If you are looking to add splash of colors in your aquarium you are at the right place! Bright colors such red, orange or vivid blue and shimmery hues get the most attention in any tank. However, every good looking highlights the tank, attracts every person with its exquisite appearance. In this article we will discuss top Colorful Freshwater Fish, giving a complete to you.
1. German Blue Ram
One of the known freshwater fish originate from South America. The scientific name of this fish is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, a active and beginner friendly fish. It’s a regular shaped, having long fins and blue ram on its body. Other variants of this specie are electric yellow golden and have black rams. Moreover, when it comes to size ram cichlid is 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm0. This fish is little resembles its cousin Bolivian ram cichlid. The tank parameters for a pair of Ram is 20 gallon and for breeding is 10 gallon. However, the best considered pH level for water is 5.0-7.0 and with the parameters of 77.9-85.1 degree fahrenhiets. Feed them frozen baby brine shrimp, cyclops, and mysis shrimps to adults. Compatible tank mates are cardinal tetras, plecos, angelfish, and dwarf cichlid.
2. Cherry Barb
If you are looking for peaceful and tropical fish, then cherry barb is good option for you. Cherry barb is a vibrant red and peaceful tropical fish for community tanks. This fish originate from Sri Lanka forest, belongs to the Cyprinidae family. The scientific name of this tropical water fish is Rohanella titteya. When it comes to appearance they are of bright red color fish. Moreover, the male are of bright cherry red color and female fish are tennis red color. Both male and female have black horizontal lines running down to the sides of their body. Moreover, the pH level should be soft to hard and in between 6.0 to 8.0 level. The tank size should be 25 gallon and they are easy to breed. To meet their nutrition needs they should be provided with varied diet of frozen, dry and live food.
3. Guppy
Another and most popular colorful freshwater fish is Guppy, also name as million fish and rainbow fish. The scientific name of this fish is Poecilia reticulata, native of northeast South America. It’s a tropical and colorful fish for which dream. Male fish of this specie are more vibrant in color like, white, yellow, red, orange, green etc than females. They have long caudal and dorsal fins, and some guppies have short and rounded tails. They prefer hard water with pH level of 7.0. When it comes to its size they are about 2 inches (5cm) long in length. The best tank size consider from them 10 or 20 gallon and they are also easy to breed. The female fish give birth after every 30 days. Moreover, for the protection of babies provide them with the lots of dense plants as shelter.
4. Glaxay Rasbora
The list of colorful freshwater fish is incomplete without Glaxay Rasbora. A small and ray finned fish, also known as celestial pearl danio and Microrasbora in aquarium trade. The fish belongs to the family of Danionidae, originate from Northern Thailand. Glaxay Rasbora is one of the attractive fish has striking golden spots which scattered on their body. Moreover, the tank size for is depend on the specie, the ideal tank size for this 10-20 gallons.
The pH level for water is 6.0-8.0 with the parameters of 72-82 degree fahrenhiets. Soft to moderately hard water, parameters set for this is specie. They are omnivores, their diet should include protein and vegetable matters. Also feed them baby brine shrimps, micro worms and frozen cyclops. Moreover, its just 1 inches long fish and breeding of this nano fish is quite easy.
5. Apistogramma Cacatuoides
Apistogramma cacatuoides scientific name is Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. This specie belongs to Cichlid American family and their specie name is cacatuoides. Apistogramma cacatuoides is native of amazon rivers, lives in small shallow and lagoon water in rainforest. They are prefer to live in 24 and 28 degree temperature water, moreover, bottom of the water covered with leaves where they can hide. When it comes to its appearnce, male dwarf cichlid is about 8 cm length and female dwarf cichlid are 5 cm long. This fish is middle height, and long, with a big mouth and thick tips. However, male fish are more colorful and have vibrant red or orange dorsal fins. The good thing about this specie is, they are easy to breed. Provide them balance diet to keep them happy and healthy. Feed them foods that are rich in protein such as black worms and blood worms.
6. Cardinal Tetras
Another colorful freshwater fish is cardinal tetras, which many people confuse with neon tetras. The scientific name of this fish is Paracheirodon axelrodi, belongs to the family of Characidae. cardinal tetras originate from Colombia,Venezuela and Brazil. This is a peaceful and compatible specie for community tanks. They are prefer to live in soft and and acidic water with pH level which should be blow than 6.0. moreover, temperature of water is should be 73 to 81 F degree . When it comes to its appearnce, they grow up to 1.75 inches long. They have neon blue stripes which runs from nose to tail. The breeding of this specie is quiet challenging. Moreover, provide them balance diet to keep them healthy. Feed them foods that are rich in vitamin such as flake, live and frozen food.
7. Discus
Discus is one the beautiful colorful freshwater fish in aquariums. They are commonly known as “the king of aquarium”.This specie comes in various varieties such as, brilliant turquoise, albino yellow and pigeon blood and wild types. They prefer hard water as they require 84-86F temperature and harder in its care. Moreover, when its come to their size they grow 5-7 inches long, and 6 adults discus needs 75 gallon or larger tank for survival. To keep them healthy raise the water temperature, feed them with good foods and maintain water conditions.
8. Rocket Clown Killi
The last but not the least colorful freshwater fish in aquariums is rocket clown killi. A specie which is also known as Epiplatys annulatus in aquarium trade. The fish belongs to the family of Nothobranchiidae, originate from West Africa. Rocket clown killi is one of the attractive fish have dark brown vertical bands and tennis yellow on their body. Moreover, the tank size for is depend on the specie, the ideal tank size for this 5 gallons. They live in cooler temperature with the parameters of 67-80 degree fahrenhiets. The low water temperatures their life span. They have small mouth and swimming near water surface, so provide them tiny, and floating food. Moreover, its just 1.4 inches long fish and breeding of this nano fish is fairly easy.
To Sum Up This on Colorful Freshwater Fish
Colorful freshwater fish not only add beauty to your home aquarium but also bring activity and different behaviours. From dazzling appearance of greman blue ram, to vibrant red color cherry barb and elegant marking patterns of discus, each specie offer special characteristic. If you are new fish keeper or looking to expand your collection all these colorful freshwater fish are good options for you. Keep few things in your mind with balance diet, proper care and maintained environment you can keep them happy, healthy and safe.
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