Keeping fish as pets is a popular choice for many people. With their lower maintenance, tranquil presence, and low cost of ownership fish can be a ‘starter pet’ for children and young adults, or a long term pet for anyone that prefers less lower ongoing responsibility. Fish are also often more affordable than keeping dogs, cats, or birds and pets.
The world is full of many beautiful and fascinating tropical fish. There are hundreds of different species and strains of tropical fish that can invoke a tranquil beauty to the aquarium or appeal to our natural curiosity of nature.
Many species also have unusual behaviors that make them worthy additions to our homes. But there are fewer species that make great “pet” fish. It is important to note precisely what is meant by a “pet” fish. The simplest definition is a fish that is worthy of getting its own nickname.
This list is not all encompassing; there are many other honorable mentions and probably some that were missed, but most aquarists who have kept these species will agree that they are all “name worthy”.
1. Wrought Iron Butterflyfish
Instead, its notable metallic black scales are adorned with hints of yellow, making it a beautiful addition to home tanks for anyone with a proclivity for saltwater fish. They are among the most expensive fish in the world, and they are incredibly rare to naturally found outside of Japan.
2. Peppermint Angelfish
These tropical fish exist at depths of the ocean which are difficult for divers to access due to the extreme pressures. They like to hide from predators around the caves and coral reefs near the bottom of the ocean. If you’re interested in acquiring one for your aquarium, then the price could be an issue. They can easily cost thousands of dollars minimum.
SEE ALSO: Top 7 Fishes with Horns
The peppermint angelfish was only first described in 1992.
3. Ocellaris Clownfish
The only marine species on this list, the Ocellaris or Common Clownfish, is an instantly recognizable aquarium species. Often just called “Nemo” after the animated movie character, Clownfish have become the most widely kept marine species. Today, most are captive raised and there are many different color forms available. As a marine species, they require specialized aquarium and more care than the typical freshwater community tank, but it is not difficult.
4. Oscar Fish
The second cichlid on the list, the Oscar, is one of the most popular, and intelligent of all aquarium fish. They have been trained to do simple tricks and have shown remarkable amounts of problem solving and behavior that can be interpreted as emotions. Oscars often eagerly greet their humans and have been known to “sulk” when their caregiver is not around. If not for their large size (Oscars can get over 12” long), they would probably be the number one pet fish. Do not even consider acquiring this fish unless you have a minimum of a 75-gallon aquarium (although a 125-gallon is much better). Many hobbyists choose to feed their Oscars feeder goldfish. Besides being very expensive, feeder goldfish can often introduce disease and are not healthy for the Oscar. It is far more economical and better for the Oscar to feed it a balanced diet of pellet and freeze-dried foods like Aqueon Cichlid Pellets and Aqueon Monster Fish Medley.
The Oscar fish has teeth in its throat.
5. Goldfish
Goldfish are colorful freshwater fish known for their distinctive appearance, including their elegant fins, vibrant scales, and graceful swimming behavior.
People started breeding Goldfish of different colors in China 1000 years ago. Only members of the imperial Song dynasty were allowed to own them.
Once thought fit only for emperors, the goldfish has become a well-loved pet. Intelligent and curious as well as beautiful, it is hardy and can live a long time. Goldfish and common carp can mate and produce offspring
6. Flowerhorn Fish
The Flowerhorn fish, also known as the Flowerhorn cichlid, is an artificial creation of human breeders, thought to originate from Southeast Asia in the 1990s.
This unique freshwater hybrid was produced from crosses between several different types of cichlids, including blood parrots, red devils, and three spot cichlids (or the trimac). Today there are more than a dozen different varieties of the Flowerhorn, but the Zhen Zhu, Golden Monkey, and Kamfa are among the most popular, each one varying in its colors, markings, and shape.
While purely human creation, some owners have discarded them back into the wild, where they can aggressively out-compete native fish (though many of the males are sterile). For this reason, it is considered to be an invasive species in many countries.
The Flowerhorn fish is an artificial species; it does not exist naturally
7. Koi Fish
In Japanese, the word Koi sounds like the word for love. So the fish is a symbol of love among other good things.
Koi fish have fascinated their owners and brightened their ponds for hundreds of years. People who have some money in the bank aren’t shy about paying great sums for a champion fish of noble lineage. There are 16 main types of koi, each with its own pattern of colors.
8. Loach
The loach superfamily of fishes consists of over 1200 species, most of which are distributed in central and southern Asia. Some species are also found in Europe and Africa. They are known for their bottom-feeding and the barbels found close to their mouths. Loach fish prefer ponds and streams, either stagnant or fast-moving.
Have sharp spines below their eyes.
9. Betta Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish)
The Siamese fighting fish, also known as the Betta fish, is second only to the goldfish in popularity as a home aquarium pet.
It is an aggressive, colorful fish that is native to Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia by way of the Mekong Delta. It is also present in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia and is a non-threatening invasive species in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Singapore, and the southeastern United States.
The active, solitary fish makes for a lively, exciting pet. Interestingly, they can live in low-oxygen environments.
10. Tiger Barbs (Puntigrus tetrazona)
Tiger barbs are another one of those species that often endear themselves to their human keepers. The small but pugnacious little fish are often right at the front glass whenever a person passes by and exhibit just the right blend of active swimming and stately grace. They fall somewhere between the hyperactivity of a danio and the stoic patience of an angelfish. If not for the fact that they do best in small groups and can be hard to pick out an individual from it, they would be higher on the list. Care should be taken with this species that they do not nip the fins of other smaller or more vulnerable fish.
