Freshwater Fish & Invertebrate Care Guides

Browse tropical freshwater fish, cool-water species, and freshwater invertebrates with tank, water, diet, temperament, and tank-mate guidance.

A planted freshwater community aquarium with schooling fish and bottom dwellers

Showing 20 of 20 freshwater species guides.

A male betta fish swimming beside broad-leaf aquatic plants

Tropical freshwater fish

Betta splendens

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 5 gal
Temperament: Aggressive

A group of Corydoras catfish foraging over fine sand in a planted aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 20 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A school of neon tetras swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

Colorful male guppies swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Poecilia reticulata

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

An orange and white fancy goldfish in a spacious planted aquarium

Cool-water freshwater fishGoldfish guide

Carassius auratus

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 20 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

Colorful platies swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A group of mollies swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Poecilia sphenops

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 20 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A school of zebra danios swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Cool-water freshwater fish

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

Red cherry shrimp grazing on moss and a broad aquatic leaf

Freshwater shrimp & invertebrates

Neocaridina davidi

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 5 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

Amano shrimp grazing on algae-covered driftwood in a planted aquarium

Freshwater shrimp & invertebrates

Caridina multidentata

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A group of Kuhli loaches foraging over fine sand beside driftwood

Tropical freshwater fish

Difficulty: Intermediate
Min tank: 15 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A bristlenose pleco attached to algae-covered driftwood in a planted aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Bristlenose Pleco

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 25 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A group of silver angelfish swimming in a tall planted aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Pterophyllum scalare

Difficulty: Intermediate
Min tank: 30 gal
Temperament: Semi-aggressive

A male dwarf gourami swimming among broad-leaf aquatic plants

Tropical freshwater fish

Trichogaster lalius

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A honey gourami swimming beneath floating plants in a calm aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Trichogaster chuna

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A school of harlequin rasboras swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Harlequin Rasbora

Trichogaster heteromorpha

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A school of cardinal tetras in a dark planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Difficulty: Intermediate
Min tank: 15 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

Otocinclus catfish grazing on broad aquatic leaves

Tropical freshwater fish

Otocinclus spp.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

A school of White Cloud Mountain minnows in a clear stream-style aquarium

Cool-water freshwater fish

White Cloud Minnow

Tanichthys albonubes

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 10 gal
Temperament: Peaceful

Cherry barbs swimming in a planted freshwater aquarium

Tropical freshwater fish

Puntius titteya

Difficulty: Beginner
Min tank: 15 gal
Temperament: Peaceful