Aquarium Fish

t. They have lower maintenance than other fish breeds, and are easy to find due to their popularity.

Goldfish
Goldfish are the most stereotypical aquarium fish. Most people think of a small orange fish slowly swimming around in a fish bowl. But in reality there are many different types of goldfish of varying colours and sizes, and even varying care requirements. If you want to put a spin on a traditional fishy pet, this might be the route for you to go.

Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)
This unique fish is one of the most popular fish around for many reasons. They are very impressive in their fins and in the way they behave around other Siamese Fighting fish. They are also able to live in small fish tanks and do not need extreme care in water quality. However, while they can do fine in a smaller confinement, a larger aquarium is still preferred for these fish.

Cichlids
These fish are from Africa and South America. They are very territorial so you will need a big tank for them, because they expect to have a large territorial space to call their own. They do require a thermostat, because you must keep the water at a certain temperature for them to thrive. In addition, aquarium plants and snails typically placed for keeping the tank clean and oxygenated will not last long with these fish, as they destroy them and eat them routinely.

Oscars
These fish have the most personality of any type of aquarium fish you can get. They are very intelligent and make great pets, but don’t get along with other fish so you have to keep them in a separate tank. If you try to keep them in the same tank, the fish will grow quickly and you will notice significant drops in your fish population.

Ornamental Snails
Ornamental snails are not like other snails that help clean a tank. They are very messy creatures. They are interesting to have in your aquarium, however. Know that they will also destroy your live plants, and don’t expect to keep them long. Larger ornamental snails with long eye stalks often become prey to aggressive fish like cichlids, so it is not recommended that you keep them in the same tank with those aggressive fish.

Dragonfish and Other Large Breeds
Dragonfish like brackish water, and can grow to be up to two feet long. However, they do not typically eat other fish, so you can keep them in a large aquarium with other breeds. It is difficult to get permission for such exotic fish in Australia, and having them is a prestigious honor. It is hard to get permission for this because of the concern for the clogging of the waterways should the fish be released. However there are many other native aggressive fish that you can have instead, such as the barramundi.

Elephant Nose Fish
This is a very interesting fish native to Africa. They communicate with one another by sending electrical pulses through the water, and are very interesting to watch. They need a soft substrate as they naturally forage for food by digging below the surface. They like soft, slightly acidic water, which is easier to come by than alkaline water. You will need a thermostat because the temperature of the tank should be around seventy degrees. These fish will grow to be about ten inches long, and eat proteins like invertebrates. They are a pretty social fish and get along well with others.