100+ Tropical Fish Species for Aquariums
Tropical fish for aquariums refers to a diverse group of colorful and vibrant fish species. These fish originate from warmer regions around the world. They thrive in heated aquarium water that mimics their natural habitats.
Popular for their vivid appearances and dynamic behaviors, these fish vary in size, shape, and requirement. They are a top choice for both novice and experienced aquarium enthusiasts seeking to create an underwater ecosystem at home.
What is a Tropical Fish?
A tropical fish lives in warm waters near the equator. These waters stay between 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Aquarium lovers like these fish because of their bright colors. They swim in oceans and rivers where the sun is strong all year. In your tank at home, they need a heater. This keeps the water just right for them.
They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very calm, while others move fast and need more space. Many people around the world enjoy keeping them as pets. Because they are so diverse, there’s a tropical fish for almost everyone’s tank.
Complete List of Tropical Fish Species
| Fish Species | Care Level | Aquarium Size | Behavior | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-8 years |
| Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) | Easy | 5-10 gallons | Peaceful, social | 1-2 years |
| Platies (Xiphophorus maculatus) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, social | 3-5 years |
| Mollies (Poecilia sphenops) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, social | 3-5 years |
| Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) | Easy | 10 gallons | Active, schooling | 3-5 years |
| Betta Fish (Betta splendens) | Intermediate | 5 gallons | Territorial, solitary | 3-5 years |
| Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 10 years |
| Goldfish (Carassius auratus) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful | 10-15 years |
| Swordtails (Xiphophorus hellerii) | Easy | 15 gallons | Peaceful, social | 3-5 years |
| Discus (Symphysodon spp.) | Advanced | 50 gallons | Peaceful | 10-15 years |
| Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) | Intermediate | 5 gallons | Territorial, solitary | 3-5 years |
| Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) | Advanced | 55 gallons | Aggressive | 10-12 years |
| Plecostomus (Hypostomus plecostomus) | Easy | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 10-15 years |
| Black Molly (Poecilia sphenops) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, social | 3-5 years |
| Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) | Intermediate | 10 gallons | Peaceful | 4-6 years |
| Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-7 years |
| Pearl Gourami (Trichopodus leerii) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 4-5 years |
| Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) | Intermediate | 75 gallons | Peaceful, social | 10-15 years |
| Corydoras Catfish (Corydoras spp.) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-8 years |
| Rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) | Easy | 30 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-8 years |
| Firemouth Cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Territorial | 8-10 years |
| Ram Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Peaceful | 4-5 years |
| Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, nocturnal | 10 years |
| Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus) | Intermediate | 150 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 10 years |
| Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) | Easy | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive, schooling | 5-7 years |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid (Hybrid) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 10-15 years |
| Flowerhorn Cichlid (Hybrid) | Advanced | 55 gallons | Aggressive | 10-12 years |
| Arowana (Osteoglossidae) | Advanced | 250 gallons | Predatory | 10-15 years |
| Silver Dollar (Metynnis argenteus) | Easy | 75 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 10 years |
| Frontosa Cichlid (Cyphotilapia frontosa) | Intermediate | 75 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 10-15 years |
| Electric Blue Hap (Sciaenochromis fryeri) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Aggressive | 6-10 years |
| Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Aggressive | 10-15 years |
| Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) | Easy | 30 gallons | Aggressive | 8-10 years |
| Jewel Cichlid (Hemichromis bimaculatus) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Aggressive | 5-7 years |
| Electric Yellow Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus) | Easy | 30 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 6-10 years |
| Mbuna Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Aggressive, social | 10 years |
| African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful, surface-dweller | 5 years |
| Elephant Nose Fish (Gnathonemus petersii) | Advanced | 50 gallons | Peaceful, shy | 6-10 years |
| African Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Varies, generally aggressive | 5-10 years |
| Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 7-8 years |
| Gouramis (Osphronemidae) | Easy-Intermediate | 20 gallons | Peaceful, some species can be territorial | 4-6 years |
| Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecidae) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Peaceful, surface-dwelling, schooling | 5 years |
| Emperor Tetra (Nematobrycon palmeri) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Rummy-Nose Tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 4-5 years |
| Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) | Easy | 30 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques) | Easy | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive, schooling | 5 years |
| Glowlight Tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Blue Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) | Easy | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 4-6 years |
| Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma spp.) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Territorial | 3-5 years |
| Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Peaceful | 4-5 years |
| Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 3-5 years |
| Endler’s Livebearer (Poecilia wingei) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, social | 2-3 years |
| Badis Badis (Badis badis) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 5-7 years |
| Black Ghost Knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons) | Advanced | 100 gallons | Peaceful, nocturnal | 10 years |
| Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 4 years |
| Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Green Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) | Easy | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive, schooling | 5-7 years |
| Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) | Intermediate | 75 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 8-10 years |
| Golden Wonder Killifish (Aplocheilus lineatus) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 3-5 years |
| Pictus Catfish (Pimelodus pictus) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Peaceful, active | 8 years |
| Red Tail Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 5-6 years |
| Roseline Shark (Puntius denisonii) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-8 years |
| Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) | Advanced | 250 gallons | Predatory | 10-15 years |
| Threadfin Rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Yellow Lab Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus) | Easy | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 6-10 years |
| Bichir (Polypterus spp.) | Intermediate | 75 gallons | Predatory, nocturnal | 10-15 years |
| Boeseman’s Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-8 years |
| Chocolate Cichlid (Hypselecara temporalis) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Peaceful | 10-15 years |
| Clown Killifish (Epiplatys annulatus) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, surface-dwelling | 3-5 years |
| Coolie Loach (Pangio kuhlii) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, nocturnal | 10 years |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5-6 years |
| Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) | Intermediate | 90 gallons | Peaceful, nocturnal | 10 years |
| Galaxy Rasbora (Celestichthys margaritatus) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 3-5 years |
| Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus) | Easy | 30 gallons | Peaceful, active, schooling | 5-7 years |
| Golden Barb (Puntius semifasciolatus) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Gourami (Osphronemidae) | Easy-Intermediate | 20 gallons | Peaceful, some species can be territorial | 4-6 years |
| Green Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon simulans) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Harlequin Shark (Labeo cyclorhynchus) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 6-7 years |
| Honey Gourami (Trichogaster chuna) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful | 4-6 years |
| Indian Glassy Fish (Parambassis ranga) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Keyhole Cichlid (Cleithracara maronii) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 5-8 years |
| Lake Malawi Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Varies, generally aggressive | 5-10 years |
| Lake Tanganyika Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Varies, generally aggressive | 5-10 years |
| Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 3-5 years |
| Malawi Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Varies, generally aggressive | 5-10 years |
| Marbled Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) | Intermediate | 20 gallons | Peaceful, surface-dwelling | 5 years |
| Mbuna (Cichlidae) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Aggressive, social | 10 years |
| Peacock Cichlids (Aulonocara spp.) | Intermediate | 55 gallons | Semi-aggressive | 6-8 years |
| Pearl Danio (Danio albolineatus) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Peckoltia Catfish (Peckoltia vittata) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 8-10 years |
| Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus) | Easy | 10 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 3-4 years |
| Red Eye Tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Rosy Barb (Pethia conchonius) | Easy | 20 gallons | Peaceful, schooling | 5 years |
| Snakeskin Gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) | Intermediate | 30 gallons | Peaceful | 4-6 years |
| Spotted Raphael Catfish (Agamyxis pectinifrons) | Easy | 30 gallons | Peaceful, nocturnal | 8-10 years |
How Many Types of Tropical Fish Are There
The exact number of tropical fish species is unknown, but estimates range from 12,000 to 15,000. This vast diversity is due to the warm, stable temperatures and abundant food sources found in tropical habitats.
Tropical fish are found in a wide variety of environments, including rivers, lakes, streams, and coral reefs. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny guppies to giant arowana.
10 Exotic Fish for Kids and Beginners
Exotic fish are unusual and colorful aquatic animals from different parts of the world. They live in water and have features that stand out, like bright colors. These fish can be the perfect pet for kids and beginners because they are often easy to care for. They bring a splash of the underwater world to your home.
The following is a list of 10 exotic fish that are beginner-friendly and fun for kids to watch. They add life and color to any aquarium without needing expert care. Here are the fish:
- Guppies: Small, colorful, and easy to look after.
- Neon Tetras: Bright and peaceful fish that like to swim in groups.
- Mollies: Adaptable fish with a variety of colors and shapes.
- Platies: Hardy fish that come in many vibrant colors.
- Betta Fish: Known for their impressive, flowing tails.
- Swordtails: Named for the sword-like extension of their tail.
- Angelfish: Triangular-shaped and can get quite large in size.
- Corydoras: Small, friendly bottom-dwellers that help keep the tank clean.
- Zebra Danios: Fast swimmers with striking horizontal stripes.
- Goldfish: Classic and beloved fish that can live for many years with proper care.
Hi there, i tried to breed angel fish but i can not get the babies to live, can you recommend how to go about to get them to live and how to feed them from day one
Thank you
Hannes
The angelfish babies just die or they get eaten by their parents? For new angelfish parents it can happen, that they eat their fry. However, if the angelfish fry die suddenly, it could be a problem with the water parameters. Test your water, and if the water is good, feed your fry infusoria, micro worms, newly hatched brine shrimp or vinegar eels. You can also feed them commercial fish food such as Hikari First Bites.