Freshwater Fish for Your Aquarium

One of the more well-known fish among enthusiasts, angelfish are known for their hardiness, making them a great choice for those just starting out.

On average, angelfish can cost between $8.99 and $39.99.

An ornamental fish with a huge hump on its head, the Flowerhorn Cichlid is known for its bright colors. But it should either be kept in solitude or with another of its kind as this fish is aggressive to other species.

These cichlids are a bit expensive, reaching prices as high as $300.

Arguably the most well-known aquarium fish in the world, the Goldfish has been a popular pet for years. However, they are not exactly beginner-friendly as they require a lot of care to live full lives.

Goldfish come in various prices, from as low as $5.99 to as high as $78.

The Jack Dempsey is a fish covered with metallic, iridescent scales that flash as they swim.

These popular pets cost between $3 and $29.

A beautiful South American cichlid, the Green Terror can be quite aggressive, so make sure to keep objects in the tank so that it can mark its territory.

These fish can cost between $17.99 and $85.99.

These are some of the most colorful fish out there, guaranteed to inject a lot of life into an aquarium. But these cichlids are not very kind to other tank mates and should preferably be kept in a place with a lot of room for them to swim in.

On average, these fish cost between $8.99 and $30.

A large carnivorous fish, this silver-scaled specimen requires a lot of space and tank mates, which it can’t chow down on. Only for those who have a lot of experience with raising fish.

They are also extremely expensive, reaching over $850 in some cases.

As its name indicates, the Jaguar Cichlid resembles the Big Cat. And like its namesake, it’s best kept alone and handled only by experts.

On average, these cichlids cost between ‎$9.99 and $24.99.

Known for its beautiful fins, the Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish is easy to handle for beginners. But it should not be kept alongside others of its species as they tend to fight.

These fish generally cost between $7.99 and $25.

A beautiful fish with contrasting blue and red halves, this is a great fish for beginners and should be kept in a school of 5-6.

These are inexpensive, with a single specimen ranging between $3 and $4.

Named after its bright red color, the Cherry Barb is an easy-to-raise fish and can be kept alongside Neon Tetras, Cardinal Pearl Danios, and Cardinal Tetras.

These fish cost between $6.99 and $16.

Congo Tetras have a distinct red-golden line running along their bodies, making them easily recognizable.

On average, a single Congo Tetra costs between $4 and $15.

The Cory Catfish is a bottom-feeding catfish that is easy to handle for beginners. They can be kept in groups which are when they display a lot of activity.

On average, they cost between $4.99 – $15.99.

These peaceful gourami fish are available in a variety of colors. They tend to float up to the top of the tank while swimming.

On average, these fish cost between $7.99 and $25.

Fancy Guppies come in many colors, tail shapes, patterns, etc. They are also beginner-friendly but breed quickly, so be wary of keeping a male and female in a single tank.

The prices of these guppies can vary greatly, starting from $2.99 all the way to $57.99.

The Harlequin Rasbora is a unique-looking fish with a predominantly ruby-pink body and black hind parts. They are very peaceful and can be reared by beginners.

These fish cost between $4.99 and $9.99.

These fish are very similar to the Cardinal Tetra in appearance. A shoal of these will appear mesmerizing while swimming in an aquarium.

The price of these fish ranges between $2.99 and $22.99.

Despite its aggressive behavior towards other fish, the Paradise Fish is actually a pretty good fish for a beginner.

These fish generally cost between $10 and $15.

These fish have scales covered with a mosaic pattern that almost makes them appear as if they are covered by pearls.

A Pearl Gourami costs between $8.99 and $10.99.

Like Mollies and Guppies, Swordtails are beginner friendly and breed rapidly. They also come in a diverse range of colors.

A single Swordtail costs between $2.99 and $9.99.

Tiger Barbs are generally great fish to keep, even for those new to the hobby – with one notable issue. These barbs are known for fin-nipping, especially those with long fins like Angelfish.

These barbs cost around $2.99 to $4.99.

The Zebra Danio is a low-maintenance fish whose only requirement is to be kept in a group as they are a schooling fish.

A Zebra Danio costs about $2.99.

The Celestial Pearl Danio is a colorful fish that enjoys being in groups of other fish with similar temperaments.

On average, these fish cost between $2.99 and $8.99.

These fish get their name from the scales on their bodies, which are the color of the American flag.

On average, Florida Flag Fish costs between $5.99 and $29.99.

Like guppies, Mollies are easy to raise, come in multiple varieties, and breed like crazy. But these fish require a bit more care than the guppy, so a little experience is needed while handling them.

Molly fish can be bought for as low as $2 to $3.

Peacock Cichlids come in various colors, making them very appealing to enthusiasts. However, they can be aggressive to other species and are best kept alone.

These cichlids cost between $7.99 and $18.99.

One of the few puffer fish that can be kept in captivity, the Pea Puffer is not recommendable to beginners. While certainly a unique specimen, this fish is aggressive toward anyone else in its tank and requires a carnivorous diet.

A Pea Puffer usually costs between $3 and $15.

Discus are known for their beautiful colors and patterns on their bodies. But they are not easy to care for and need to be kept in groups with either their own species or with other fish.

They are also relatively expensive, starting from $59.99, and can reach over $150.

A beautiful but aggressive species, the Duboisi Cichlid displays blue and yellow spots as a juvenile which fade as they age.

On average, this fish costs between $19.99 and $32.99.

While these beautiful blue fish are very peaceful, they require much care to keep them alive. So this one is best left to the experts.

The German Blue Ram costs between $12 and $20.