Indian subcontinent but is found everywhere today due to its great popularity. This fish is easy to keep in an aquarium as it eats algae, meat and mostly fish food. It comes in different colors such as blue and bright red, making it more popular.

11. French angel

Despite its name, this fish was actually found in northern waters New York. Unlike some fish that live in aquariums, this fish is rarely sold in markets. She mostly lives in nature. It grows up to 41 centimeters in length, which is considered the most big fish in aquarium.

12. Flag perch

This fish is also known as Scaltefin, Sea Goldie or Lyretail Coralfish - popular sea ​​fish, which is difficult to keep in an aquarium as it feeds on live and frozen food. This fish was found in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and the Pacific Ocean. It usually lives in coral reefs and, like other species of aquarium fish, sometimes changes sex.

Content:

Tropical fish are exotic representatives of aquariums, native to the southern warm countries and have a bright, attractive color. These fish in natural conditions used to living in warm water, can live in both fresh and salt water bodies. There are a huge number of different types of tropical fish that even beginner aquarists can keep. Aquarium heat-loving fish have become universal favorites and objects of study for professional aquarists.

Flock of Neons

Kinds

The variety of types of tropical fish to suit every taste has made them accessible for keeping at home. Aquariums often contain labyrinthine fish from the order Characinidae, Perciformae, Cypriniformes, Catfishes, Cyprinodontiformes, Silversides and others. The most popular aquarium fish are from the characin, poeciliaceae, carp, and cichlid families.

Surgeon fish

Surgeon fish

The surgeonfish, a member of the surgeonfish family, was named after its special tail fins, which are equipped with sharp, scalpel-like plate-like scales. IN calm state the spines are pressed to the body, and in cases of danger the fish releases them to the sides, thereby protecting itself from the attacker. Surgeons have bright and varied colors: lemon yellow, pink-red, bright blue. These fish often live in reef aquariums, as in natural conditions they live in coral-reef platforms. Aquarium surgeonfish are peaceful not only with their relatives, but also with representatives of many other genera.

Neons

These small tropical freshwater fish from the characin family get their name from the bright neon red or blue stripes on their bodies. They reach a length of up to 2.5 cm and live in a flock. The most popular types are ordinary, red, blue, false red neon.

Helostoma

Aquarium helostomas or kissing gouramis from the labyrinthine suborder live in fresh water bodies. They reach up to 15 cm in size in an aquarium, have movable lips, on the inner surface of which there are hundreds of miniature horny teeth. Like others, the kissing gourami is able to breathe atmospheric air. The fish is peaceful and well compatible with many aquarium inhabitants.

Mollies

Aquarium mollies are viviparous and require careful care. The most popular is the black velvet molly, which resembles a swordtail, but without the sword. The body color is jet black, even the eyes are black. When there is a lack of oxygen, the fish rises and captures atmospheric air. High-finned mollies are even more capricious in care, but in good conditions grow up to 12 cm, resistant to hard water.

Melanochromis auratus

Kissing gourami

To keep freshwater tropical fish, you will need a high-quality aquarium of appropriate size for a certain number of selected fish. Currently, biotope aquariums are becoming popular, precisely reproducing a copy of any water area in nature. Such aquariums will be optimally suited to tropical inhabitants, causing them to feel most comfortable. Devices and instruments will also be needed to maintain the desired climate in the aquarium: a filter, an aerator, a thermometer and a heater.

For beginners, unpretentious species such as guppies, zebrafish, swordtails, macropods, and spotted gourami are recommended. Ternetias, Sumatran barbs, mollies, and pearl gourami will require more careful care. Cichlids need increased aeration, a spacious aquarium and dense vegetation.

Tropical fish are very sensitive to aquarium temperature and oxygen supply. Typically, the optimal temperature ranges from 21-28°C. Depending on the type of fish, they are selected suitable plants and substrate, the aquarium is decorated to resemble their native habitat. Some species are not recommended to live together with other species, so you should carefully study the nature and habits of the fish you choose.

For marine tropical fish, you will need a special marine aquarium of large volume and requiring more careful care and skills to create the necessary water parameters. Fish endemic to coral reefs will thrive in reef aquariums.

Compatibility

Mollies

To choose the right neighbors for tropical fish in an aquarium, you need to find out compatibility in terms of water parameters and especially its temperature. Cold-water fish are not suitable for keeping with tropical fish. These include goldfish and rotans. In addition, you need to pay attention to the size of neighboring fish and their character. Large cichlids can get along with catfish and large catfish, but they will eat small fish.

It is good to plant tetras, as they have a good disposition, do not conflict with their relatives and look great due to their colorfulness. Angelfish goes well with gouramis and rainbows.