What if you could bring a tiny, vibrant slice of the ocean or a peaceful river right into your living room? Imagine watching colorful fish dart and explore their watery world. For many, a fish tank is a dream, a source of calm and beauty.
But that dream can quickly become a headache! Choosing the perfect fish for your tank feels overwhelming. Do you pick the flashy Betta, the busy Neon Tetra, or something more unusual? The wrong choice can lead to unhappy fish, cloudy water, and a tank that just doesn’t thrive. It’s tough figuring out which fish will actually get along and fit your tank size.
Don’t worry! This post cuts through the confusion. We will break down the most popular and beginner-friendly fish. You will learn exactly what each species needs to stay healthy and happy in your aquarium. By the end, you will feel confident selecting the perfect swimming companions.
Ready to dive into the fascinating world of aquarium life and pick your first (or next!) fantastic fish? Let’s explore the best options available for your tank!
Top Fish Tank Fish Recommendations
- Realistic decoration: each plastic fish is designed with moveable tail, which can be placed in the fish tanks or aquariums to create a realistic ocean atmosphere, making your fish tank become more vivid and look like ocean, nice decorations to your fish tanks and aquariums
- Purchase notice:All artificial fish itself will not swim even some of them may sink and would not float automatically. Must need to use water pump, wave pump and oxygen pump. They may still sink when the waves are not big enough. Please check carefully before purchase.
- Durable to use: made of quality plastic, the artificial floating fishes are durable to use, please use them with confidence, the size of each fish measures approx. 1.6 x 1.2 inch/ 4 x 3 cm (L x W), and the size is appropriate for you to put them in the fish tank, which differs from each other, to make your fish tank full of different kinds of artificial fish
- Widely usage: not only can these artificial fishes be applied in both fresh and salt water environment, but also are beautiful decorations in shrimp tanks, fishbowls and decorative glass vessels and so on, creating a beautiful ocean atmosphere for your ocean pets
- Sufficient quantity: you will receive 20 pieces of plastic artificial floating fishes, and the styles of fish and the number of styles are random, the amount is enough for you to decorate your fish tank or other places, the styles of fish are subject to the items that you actually received
- Beautiful decorations: the colorful moving fish adds a vibrant beauty and natural cheerfulness to the underwater atmosphere, creating a beautiful deep sea environment for your home or office, beautiful decoration accessories for the fish tank
- Quality material: the colorful fake fish is made of quality silicone, which is not easy to fall apart and can stay in the water for a long time; You can use the glowing fish with ease to decorate your fish tank
- Easy to install and remove: the artificial glowing fish is adjustable and you can adjust the height of the fake fish as you like to fit your fish tank; Each one is equipped with a transparent line and a suction cup, making it convenient for you to install and remove
- Wide applications: the artificial fish, together with glowing simulation jellyfish are suitable for both fresh and salt water environment, which looks and works well in most types of freshwater habitats such as shrimp tanks, fishbowls and decorative glass vessels
- You will get: 1 piece brown big wing fish, 1 piece clownfish, 1 piece pink angelfish, 1 piece guppy, 1 piece upside down fish and 2 pieces simulation jellyfish in pink and blue, various styles of artificial fish to satisfy your tank decoration needs
- Aquarium Ornament Set: the package includes 6 orange goldfish about 5 cm/ 1.97 inches, 2 jellyfishs, 8 small fish (color and pattern are random), plus 9 aquarium plants, 1 for each style; Rich color and quantity add a more beautiful look to your aquarium
- Safe Materials: compared to real fish, our fish tank decors can accompany you longer because they are made of plastic material, safe, reliable, sturdy, odorless, not harmful to water quality, and can be applied with your confidence
- Floating and Swimming: the design of plastic fish and plastic aquarium plants is gravitational, will not roll over and overturn, allowing them to float and move gracefully in still water; The plastic goldfish can swim in the water under the action of external forces such as water pumps, wave pumps, oxygen pumps, etc., funny and eye catching
- Realistic and Exquisite: these fake fish and fish tank plants are a nice combination to make your fish tank look like a world of real fish; These products are beautifully designed and realistically shaped to make your real and fake fish indistinguishable, creating a beautiful and different aquarium for you
- Widely Applicable: this fake aquarium fish and plant set is an ideal decoration to make your fish tank and aquarium full of life and charm; Moreover, it can also be applied as the birthday party supply, undersea decoration, gift bag filler, etc., to leave good memories and moments for your guests
- [Environmental protection material]:The diver decoration is made of environmentally friendly resin,Hand coloring，with very flat and smooth edges, you can use it with confidence, it will not affect the water quality or harm your fish.
- [Adjustable position]:Uses the floating ball to allow divers to dive without sinking to the bottom. The diving position of the diver can be adjusted according to the length of the fishing line. If you feel that the diver is floating too fast, you can add water appropriately.
- [Safe Friend of Fish]:Funny and cute cartoon shape, floating with the current, playing and chasing with the fish in the fish tank， fish love to interact with them.They can help you see the direction of water flow in your fish tank and there are no sharp edges in workmanship,Don't worry about hurting the little fish.
- [Aquarium Decoration]:Diver decorations is suitable for most aquarium landscapes,Whether it's natural wind or collocation with interesting animation characters.It also applies to small fish tanks.As an fish tank decorations, I hope it will make the aquarium beautiful and add fun to your life at the same time.
- [What you will get]:1 diver decoration, 1 floating ball, 100% customer satisfaction and lifetime friendly customer service support.
- Lifelike aquarium fish decoration: each piece of plastic fish with a moveable tail can be placed in the fish tanks or aquariums to create a realistic ocean atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful and vivid vibes, nice decorations to your fish tanks and aquariums
- Safe material: these fish toys are made of plastic material that is reliable to use for fish, turtle, shrimp, and so on; The artificial fish toys are friendly to the living fishes in the aquarium, which are suitable for fish tank moving decoration
- Size details: the size of each fish measures approx. 1.6 x 1.2 inches, which is appropriate to put it in the fish tank; The plastic tropical fish differs from each other, making the fish tank full of different kinds of artificial fishes
- Wide range of uses: you can add these artificial fishes into the fresh and salt water environment like shrimp tanks, fishbowls and decorative glass vessels, which can create a beautiful ocean atmosphere for the ocean animals
- Floating fish set: there are 40 pieces of floating plastic fish in the package, which can be placed in the fish tanks, aquariums and bubble tubes, making your fish tank look vivid and be similar to the ocean
- Ameliade fish tank decorations perfectly replicates the natural environment, and once you put it in the tank, you won't even be able to recognize that it's actually made of plastic. Your fish will enjoy the environment these plants provide，and they can play and hide in it.
- The leaves are soft and lifelike without scratching the fish. They swing with the water waves in the fish tank, making them look very vivid and beautiful in the water. They can be planted in both of freshwater and seawater. Each plant has its own base for holding it in the gravel.
- Unlike live plants in fish tank, plastic artificial plants do not need special lighting and other substrates. They neither die nor become wilted or unattractive. They remain beautiful all the time without any pruning.
- We provide the suitable aquarium products for different sizes of aquariums in order to save you time. You just need to buy them according to your needs and put them in your fish tank, and they will create a beautiful underwater world for your pet fish, making fish life more interesting and happier. This will turn your fish tank into their amusement park.
- The set contains 1 rockery aquarium decoration, 3 short aquarium plants, 3 medium aquarium plants and 1 tall aquarium plants with a total of 8 different styles. Heights vary from 2 inches to 8 inches. It is suitable for 5 gallon or larger fish tanks.
- Realistic Jellyfish Decor: An exquisite combination of 6 colorful jellyfish (blue, purple, green, orange, pink and yellow). Perfect for decorating fish tanks.
- Charming Glowing Effect: Not Glow In the Dark! They are only luminescent under actinic lighting (blue or purple light is recommended). Greatly brighten and invigorate your plain fish tank.
- Vivid Landscape: Pulled by an invisible line, they’ll always float freely and elegantly with the slightest movement of water flow. Blend with fish’s swimming to create a splendid harmony!
- Reliable Material: Made of dependable silicone material, these appealing jellyfish ornaments are trustworthy to keep fish lively anytime while adorning your tank.
- Easy to Use: Pull out the cap on the sucker, tie the string to the cap, press the cap in and stick it to the tank. It’ll turn your tedious aquarium into a vibrant underwater world.
- OFFICIALLY LICENSED: This aquarium ornament is great for anyone who loves the hit Nickelodeon show, SpongeBob. Enjoy the magical world of Bikini Bottom within your fish tank. Perfect for fans of all ages, these decorations bring a touch of nostalgia and whimsy to any aquarium, delighting both kids and adults alike. Are you ready.
- MADE OF SAFE AND DURABLE RESIN: Our aquarium ornaments are inspected with your fish’s safety in mind. The material used is safe for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Each decoration has a sturdy base. There’s no need to worry about it floating around once you place it underwater.
- SUPER SIMPLE TO CLEAN: Simply wipe down and rinse off the aquarium ornament with warm water when you are cleaning out your tank. Never use soap, as the residual soap particles can harm your fish.
- BRING THE WORLD OF SPONGEBOB HOME: Perfect for adults, children, and fish alike. This fun aquarium decoration will instantly add magic and a burst of character to your tank. Most small and medium fish can fit inside, allowing them to swim in and around it. This helps reduce fish boredom, increases excercise, and provides ample hiding opportunity.
- MEASUREMENTS: SpongeBob’s Pineapple House measures approximately 3” (Dia) x 5.25” (H). It will fit easily in almost any fish tank sitting at home. It’s designed to be the perfect accent to any aquarium, regardless of size. Start to build your underwater world, wether you start with the Pineapple under the sea or wanting to start collecting characters Penn-Plax has all you need when it comes to Spongebob Squarepants
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Your First Fish Tank Fish
Bringing home a fish tank is exciting! Choosing the right fish makes the experience even better. This guide helps you select happy, healthy fish for your new aquatic home.
Key Features to Look For in Aquarium Fish
When you look at fish at the pet store, check a few important things first. These features tell you about the fish’s current health and future needs.
1. Activity Level and Temperament
- Active Swimmers: Most fish should swim smoothly. Watch out for fish that hide all the time or stay stuck near the bottom.
- Tank Mates: Research if the fish gets along with others. Some fish, like Bettas, prefer to live alone. Others, like Tetras, need friends (schooling fish).
2. Physical Appearance
- Clear Eyes: A healthy fish has bright, clear eyes. Cloudy eyes mean the fish might be sick.
- Intact Fins: Fins should be whole and spread out. Torn or clamped (stuck tight to the body) fins are red flags.
- No Spots or Film: Never buy a fish covered in white spots (Ich) or slimy-looking film.
3. Size and Growth Potential
Always know how big the fish gets. A tiny fish might grow into a giant that needs a much bigger tank than you planned for.
Important Materials and Environment Considerations
The fish you choose depends heavily on the tank setup you have. The environment is crucial for fish survival.
Tank Size Requirements
Bigger tanks are almost always better. Smaller tanks change temperature and water quality very quickly. Always match the fish’s adult size to the tank volume. For example, Goldfish need much larger tanks than Guppies.
Water Parameters (The Invisible Essentials)
- Temperature: Tropical fish need warm water (72-80°F). Coldwater fish (like fancy goldfish) need cooler temperatures.
- pH Level: Different fish thrive in acidic, neutral, or alkaline water. Research your chosen fish’s preferred pH range.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Fish Quality
Where you buy your fish and how they are kept before purchase seriously affects their quality.
Improving Quality (What to Seek Out)
- Quarantine Practices: Good stores keep new fish separate for a few weeks before selling them. This stops diseases from spreading.
- Proper Feeding: Fish that are fed high-quality food are generally stronger.
Reducing Quality (What to Avoid)
Avoid tanks where several sick fish are swimming with healthy ones. Overcrowded tanks stress fish, which lowers their immune systems. Water that looks cloudy or has a strong smell is a sign of poor maintenance.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about what you want your tank to look like and how much work you want to do.
Beginner-Friendly Choices (Low Maintenance)
If this is your first tank, choose hardy fish. **Guppies, Platies, and Zebra Danios** are great starters. They forgive small mistakes in water testing.
Showpiece Fish (Higher Maintenance)
If you want a centerpiece, consider a **Betta** or a small group of **Dwarf Gouramis**. These fish are stunning but require very stable water conditions.
Community Tanks
For a busy, colorful tank, select peaceful schooling fish like **Neon Tetras** or **Corydoras Catfish**. Ensure all chosen species share similar temperature and temperament needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Buying Fish
Q: How many fish can I put in my tank?
A: A common beginner rule is one inch of adult fish per gallon of water. However, this rule is often too generous. Always check the specific adult size of the fish you buy.
Q: Should I buy fish during a sale?
A: Be cautious. Sometimes, stores put sick fish on sale to move them quickly. Make sure the fish you select look healthy, regardless of the price tag.
Q: How long should I wait before adding new fish?
A: You must cycle your tank first (establish beneficial bacteria). This takes several weeks before adding any fish. Once the tank is cycled, add only a few new fish at a time to avoid shocking the biological filter.
Q: What is “cycling” the tank?
A: Cycling builds up good bacteria in your filter media. This bacteria eats toxic fish waste (ammonia and nitrite) and turns it into safer nitrate. This process is essential for fish survival.
Q: Do I need to acclimate my new fish slowly?
A: Yes, absolutely! Temperature and water chemistry shock kills many new fish. Float the sealed bag in the tank for 15 minutes for temperature matching. Then, slowly add small amounts of tank water to the bag over the next 30 minutes before releasing the fish.
Q: What is the easiest fish to care for?
A: The easiest fish are often hardy livebearers like Guppies or Platies. They tolerate minor fluctuations in water quality better than many other species.
Q: Can I mix saltwater and freshwater fish?
A: No. Never mix saltwater and freshwater fish. They require completely different, non-compatible water chemistry.
Q: How often should I feed my fish?
A: Most fish only need to be fed once or twice a day. Only feed what they can eat completely in two minutes. Overfeeding pollutes the water quickly.
Q: What should I do if a fish looks sick shortly after purchase?
A: Immediately test your water parameters (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate). Stress from poor water quality is the number one cause of immediate illness. Contact the store; many reputable shops offer a short return/exchange window for sick fish.
Q: Should I buy fish that are already swimming together?
A: If they are schooling fish (like Tetras), yes, buy a group of 6 or more. If they are solitary or aggressive fish (like Bettas or Cichlids), ensure they are not actively fighting before you buy them.