12 Cutest Fish to Consider Adding to Your Home Aquarium
Thinking about getting a fish tank? Whether you have a menagerie of dogs and cats (and maybe even chickens and goats), or you're looking to dip your toes into the waters of pet guardianship with a few aquatic animals, you're probably wondering about the best cute fish for home aquariums. Because let's be honest: Who wants to stock their new mini marine museum with a bunch of boring, bland beasties? For maximum enjoyment, you're going to want to go downright twee. We're talking about the kind of cutie pies that make you squee, like the ones we've rounded up below.
From stars of film (clownfish, we're looking at you), to creatures that live in the water but aren't fish (we can promise that you're going to want to run, not walk, to adopt an Axolotl), we've found the most appealing additions for your aquarium. Take a gander at our list, but remember, as marine biologist Theresa Bauman says, "It is extremely important to fully research everything there is to know about caring for your cute little aquatic friend." Bauman, who worked at Discovery World's Reiman Aquarium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for nearly a decade, suggests first thinking about what kind of habitat you are looking to add to enhance your home.
"Do you want lots of bright colorful fish or more plants with one or two bottom-dwelling species?" she asks. "Then consider how much time you plan on dedicating to this aquarium and how often. Some species need to be fed two to three times per day while others only need food every two or three days. Freshwater aquariums might be a bit easier because you don't have to test salinity and add salt every time you do a water change. However, both fresh and salt require proper water quality monitoring on a regular basis."
According to Bauman, you're going to need to make sure all the species you want in your tank get along and require the same water parameters. "This will help determine the size of your aquarium as well as filter size and if a water heater is needed," she says. If it all sounds like a lot to consider, it is—but the joy your new aquatic buddies bring will be well worth the time and energy you spend on them. "I think having a home aquarium can be so fun," Bauman says, "and add a peaceful, calming element to your living space."
Seahorse
Seahorses have become popular pets for saltwater home aquariums, and the social creatures are easy to house together, according to Bauman. But, she adds, "Seahorses in general can be a bit finicky with food and water parameter requirements."
In general, you're going to need a 30-gallon tank for one seahorse, with 10 more gallons added for each additional pair of seahorses. Lighting should be dim, with water filtration occurring at least four times hourly. And make sure you have seahorses that are the same gender. These little cuties can birth 1,000 babies in one go!
Clownfish
Finding Nemo fans, or anyone who wants an adorable addition to their saltwater aquarium, will find this fellow a good fish for beginners. They're known for being territorial with their own species (say it ain't so, Nemo!), but tend to get along with damselfish, angelfish, and gobies.
Clownfish have a symbiotic relationship with anemones in the wild, where they protect each other from predators, and so might benefit from living alongside them in your tank. Take good care of your clownfish and he may live as long as 25 years.
Axolotl
Maybe the most endearing of all animals suited for life in a home aquarium, the Axolotl isn't actually a fish, but a salamander. They aren't especially social creatures, and Bauman notes that while hardy, Axolotls "will pick on each other if they don't have enough space."
Native to Mexico, they do best in tanks that hold at least 20 gallons, don't sit in bright sunlight, and are filled with freshwater kept no warmer than 68 degrees. Axolotls will eat anything from brine shrimp to earthworms and even bits of beef! Like clownfish, they will live some 20 years with proper care.
Telescope Goldfish
This charmer with the perpetually surprised expression is a bit of a social butterfly, but despite the huge peepers has notoriously bad eyesight. He's also prone to eye injuries and infection and so does best with experienced owners and other less hardy goldfish (like lionheads) as roomies.
A descendant of the wild carp found in Central Asia, the telescope goldfish comes in a variety of colors and fin styles, is famously playful but peaceful-natured, and flourishes in freshwater, on a diet of high-quality flake food.
Cherry Shrimp
Super hardy and easy to care for, these little sweeties can tolerate a fairly wide range of conditions. Cherry shrimp also make a great clean-up crew for your planted freshwater aquarium, because they eat organic debris. If you opt for at least a five-gallon tank you'll be rewarded with a thriving colony of these typically outgoing critters.
Despite their name, cherry shrimp come in an array of beautiful colors. They are seriously shrimpy, growing to only about an inch in length. Since they're so small they're easy prey for most fish, but they usually do well with tetras, rasboras, and danios.
Octopus
Okay, okay—the octopus might not be conventionally cute, but it is one of the ocean's smartest species and all those brains have to count for something, right? They can also change color and shape, love to play, and will often interact with their caregivers.
However. there's a downside to octopus-keeping. Their favorite food includes expensive live crab and shrimp, and they need constant care and attention, too, so taking a vacation can be challenging. And, as Bauman says, "Octopuses are fun to have but don't have the longest lifespan." No matter how well you care for your intriguing buddy, he probably won't live past a year.
Corydoras
An itty bitty catfish with the endearing whiskers typical of the species, corys are bottom-dwelling, schooling scavengers that can help clean your tank by eating debris. They should be kept in groups of six or more, although they can also live with other smaller, peaceful fish that thrive in tropical temperatures.
Hardy fish, corys are good for beginner aquarists and may live as long as a decade. Be sure to supplement their diet with brine shrimp and fish or algae pellets.
Pufferfish
As high maintenance as any Kardashian (but a lot more loveable), pufferfish require an environment with an excellent filtration system and plenty of tank cleanings because they are such messy eaters. And even the smallest species, like the pea puffer, need at least a 20-gallon tank with enriching arches, caves, and other structures to explore.
They're also highly toxic, although you shouldn't be handling your puffer anyway. Most unique is their ability to inflate to three times their size by sucking water into their stomach.
African Dwarf Frog
Native to Central Africa, this fun-sized and fully aquatic amphibian will only grow two inches long at most. Nonetheless, the African dwarf frog should be housed in at least a 10-gallon aquarium with only docile fish. They do not fare well with aggressive species.
African dwarf frogs spend most of their days at the bottom of the tank, though they do surface for air. Be sure to keep a secure lid on the aquarium to prevent escapes and feed your froggies a diet of pellets created for carnivorous fish or the species, supplemented with bloodworms or brine shrimp.
Snail
With their bright colors, intricate patterns, and beautiful shapes—not to mention those darling deely-boppers springing out of the sides of their heads—snails can make a surprisingly delightful addition to the aquarium. They're hard workers, too, vacuuming up algae and other detritus for food.
But some species, like the Malaysian trumpet snail and the ramshorn snail, can overpopulate and subsequently overrun your tank, becoming almost impossible to eradicate. If this happens, think about introducing species that eat snails, such as catfish, puffers, and assassin snails into the environment.
Marine Hermit Crab
These tough little crustaceans are super handy to have in marine tanks thanks to their algae-eating habits, though you probably will need to offer supplemental feeding. A lot more physically appealing than other spidery-looking aquarium crabs, like the *shudder* arrow crab, hermit crabs are said to have a perky personality by enthusiasts.
Active, smart, and social (despite their name), hermit crabs should be kept in groups of at least two. Be sure to provide a few inches of sand for them to dig in, as well as live rock for them to climb.
Blood Parrot Cichlid
A hybrid created in the mid-80s by breeding two kinds of cichlids (primarily freshwater tropical fish), the blood parrot cichlid has big eyes and a round mouth that's usually open. He's a cutie pie for sure, but also controversial, because physical characteristics like his small mouth may make it difficult for him to thrive.
If you absolutely have to have one, you'll need a 30-gallon tank for one fish, and 10 more gallons for each additional fish. Give them plenty of hiding places and make sure you only keep them in tanks with non-aggressive fish, like mid-sized angelfish, catfish, and tetras.
You Might Also Like
