It is an interesting as well as confusing thing to research for the cool freshwater fish for aquarium tanks. The beauty of your tank mainly depends upon the fish you have kept in them.
Many newbie aquarists couldn’t make a good fish species community in their tanks due to the diversity of fish and lack of knowledge.
After detailed research, we had collected some of the most beautiful fish.
20 Cool Freshwater Fish
Here are twenty cool freshwater fish with their scientific name, size, tank requirements, and more.
1-Betta Fish
Betta fish is a beautiful pet fish. It was first found in Southeast Asian countries.
| Common Name | Siamese fighting fish |
| Scientific Name | Betta splendens |
| Lifespan | 2 – 5 years |
| Size | 3 inches |
| Tank size | 10 gallons |
| Temperature | 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit |
| pH | 6.8 to 7.5 |
| Hardness | 6.5–8.1 GH |
2. Glass Catfish
Ghost Catfish have a transparent body. These are peaceful fishes. So they can be kept with any other fish.
| Common Name | Ghost catfish or Phantom catfish |
| Scientific Name | Kryptopterus vitreolus |
| Lifespan | 5 – 8 years |
| Size | up to 3.1 inches |
| Tank size | 30 gallons |
| Temperature | 77°F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| Hardness | 8-10 dGH |
3-Swordtail
The swordtail is a freshwater fish. It is easier for beginners to handle.
| Common Name | Platy fish or platies |
| Scientific Name | Xiphophorus hellerii |
| Lifespan | 5 – 7 years |
| Size | 6.3 inches |
| Tank size | 10 GTallons |
| Temperature | 64°F to 82°F |
| pH | 7.0-8.5 |
| Hardness | 12-30 dGH |
4. Glofish
Glofish are man-made fish, especially for aquariums. These come in a mixture of colors.
| Common Name | Zebra fish |
| Scientific Name | Gymnocorymbus ternetzi |
| Lifespan | 3 – 5 years |
| Size | 15 inches |
| Tank size | 29 Gallons |
| Temperature | 75-80°F |
| pH | 6.8 to 7.8 |
| Hardness | 2-10 dGH |
5. Black Ghost Knife Fish
Black ghost knife fish are famous for their unique swimming style. They are aggressive eaters and predators.
| Common Name | Finscale Razorfish or Collard Knife Fish |
| Scientific Name | Apteronotus Albifrons |
| Lifespan | 20 Yeras |
| Size | 15 inches |
| Tank size | 150 Gallons |
| Temperature | 75–82°F |
| pH | 6.8–7.8 |
| Hardness | 5-10 dKH |
6. Bichir
Bichir is an elongated species. It has different shades of white, blue, and pink.
| Common Name | Swamp Dragons, Dinosaur eels, Reed Fish |
| Scientific Name | Polypterus delhezi |
| Lifespan | More Than 20 Years |
| Size | 15 – 30 inches |
| Tank size | 90 Gallons |
| Temperature | 77 F to 84F |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.0 |
| Hardness | Up to 25 Degrees |
7. Panda Corydoras
Panda catfish is pinkish orange with black spots, just like the panda.
| Common Name | Panda Catfish |
| Scientific Name | Corydoras Panda |
| Lifespan | 10 – 15 years |
| Size | 2 inches |
| Tank size | 10 Gallons |
| Temperature | 68 to 77F |
| pH | 6 to 7 |
| Hardness | 2 to 12 dGH |
8. Electric Blue Ram
Electric Blue Ram is a neon blue-colored cichlid species. It is raised in aquariums.
| Common Name | Powered Blue Ram |
| Scientific Name | Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi |
| Lifespan | 3 – 4 years |
| Size | Up to 2. 7 inches |
| Tank size | 20 – 30 Gallons |
| Temperature | 79-84°F |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Hardness | 5-10 GH |
9. Kuhli Loach
Kuhli loach has an eel-like shape. It can tolerate harsh water conditions. So beginners can easily keep it.
| Common Name | Prickly Eye |
| Scientific Name | Pangio kuhlii |
| Lifespan | 14 years |
| Size | 3 to 4 inches |
| Tank size | 20 gallons |
| Temperature | 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit |
| pH | 6 to 7 |
| Hardness | 5-12 GH |
10. Black Skirt Tetra
Black skirt tetra is fresh water. It is black, which looks like a skirt. As it is easy to handle, it is mainly recommended for aquariums.
| Common Name | Peticoat Tetra, Black Widow Tetra, Blackamoor |
| Scientific Name | Gymnocorymbus Ternetzi |
| Lifespan | 3 – 5 years |
| Size | 2.5 inches |
| Tank size | 15 Gallons |
| Temperature | 68 and 79° F |
| pH | 6 to 8 |
| Hardness | 5-19 GH |
11. Honey Gourami
This beautiful fish lives in the vegetation in the rivers of India and Bangladesh.
| Common Name | Colisa Chuna, Colisa Sota |
| Scientific Name | Trichogaster Chuna |
| Lifespan | 5 – 8 years |
| Size | 2 inches |
| Tank size | 10 Gallons |
| Temperature | 71 and 82° F |
| pH | 6.0 – 8.0 |
| Hardness | 5-20 GH |
12. Pea Puffers
These are small-sized, like a dwarf, but have the characteristics of a puffer.
| Common Name | Malabar Pufferfish, Pea Pufferfish, Pygmy Pufferfish |
| Scientific Name | Carinotetradon Travancoricus |
| Lifespan | Up to 12 years |
| Size | 0.98 inches |
| Tank size | 5 Gallons |
| Temperature | 74 and 82° F |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.8 |
| Hardness | 8-1 GH |
13. Siamese Algae Eater
Siamese Algae Eaters are the best tank mates as they are peaceful, and eating algae will keep the tank clean.
| Common Name | Hog Suckers, Buffalo Fish, Carpsuckers |
| Scientific Name | Crossocheilus Oblongus |
| Lifespan | 10 years |
| Size | 6 inches |
| Tank size | 30 Gallons |
| Temperature | 75 and 79° F |
| pH | 6.5 – 8.0 |
| Hardness | 5-20 GH |
14. Celestial Pearl Danio
Celestial Pearl Danio was found in spring water. It has a blue background coloration with eye-catching spots on it.
| Common Name | Galaxy Rasbora, Micro Rasbora |
| Scientific Name | Crossocheilus Oblongus |
| Lifespan | 3 to 5 years |
| Size | 1 inches |
| Tank size | 10 Gallons |
| Temperature | 71 and 78° F |
| pH | 6.5 – 8.4 |
| Hardness | 1-5 GH |
15.Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish is a freshwater fish with a rainbow-like color mixture.
| Common Name | wrasses |
| Scientific Name | Melanotaenia spp |
| Lifespan | 5-8 years |
| Size | 7.8 inches |
| Tank size | 50 Gallons |
| Temperature | 74 and 78° F |
| pH | 7.0 – 8.0 |
| Hardness | 10-20 GH |
16. Flowerhorn
Flowerhorn fish have a flower shaped horn on their head.
| Common Name | Louhan |
| Scientific Name | Amphilpphus hybrid |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
| Size | 17 inches |
| Tank size | 75 Gallons |
| Temperature | 80–85 °F |
| pH | 7.4–8.0 |
| Hardness | 08-20 GH |
17. Discus
Discus fish, which are circular-shaped fish in freshwater. These are famous for their bright colors.
| Common Name | Pompadour Fish |
| Scientific Name | Symphysodon Spp |
| Lifespan | Up to 15 Years |
| Size | 09 inches |
| Tank size | 75 Gallons |
| Temperature | 82–86 °F |
| pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Hardness | 1° and 4° dKH |
18. Paradise Fish
Paradise fish have fork-shaped tails. These are very aggressive and combative fish.
| Common Name | Blue Fork Paradise or Paradise Gourami |
| Scientific Name | Macropodus Opercularis |
| Lifespan | Up to 15 Years |
| Size | 08 inches |
| Tank size | 20 Gallons |
| Temperature | 15–26 °F |
| pH | 6.0–8.2 |
| Hardness | up to 25° dKH |
19. Ropefish
Ropefish are elongated, just like snakes. These fish can survive low-oxygenated water due to the addition of lungs to gills.
| Common Name | Snake Fish, Redfish |
| Scientific Name | Erpetoichthys Calabaricus |
| Lifespan | 15 to 20 Years |
| Size | 16-24 inches |
| Tank size | 40 Gallons |
| Temperature | 75-82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness | 05-20° dKH |
20. Royal Farlowella Catfish
Royal Farlowella catfish have olive-brown to yellow brown with yellow undersides. These fish also have irregular bags of black color on their whole body.
| Common Name | Twig or Whiptail Cat Fish |
| Scientific Name | Sturisoma Panamense |
| Lifespan | 08 to 10 Years |
| Size | 08 inches |
| Tank size | 30 Gallons |
| Temperature | 72-86°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness | 06-10° dKH |